Dual-boot Windows on a secondary SSD 30 min
For competitive gaming or Windows-exclusive software, you can add a secondary NVMe SSD to create a dual-boot system.
This dual-drive configuration physically isolates the systems. This ensures Olares OS remains stable and secure while providing full native performance for your Windows applications.
Prerequisites
Hardware
- A secondary NVMe M.2 SSD physically installed in Olares One.
- A USB flash drive containing a bootable Windows installation media.
- A wired keyboard and mouse.
- A monitor connected to Olares One.
Step 1: Boot into BIOS
- Insert the Windows USB boot drive into a USB port on Olares One.
- Power on Olares One or restart if it is already running.
- Immediately press and hold the Delete key repeatedly until the BIOS setup screen appears.
Step 2: Boot from USB
- Navigate to the Boot tab using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
- Locate Boot Option #1 or Boot Override and select your USB flash drive.
- Press Enter to boot from the USB drive immediately.
- The system will restart and load the Windows installation interface.
Step 3: Install Windows
Follow the on-screen prompts to begin the Windows installation.
Select the correct drive
You must carefully identify the secondary SSD.
Selecting the wrong drive will permanently erase your Olares data.
When the installation finishes and the system restarts, unplug the Windows USB drive.
Once installation is complete, the system will restart into Windows automatically.
Switch between operating systems
Because the operating systems are on separate physical drives, you switch between them using the BIOS boot priority.
Switch to Olares OS
- Restart Olares One.
- Press Delete repeatedly to enter BIOS.
- Go to the Boot tab.
- Set Boot Option #1 to the SSD containing Olares OS.
- Press F4 to confirm.
Switch to Windows
- Restart Olares One.
- Press Delete repeatedly to enter BIOS.
- Set Boot Option #1 to the secondary SSD containing Windows.
- Press F4 to confirm.