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I recently watched this SomeOrdinaryGamers video that teaches how to passthrough a GPU to a VM. Around 26:15 of said video he mentions a way to virtualize Windows AND boot it from the drive, but not how to do it.

I've been researching about this and found this question Dual-Virtualization vs. Dual-Boot vs. Single-Virtualization that talks about another way to go about this, which is basically having both Linux and Windows as VMs on a light weight host OS. However, much of it kinda goes over my head.

The idea would be to have 2 SSDs (one for each OS) and 2 GPUs (an AMD for Linux and an Nvidia for Windows). Linux would be the "main OS". From that I would like to be able both run Windows as a VM and boot it by itself for activities such as gaming.

Which method would best accomplish this task? What would be the drawbacks? Is there a beginner friendly tutorial on how to do each of this methods?

Also, would the Dual-Boot + Virtualization method present any problems regarding the Windows license? I've read that Windows recognizes the VM as a separate machine and would therefore deactivate the license. If so, are there workarounds for this?

Edit: Just to clarify, what I want to be able to do is use Linux as my daily driver and have a Dual-Boot with Windows for when I need it (work, gamming, etc.) but also be able to run the same Windows install within a VM with GPU passthrough in Linux for convenience. Either that or the "Dual-Virtualization" method I mentioned, whichever would be more efficient.

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  • 2 SSDs would not be required. One SSD will do(with GPT/EFI partion,one+ for linux and 1+ for windows. 2 Graphics cards I can see the need for. Either that or needing to edit PCIe parameter depending on intended bootand reboots between switching OS. As totutorials, Ionly bookmarked many years old ones, but I am very curious to see the answers to this great question.
    – Hennes
    Commented Aug 23, 2022 at 21:03
  • "Dual virtualization" is called "nested virtualization" in all three major hypervisors. There are a literal ton of websites that explain how to run a Windows VM within Windows. However, what you describe does not require nested virtualization, you can handle your goal with just a single layer of hardware virtualization.
    – Ramhound
    Commented Aug 24, 2022 at 2:45
  • Just to clarify, what I want to be able to do is use Linux as my daily driver and have a Dual-Boot with Windows for when I need it (work, gamming, etc.) but also be able to run the same Windows install within a VM with GPU passthrough in Linux for convenience. Either that or the "Dual-Virtualization" method I mentioned, whichever would be more efficient.
    – Fenris
    Commented Aug 25, 2022 at 15:33

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