T450 add M.2 SSD and Dual Boot Win10/Linux?

[DelphinusVyse]

Hello, this is my first post here, really glad I found this forum. When looking for an inexpensive laptop to take to class, a few weeks ago I managed to pick up a T450 with an i5-5300u, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SATA SSD, and fully activated Win10 Pro for $175. This is really my first laptop and I've been extremely happy with it. I've already replaced the internal battery which was worn to just over half capacity and upgraded the external battery to a 48WH battery. But enough gushing, on to my actual question.

I've been wanting to play around with and learn more about Linux for a long time but have never really taken the plunge. My only exposure to it is a bit of fooling with a Raspberry Pi, and a bit of poking around with a Ubuntu Live CD/Flash Drive. I've heard that many Thinkpads have good Linux support, and was wondering how feasible it would be to install a Transcend 256GB MTS400S SSD and set up dual boot with Windows on my SATA SSD and Linux on the M.2. Any additional advice on what distro to try would be an awesome bonus.

[28CarsLater]

I used to have a T450S as a work computer but I never attempted to install anything on it. I do have a number of Thinkpads prior to that model and several of them are set up as dual boot Lubuntu/Win7. I'm happy to report that with that distro all of my hardware including wireless worked out of the box, no drivers to install!So in short, I see no reason why you cannot do so, the only thing I will add is historically we always installed Windows first on one partition and then added a Linux distro, which will also add a boot loader. I seem to recall because Windows "liked" to be first and doing it reverse caused problems, but this knowledge may be obsolete these days.

[TankPad]

Yes, you can install it to the M.2 no probs and dual boot. You could also just partition your existing drive to make a new partition for Linux alongside Windows so you wouldn't need to get an M.2 drive. Might as well get an SSD though, these days.

I run an M.2 drive with Windows 7 and Ubuntu 19 and I keep the 2.5 inch bay for a 2TB storage drive that either OS can use.

[axur-delmeria]

I'd recommend using separate drives for Windows and Linux, especially when UEFI and/or Windows 10 are involved.

[MikalE]

I used this gentleman's videos to set up a dual drive, dual boot system using Win 7 and Mint some time ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgv_POY ... pNpZVrqzPH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWb62_C ... PH&index=4

[haritak]

Eventhough it seems you found your way to linux, let me just post another way of installing linux on your machine, especially if it's just to play and learn.

With 16gb of ram, I would go the ...software way:
Install Virtualbox, create a new virtual machine, dedicate around 4 to 8gb of ram and install whatever distro you want.
No need for dual booting. You just login to your windows installation, start the virtual machine, switch it to full screen and it's like you are working natively on linux.

I am used of doing this with several less powered machines (x230, x220 for example), but the other way around: Installing windows as a virtual machine inside linux. The feeling is really close to running on bare metal!

Moreover, it's really easy to test several distros that way. And while the distro is installing, you can browse for another distro using your windows.