I'm really interested in moving to Linux, but I don't have any external drives like a flash drive or USB. I've done some research but I'm feeling unsure about the process. Can anyone share advice on whether it's feasible to do this migration using only my PC?
5 Answers
To be honest, it’s pretty tough to switch to Linux without a USB drive. It might be worth saving up a few bucks to grab one, as that will save you a lot of headaches. Trying to install Linux on your existing system without a flash drive could lead to a complicated setup and a high chance of failure, especially if you’re inexperienced with partitioning and boot loaders.
You might also check local freebie sites. People often give away old USBs or tech gear!
Honestly, I’ve never done it without external media. Creating a partition on your SSD might be possible, but it’s not straightforward. If you’re set on avoiding external drives, that’s the route I'd consider, but prepare for a bit of a learning curve!
Check out some guides or forums about dual booting! It’s possible to shrink your Windows partition and create space for Linux directly on your hard drive, but it’s risky. You definitely don’t want to go through that without backing up everything first. Once you're comfortable, you can remove Windows altogether later if you like.
Yeah! Just remember that doing it all without a backup could lead to losing your data.
Exactly. You really don’t want to risk losing something important.
Have you thought about borrowing a flash drive? You can easily use an 8GB one for the installation—it’s totally enough.
If you do have a DVD writer, you could burn the installation files onto a disc. That’s another option if you can’t get hold of a USB drive. It's much simpler than trying to install directly on your existing OS.
Yeah, it's definitely important to back up anything essential before you start messing with partitions. Trust me, it can turn into a nightmare if things go wrong!