I'm replacing most of my PC hardware and installing Ubuntu on a fresh boot drive. I'd like to keep the data on my existing drives rather than erase everything and start over. They're currently formatted as NTFS, so can I simply connect them after Ubuntu is installed and access the files normally? I don't mind manually copying important data, but I want to avoid accidentally losing anything. I'm also looking for general advice for moving from Windows to Linux, including how to handle backups, applications, updates, and game saves.
3 Answers
For a beginner-friendly Ubuntu setup, install software through the normal package manager when possible. If an application isn't available there, Flatpak or Snap can be alternatives. Keep the system updated, use administrator privileges only when needed, and avoid random third-party installers unless you understand where they came from. Also verify your Ubuntu installer image before using it and maintain at least one additional backup of irreplaceable files.
A safe approach is to gather your important files into clearly labeled folders, copy them to another drive or backup location, and verify that the copies open correctly. You can leave the old drives connected as secondary storage while setting up Ubuntu, then decide later whether to keep them as NTFS or reformat them after you have confirmed the backup. Game saves can often be copied manually, though their locations vary by game; a save-management utility can help export them before switching systems.
Linux can read and write NTFS drives, so you should generally be able to connect them and access the files. Before removing them from the old system, shut Windows down completely rather than leaving it hibernated or using fast startup; otherwise the filesystem may be marked as still in use. Keep a separate backup of anything important before wiping or repartitioning a drive.
For anything performance-sensitive, especially games, it may be better to eventually copy the data to a Linux-native filesystem such as ext4. NTFS is useful for sharing files between operating systems, but it may not be ideal as the permanent Linux gaming drive.