I hate Windows. I hate Microslop. I've hated them forever. Not using Windows helps, but I still have to deal with the consequences of everyone else using it!
What I hate most is people absolutely terrified of a *nix terminal, while willing to work around Windows problems via command prompt or messing with the goddamn fucking registry, which is just bloody ridiculous, why not just use fucking config files... but that's a rant for another time - and people looking at this kind of chatbot interface like cutting edge modern technology when it's actually just a CLI that doesn't fucking work. We had these at the dawn of personal computing, except that those ones worked and gave the same response to the same command every time! Look, I don't like using a terminal either, but at least be honest and consistent about it, people.
This isn't really any of my business, so I don't mean to come across as judgemental, I only mean to propose an option that you have. The storage being an SSD doesn't make it unremovable, it just means you have to open the laptop's shell. Swapping the SSD would be the cheapest way to protect your windows installation, if you're really set on preserving it, while giving yourself the opportunity to switch to Linux and get your feet wet again. Gaming on Linux today is largely the same experience as gaming on Windows. If you use Steam, it isn't anymore complicated than installing the game from your library in the usual way you would on Windows.
Obviously it's physically possible to remove and replace a drive. Removable storage refers to storage that's designed to be routinely removed and replaced - optical media, external USB hard drives, etc. It's easy to say you "just" need to open the shell, but honestly, have you ever tinkered around inside a portable device? I've had to - this laptop spent a good year or two banging about inside my backpack while I cycled to and from uni, over an hour each way, so when the screen went black I thought it would be worth seeing if it was just a loose connector that needed reseating, which fortunately it was. In doing this, because the whole thing is largely held together with integral clip features that took some force to undo, I cracked the case and don't feel comfortable using it as a portable device any more than I have to, now. Yes, it's possible to replace an internal laptop drive but you don't "just" open the shell like you would with a desktop case. I also, frankly, can't justify the expense no matter how minimal, and don't actually need to switch off windows at this time.