I currently have Windows 11 and Ubuntu set up in a dual-boot configuration, mainly for gaming. I want to switch completely to Ubuntu, remove Windows, and possibly reformat or reorganize the drives. I have enough storage to back up the files I need, but reinstalling Ubuntu and restoring all my settings and applications would take several hours. Is it reasonably safe to move or expand my existing Linux root partition, or would a clean Ubuntu installation be the better approach?
2 Answers
You can preserve the existing installation by deleting the Windows partitions and resizing or moving the Linux partitions, but make a complete backup before attempting it. Partition changes can fail because of power loss, mistakes, or filesystem issues. If you don’t have a carefully tested backup and a strong reason to preserve the current setup, reinstalling cleanly is the safer option.
Back up anything important first, then use the installer’s option to erase the target disk and install Ubuntu fresh. That will remove Windows and recreate the Linux partitions, typically using a filesystem such as ext4. A clean install is usually less error-prone than manually moving or expanding the root partition, especially if you’re changing the drive layout.
That makes sense. I do have room to back up my files, but I was hoping to avoid spending most of a day rebuilding the working system. I documented the original installation, although I may have missed some details.