I'm planning to ditch Windows for good and switch to Linux. I understand that backing up data is important, but I'm unclear if I need to worry about files on my other drives. I have a boot SSD and two additional SATA drives. Should I back up everything on those other drives, or will they be safe when I install Linux?
2 Answers
Before you install Linux, you'll need to format a partition on one of your drives, which does erase everything on that partition. It’s crucial to make sure you select the right drive to format. To avoid any accidents, consider unplugging your additional SATA drives during the installation. That way, you can’t accidentally wipe them. It's always better to be safe, especially since there are many cautionary tales from users who thought they had it all figured out.
For backups, it's really whatever you feel comfortable with. You don't necessarily need to back up anything other than your boot drive. If you're feeling unsure, just take out the additional drives while you install Linux, and you can plug them back in afterward without any issues. If you're looking for backup options, a NAS is a great idea. They run Linux and have Windows-compatible tools, so you don’t have to fret about file system issues.
So just to clarify, if I unplug my extra drives during the installation, I can reconnect them afterward and they'll be recognized without any file system issues?