Basically. I have separate drive for my windowsOS/media etc. And one of my nvme drive now is completely empty.

Is there a way to install Linux onto that empty nvme with windows and then like turn the PC off remove my windows drive entirely, and then have it just boot with the linux drive without needing to do a whole bootable usb through the motherboard uefi?

I don’t have USB drives and they cost too much for something i never use.

Like if there was a linux installer that Ibcan run while logged in to windows that would be amazing…

  • Ephera@lemmy.ml
    21·
    19 hours ago

    Just to point it out: Having a USB stick with a Linux ISO laying around can be a lifesaver.

    Even if you decide to go back to Windows or whatever.

    Because you can actually boot off of the USB stick into a practically fully functional OS, so without installing, and then access the files on the hard drive, in case your installed operating system bites the dust (so long as the hard drive and filesystem is intact).

    So yeah, might be worth the invest…

    • Pope-King Joe@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      18 hours ago

      Setting up a flash drive with Ventoy is something I’d highly recommend. Then you can just drag-n-drop isos as you see fit and boot any of them from a nice menu. I keep one around with Fedora, CachyOS, Arch, and Clonezilla isos. I also think I may have an older version of Garuda on it. It’s a super useful thing to have around.

    • cardfire@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      4·
      8 hours ago

      I and others agree… It’s funny when someone says “I want a solution besides X” and we all kinda have to say “uhhhh, srsly, X is the answer” - - also another shout out for Ventoy. Complete game changer. I have a 16GB drive with Win10 IoT LTSC, new install apps and drivers for Windows, and 2 or 3 Linux distros.

      Edited, typos

      • Ephera@lemmy.ml
        3·
        14 hours ago

        It’s funny when someone says “I want a solution besides X” and we all kinds to to say “uhhhh, srsly, X is the answer”

        I mean, yeah, you kind of have to point it out. Newbies won’t be able to judge how much they’re making their life harder by wanting to do it their way. 🫠

      • Jump365@lemmy.zipOP
        5·
        17 hours ago

        I’m not doubting a usb is better, i uaed those to install windows in basically every PC I’ve built for me or friends. But…usually I am borrowing other ppls. Now I work seasonal jobs and don’t have a permanent home so…can’t really quickly access a store if I’m in the middle of nowhere in a national park

        • cardfire@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          1·
          8 hours ago

          I understand that you are materially constrained.

          If you don’t already have your solution, I wonder if you could Ventoy (using as a verb here) a partition of the NVME as an install volume.

          My USB drive is actually a spare NVME in a USB enclosure, ironically enough.