One way to have Windows and Linux on separate drive without dual-boot (desktop solution):
You could also use SATA to USB convertor and boot from external drives to use a different OS on the same system (laptop and desktop solution).
Yeah I thought of doing that too. Basically, what you do is, you swap your OS disk leaving the internal drives there (if any). So you only have one Operating System with a boot partition (may that be EFI or Legacy).
The Icy Dock hot swap unit does make it easy that is for sure.
There is only one problem for me and that is I am using M.2 SSD for my OS. So I would have to change my strategy and have my Operating Systems boot from a regular SSD and leave the M.2 SSDs for internal storage. I could buy an adapter for my M.2 SSD (M.2 to regular SSD case).
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If you do decide to dual boot, choose something else option after performing the recommended steps in the tutorial category of this forum, then amend the windows partition size, create your Linux partitions and format. That is the most difficult part. Grub will modify the efi boot partition, and you'll be able to switch without physically changing the drives.
Sorry for the late response @tessierp . But i did indeed follow the guide provided above. I went into my bios and turned off Raid and switched to ACHI. I was able to get things going afterwards. My system defaults to Zorin when booting. If I have to get to my windows drive, I just select it on boot (f12 key on my system). I have tried dual booting on one drive in the past but had nothing but problems as mentioned. I would also second not going about things in that way unless you have no other choice.
Hope everything works out for you!
Thanks for summarizing the concept behind in a concise manner 
This is a hardware approach to accomplish multi-boot.
Thanks for your help everyone. I wont be able to attack this issue for a while since I'm stuck with other problems at the moment that have nothing to do with IT and may take a while. But at least this gives me food for thought and things to think about.
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Windows 10 makes 100MB EFI Partition.
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Thanks for this info.
I all of a sudden remembered that I managed to reduce EFI partition in Bhodi Linux from 500MG to 100MB when I was trying to install it on 7GB eMMC came with the 1st gen Intel Compute Stick.
It seems less than 100MG EFI is required for both Windows and Linux. I suspect this extra 400MB is for adding some "breathing space" in Linux.
I since moved to a headless Linux installation for this Compute Stick (is is running Dietpi for X86) and space is no longer an issue 
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I think I'll solve my issues with the EFI partition and dual boot and will probably go with a different system like the the one I think you proposed FrenchPress, using this : https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00X5HAKXC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1
I'll just swap out one OS for the other when I need to. That way I don't really have to worry about the EFI partition size.
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What I use is this:
As long as you avoid a dreaded Morex to Sata convertor, this system works great. The model I use has a power switch on each bay but it is quite fragile. I do not use this switch but use an eject button for cutting off the drive.
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Hey @FrenchPress ,
Thanks for your feedback. There is no molex to use on the unit I will go with. The reason why I am picking that one is I can add the unit of my choice in the HDD bay, could be another 2 slot SSD or a hot swap HDD extension, something like this :
https://www.amazon.ca/DOCK-Rugged-SATA-Mobile-Drive/dp/B00BR6W8II/ref=sr_1_40?dchild=1&keywords=HDD+hot+swap&qid=1628078413&sr=8-40
I kind of like that added flexibility in that particular unit.
I will only be switching between two OS, Windows or Linux until I am ready for Linux only. So a two bay SSD would be fine for me I think.
Going this route also means I will have to take out my M.2 SSD and use a M.2 to SSD adapter case. I'm giving up a bit of speed this way but, not that much. I find it funny when people freak over numbers with SSD performance. I mean, just just a second or two more load time. Some may care but I don't.
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I used to use exactly like this one to hot swap HDDs.
I retired all 3.5 inch HDDs some years ago except for one sits in a home-made NAS (Open Media Vault).
If you are still using 3.5 inch HDDs I think the model you chose (2.5 and 3.3 inch combo) makes sense
The difference between HDD and SSD speed is vast. But I do not feel any difference among various makes of SSD. As for a durability, I have close to 20 SSDs. Over the years, one Kingston SSD and one Intel SSD became unreadable but none of the lesser know brand SSDs went bad. Something to think about if you are shopping for a new SSD.
@FrenchPress
Yeah I still use regular hard drives to store pictures, code I'm working on and develop, stuff like that and use the SSDs for applications.
As for SSD speed difference it feels marginal to me. Coming from a HDD to a SSD you see the difference like you said but between SSD brands and types, it is so marginal. I mainly use WD SSDs and Samsung.
For HDD in NAS applications I also then to go with WD REDs.
I have another question. Been looking at the Ubuntu road map and POP_OS. They are relatively fast. What is the usual release cycle for Zorin OS? Is it every two years?
This is a really good question. I have not personally been using Zorin OS (Or Linux for that matter) long enough to have measured it. In fact, if it is every two years, then I would be a lucky fella as I have seen Zorin OS 15 released (Shortly after I migrated from Windows) and am now about two see Zorin OS 16 released in less than two years.
I tried a quick Net Search:
It looks like between one and two years with an average around 1.3 years. So usually about a year and a couple of months.
@Aravisian Thanks for the information. I also did a research but I thought I would double check with the community to make sure this was the case. I am not too concerned with received new operating systems so fast but at least something reasonable like two years, as long as an operating system is maintained for a few years that is fine. Anyway, installing a new operating system from scratch isn't something fun to do (if there is no upgrade path) since you have to backup everything, reinstall, etc.
But good to know. I do prefer the layout options of Zorin. I originally thought, from an article, that it was community maintained by is instead maintained by two person, it does seem to me it is more community oriented and not controlled by companies unlike POP_OS (nothing against POP_OS here just a preference). The community is also a plus like I said before.
Anyway thanks! 
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I have learned... the hard way... to back up often. It is not because Zorin OS is unstable. It is because my experiments in lInux often are.
And I am a slow learner.
That said, the vast majority of my back ups deal with files, not with reinstalling the OS. But it helps. A lot.
I do not use third-party apps to back up. I just compress the Home Folder.
Ok... that is not quite accurate... I compress the directories within home folder that I wish to keep backed up and current.
Direct Upgrade path...
I do not know if you have ever performed one, but I have tested it on Ubuntu. Unlike installing Zorin OS, the Direct Upgrade takes about three or four hours and you must watch it to click "ok" as it goes on occasion. A good book is essential. Preferably with small words since the computer and internet are off limits.
On top of this, it wreaks havoc with the Sources. That all must be straightened out once the Direct Upgrade is complete. Given a choice between the two - I would go Fresh Install with a Fresh clean start any day.
That being said, the Zorin Group has been working on a Direct Upgrade (By popular demand) option and hopes to release one late this year. Hopes...
Throughout my run on Zorin OS, one thing I have noticed is that those two people manage to make certain aspects of Linux faster and easier than you would think possible.
Can they "fix" Direct Upgrade? I have no idea. Time will tell. For me, I will compress my home directories in the meantime.
I do backup often as well, on Windows I was using Syncbackup. I found an alternative you may want to try called KBackup under Linux. I didn't find an option to have it compress for me but I don't really care for it that much since I'll be storing everything in my NAS anyways and then I do critical offline backups after all manually for the time being.
Well I guess it is not all that bad, if it can't happen it can't. The important is to have a backup / restore plan.
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