I'm having some trouble with my laptop, which has been experiencing boot issues due to what I suspect is a failing hard drive. I've managed to recover from problems using chkdsk and sfc /scannow, but I know my HDD that runs Windows 11 won't last much longer. Luckily, I do have a 2TB Samsung SSD that currently stores my Steam games. I'm looking to create a partition on that SSD to install a backup operating system, likely a Linux distro like Bazzite or Mint, rather than reverting to Windows. I primarily use this laptop for gaming with friends on Discord and watching movies or YouTube, so I don't need anything too intensive. I'm fine with redownloading my games and profiles, but I have no backup options, and I live in a rural area with no funds for repairs or new parts. Any advice on how to set this up without messing things up would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
To avoid issues with your setup, it's best not to run Windows from an HDD that's failing. First, clear out your SSD: remove all non-essential files and games. Then, create a new partition on your SSD that's about 300-500GB for the Windows installation. You should back up your personal files from both the HDD and SSD to the new partition. When you install Windows, you want to unplug the failing HDD to prevent any complications. Afterward, you can safely dispose of the HDD since you'll have your OS running smoothly on the SSD! Good luck!
I'm not comfortable with opening my laptop to remove the HDD. Is it okay if I just leave it in there and format it instead?