I'm currently using a gaming laptop with Windows, but I'm planning to switch to Linux. I have a 1 TB NVMe drive, and I'd really like to keep as much of my stuff as possible. I have some programming tools like Rust and Vexide, along with Blender, a few Steam games, mods, and some fan games. While the Steam games and fan games are optional, I need to keep Rust and my code due to their importance to my work. Unfortunately, I don't have a large thumb drive to back everything up. Any suggestions on how to manage this transition?
5 Answers
You have a few options here. Getting an external hard drive is probably the most straightforward and cost-effective way to back up your important files. If you find yourself needing regular backups, consider investing in a NAS setup. Alternatively, you could look into cloud storage options like Infomaniak's KDrive, where you can pay for a month just to get your files moved. Just imagine if your laptop doesn’t boot one day and you haven’t backed up your stuff!
Have you thought about dual booting? That way, you could keep Windows and Linux together, allowing you to access everything when needed. If your laptop only has one disk, installing Linux on a separate partition could work too, but it might get complicated.
Honestly, your safest bets are getting an external hard drive or using cloud services like Google Cloud. There might be other methods, but they can be risky, and you could end up losing data. Whatever route you decide, make sure to have backups in place!
Yep! Always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your files.
Storage is pretty inexpensive these days! You can grab a 4TB hard drive for like $100. Just check out options from reliable brands, it’s a great long-term investment. That’s only about $25 per TB!
If you're comfortable with some technical work, you could shrink your Windows partition to free up space. Delete what you don't need, just keep your essential Windows files and Rust, then install Linux in the remaining space. That way, your Windows volume can still be your data drive!

I totally agree! Backing up is crucial, especially with all that important work you’re keeping.