I have just started my own business and work for various companies in master data processing (home office). Since these companies have a different IT structure, I would like to buy two notebooks with exchangeable hard drives where I can easily replace the hard drive / SSD with the operating system and programs.
The notebook itself does not have to be able to do a lot and does not require an extra graphics card or a massive amount of RAM. However, it would be nice if you could operate two external monitors (possibly a docking station). The notebook should not be too bulky either (no screen over 15.6 "rather 13-14").
In the past there were notebooks where you could use a removable disk or an optical drive instead of a second battery. Currently I don't find any.
It's not that direct, you always have to loosen screws. However, there are docking stations that you can connect to the laptop and then always plug in and unplug hard drives
Counter questions:
Why not an external hard drive / SSD with the operating system installed?
Why not run the whole thing on a disk via a second operating system via boot manager?
Is cheaper and you can buy any laptop.
Install both operating systems on an SSD
Too expensive in my opinion. Why is it so complicated when it can be simple?
I was not thinking about external hard drives at the moment xD I admit that is the better solution
With one hand, I don't know any devices.
You just need one that gives you access to the HDD bay without having to scrub the entire bottom.
Finding one of these is sometimes idle, as the manufacturers never say so.
I have a Fujitsu Lifebook A555 here. I can loosen the flap with a single screw.
Incidentally, there are also HDD / SSD installation frames for optical drives. Since you only remove your optical drive and tinker in the frame. Here you have to pay attention to the actual height. They are available for less than 10 euro.
Without any information about the budget and / or requirements, you can hardly recommend anything.
Overall, however, I doubt that your project is a usable solution. Why not two operating system installations in parallel? Or a VM right away.
Installing the OS on external storage is a rather bad idea.
Multiboot, however, is much better.
No, that's not possible because these companies install the systems themselves and then seal them accordingly, so that I as a user can't make any changes. I can't just hand over a notebook that also contains the data of another company.
Why? So I have a lot of customers who handle it that way. Is "hopped as hopped" in my eyes, ergo comes to the same thing. Well, you have to carry an extra plate with you…
Because the installation at the respective companies is done by the admins and I can't simply hand over a notebook with external data on the disk. VM or via remote access to a local VM computer on site I would be glad but that is not what my customers want.
I'll keep an eye on the installation frame. Optical drives are usually relatively easy to change.
Defective controllers, defective ports, defective drivers, loose contacts, …
I hope you don't recommend something like this professionally for productive environments.
But hey, everyone should do what they think.
If true about VM, this would also be possible. However, he would need a powerful laptop here. My idea is better to do it with an external disk or with a boot manager. At least I think so.
Second OS is not possible because the installation is done by the customer's admins. I can't hand over a notebook with external data. Some customers (almost all of them) also work for the defense industry.
I would like to avoid an external SSD / hard disk due to handling.
Well, there are parallel installations or VMs for that. You have to conclude a data processing contract anyway. With what you are going to do, I would be very careful about the TOMs you have to comply with regarding data protection. Without a sensible concept, you should rather let it be, or use your client's hardware.
As a technician, I can only agree with that
Defective controllers, defective ports, defective drivers, loose contacts,
So that would be the worst case absolutely and rather unlikely, statistically speaking, but hey you are right in this case, everyone should do it as he wishes.
USB is most often going over the Jordan from now on. Your stats are for the trash.
So I researched something, there's a simple and easy solution. If the laptop has a DVD drive, which is no longer common these days, it could work with it.
So pull out the DVD drive and slide the HDD Caddy it HDD back in, screw it in, done.
https://www.amazon.de/...B00K067U48
There are for Mac and Windows computers.
