How should I set up my dual-drive dual-boot between Windows 11 and Fedora? Remove Windows drive before install, or leave

[RonnyMuller]

For personal reasons, I want to keep Windows 11, so I'll be doing a dual-boot.

I have 2 drives. A 2tb Nvme drive with windows, and an empty 1tb Nvme that I'll install Fedora on. I've also done a System Image Backup to an external SSD.

Now I've heard there are 2 ways of setting up a dual-drive dual-boot. One is by removing the windows drive and installing Fedora on the second one, causing GRUB to not be installed, and reducing the chance of my files on windows corrupting. The other method is by simply installing Fedora to my second drive with the windows drive still plugged in, causing GRUB to install.

So, what one do i go for? The first option (remove windows drive) seems safer, as it means that the chances of data corruption are near 0, but I already have a backup incase, and also is a hassle to remove the NVME. It also stops GRUB being installed, meaning to swap OS I have to go into BIOS. Not sure if this is a good thing at the moment though, but when I get more integrated to linux im sure it'll be better.

The second option is a bit more risky, but a lot more convinient. And I have that system image in case anything does go wrong. It also installs GRUB, but I'm not sure if thats a positive or negative. Does it make me choose what boots up each time i load my pc, or do I press a button on startup to bring it up? Also, I've heard that it can get corrupted ruining my windows drive.

Just a bit confused and would like some advice.

EDIT: Also any tips on partitioning? I want to split the second drive into 500gb linux, 500gb windows. Do I make that partition in the Fedora Installation, or in Windows Partition Manager, and how?

[Rex Bouwense]

Ronnie, welcome to the LXDE forums. However, I think you have joined the incorrect forum because this one is solely about the Light X11 Desktop Environment. You question deals with the installation of Fedora and would be better handled in the Fedora Forums, https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/c/ask/6.