I'm looking to switch to Linux but I really want to avoid dual booting. Specifically, I have about 100GB of personal files that I need to move from my Windows setup to my new Linux installation. Any tips on how to do this effectively?
3 Answers
If you have an external drive, copy all your data there first. Install Linux on your machine—which will erase Windows—and then transfer your files back. You might not be able to move over installed Windows apps due to compatibility issues, so just keep that in mind!
Before installing Linux, make sure to back up your data on a separate hard drive. After you confirm everything is saved, go ahead and install Linux, then just copy your files over from the backup drive to your new system.
A good way to handle this is to back up your 100GB of personal files onto an external SSD. If you have a fast internet connection, you could also consider uploading your files to a service like Dropbox and then downloading them again once you're set up with Linux.
Thanks for the input! I figured the apps wouldn't make the transition, but it's good to confirm.