Yes, this is exactly what I have done. Just pass the VM the whole Windows HDD.
This way it is still possible to boot directly into Windows as well. Not that I every really do. But it’s nice to have the option for the rare niche scenario.
hey guys i’m planning on messing with this tonight. any good tutorials i should read before i attempt this? i went through some of the thread for looking glass, but i really didn’t see any guides. probably just missed it.
if you are unsure at all about vm and need to be able to run windows and linux use one of these hard drive switches.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/FREE-SHIPPING-ORICO-HD-PW4101-BK-3-5-Hard-Drive-Power-Switch-for-Easy-HD-and/32259938512.html
i did this with a shop computer at work using a trios selector and three hard drives (#1 windows, #2 ubuntu, and #3 caine linux (forensic distro and rescue)).
learning your linux is always a plus but there are times it might not be applicable.