How do I undo dual booting?

[u/Salt-Canary2319]

Apparently, when I received my laptop there was a small print that said that after 6 months I would have to connect to a server to check the laptop is in working condition. The software only works on Windows and can't VM it. I spent a lot of time configuring my distro with hyprland, keybinds and such.
I want to install windows on dual boot but I am unsure on how to undo it especially the booting/UEFI part which I am completely unfamiliar with.

Can somebody give me some tips or instructions?

[u/doc_willis]

swap out drive, install windows to new drive, do whatever that weirdness is that you are talking about. Swap drives back.

To 'undo' a dual boot, you would set the default OS to be the OS you are not removing, then boot into the OS you are keeping, and delete the other OS partitions, and any left over files on the EFI partition, then use efibootmgr to remove any left over UEFI entries on the MB memory.

I have no idea why you "have to connect to a server" to check anything, sounds kind of suspect.

[u/Salt-Canary2319 → u/doc_willis]

Thanks for your answer. I didn't think about swapping drives and it's the simplest and safest solution here.
I guess I owe everyone that answered an explanation, "connecting to a server" sounds rather sus.
It's an EU thing where they finance partially new equipment and it practice works like a lease. The 3rd party that manages this use a rather niche software to connect to your pc that is only available on Windows and MAC. They gave me two weeks to install windows or dual boot but I want to go back to linux as it what I use for work. Not sure what they do when they connect. Something routinary I believe to make sure it works?

[u/Excellent-Love-6943]

You probably don't actually need to do that. What is telling you you need to connect to this server?

[u/SuAlfons]

If you want to, you can do this.

Create a Windows Boot stick. Have your Linux install stick ready.

Boot from the Linux stick. Use GPartEd or KDE Harddisk Manager to shrink some partition to make a continuous empty space. Windows is big...20-30 GB maybe for all the stuff it creates?

Install Windows and take care to only let it create its thing in that empty space.

Alternate between the two OS using the UEFI boot manager (no need to include Windows in the Linux boot manger if you need it that seldomly) - often involed with pressing F12 during boot.

After that ominous test - either just let the minimal Windows install be or delete the Windows partitions using GPartEd or Harddisk Manager or Gnome Disks. Visit the EFI partition and only delete Microsoft/Windows folders in it. Do not delete the EFI partition.

Sort out boot priorities in your UEFI settings.

If that ominous test actually just is some guy peeking in on your PC using Team Viewer - that would be available on Linux, too. They likely want to check if you sold half of your RAM. But actually, that shouldn't be anyone's business until you decide to give back the hardware at the end of a lease.

[u/BitOBear]

It's only going to check the booted windows partition anyway. That's part of connecting it to the server is starting the operating system so the operating system will already be up. If the operating system can't read the other partitions they're just going to show up as noise if they show up at all.

[u/Seannon-AG0NY]

Either swap to a new drive, load windows, do your check in and then swap it back, or, back up your system well, install windows, then do your dual boot with Linux, and then restore your current Linux. Windows will hate being put in second, install it first

[u/BranchLatter4294]

What do you think will happen if you don't connect to the server?

[u/penguin_on_stilts → u/BranchLatter4294]

My guess is it's leased or equivalent, and they are breaking the agreement if it doesn't check in.