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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Which directories should I back up in Windows before moving to Linux? (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 2 days ago by enchantedgoldapple@sopuli.xyz to c/linux@lemmy.ml

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://sopuli.xyz/post/40885318

I'm going to switch from Windows 11 to Linux soon but first I wish to backup every every data and config files I can in my current Windows installation, even those that wouldn't natively work in Linux. I know the \Users folder is important to back up, but I don't know what other directories I am missing.

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[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 24 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Buy a new hard drive/SSD for your Linux installation. Put your Windows drive away in a drawer so all of its contents are saved, and you can swap it back in if you have to. A USB adapter can be helpful for retrieving files.

[–] pulsewidth@lemmy.world 54 points 2 days ago (1 children)

But first before you buy a new SSD don't forget to go back to September of last year.

[–] Jumuta@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago

you can buy used hard drives for pretty reasonable amounts of money

[–] EchoCranium@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

I did this, and installed the old drive into a USB adapter so I could easily pull any documents I may want to access. The Linux install will mount a NTFS drive, so worked great for that.

For the OP, while you CAN have the PC boot up to the Windows drive plugged into USB, I would not recommend doing it more than a couple times. Windows seems to hate this; I've had two installations of Win10 Pro eat itself and become unbootable, could not be repaired. The files were still accessible through Linux though so was able to make copies.

[–] dan@upvote.au 4 points 2 days ago

If you have enough space for it, just keep it in the PC.