How to create a dual boot of two instances of Catalina?

[SpecialKBerries]

I want to use the Macbook issued to me by work as my personal laptop as well. I would just create a new login user but the company has Device Profiles that control it. I am an admin user, I can create volumes.

I thought I could put a bootable installer on the new volume outlines by this article https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

Unfortunately I can't download the OS installer. I'm already on Catalina and the cooporate device profiles won't let me download a big sur installer. Is there no way to do this?

 

[gilby101]

You won't like this, but are you asking for help to break your agreement (written, verbal or implied) with your employer regarding how you use the MacBook belonging to your employer?

Nevertheless, if you have an external SSD you may be able to boot to recovery mode, erase the external SSD and install whatever it offers over the Internet (probably BS) to the external SSD.

And there are other ways of downloading macOS installers, e.g. using softwareupdate in Terminal. But if they know what they are doing, your work will have blocked those too!

Importantly, I would not attempt any install to another volume on the internal boot disk. That is asking for trouble and requiring a trip to your work IT support.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you have "a work laptop" that has been assigned to you with software controls installed on it, and you want a computer/account for personal use, the answer is easy:

Buy yourself a laptop that YOU will own and control for your own personal usage.