I'm considering switching from Windows to Linux due to privacy issues, but I'd prefer not to buy or build a new computer. I'm currently using a Lenovo Legion laptop that runs on Windows 11 and has a Ryzen 4000 series 5 processor, Radeon graphics, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti. If I download Linux Mint and uninstall Windows, will my SSDs be wiped clean in the process?
3 Answers
If you choose to format your drives during the installation, then yes, that will wipe everything clean.
You can actually install Linux Mint alongside Windows so that you don’t lose any data. This way, you can transfer your important files to Linux before deleting the Windows partition later if you decide to. Just be cautious—using Windows tools for partitioning is often safer to prevent any data loss on NTFS partitions. If you want to completely ditch Windows, you can do so during the installation process by choosing to erase all Windows partitions.
Only if you want to erase everything. During installation, you can choose to keep your Windows data or wipe it entirely, depending on what you prefer.
So if I want to completely remove Windows, all my drives will be wiped clean?