I'm considering switching to Linux, probably Linux Mint since this would be my first time and I'm not very experienced. My computer has two drives: an SSD containing the current operating system and a separate hard drive containing photos, videos, PDFs, Word documents, and other personal files. If I install Mint on the SSD, will the files on the second drive remain intact, and will I be able to open them from Mint?
5 Answers
The second drive may not be mounted automatically the first time Mint starts. It should appear in the file manager, and clicking it will usually mount it after asking for your password. You can use the Disks utility included with Mint to configure it to mount automatically at startup if that’s more convenient.
If the NTFS drive ever develops filesystem problems, repair it from Windows with chkdsk when possible. Linux tools can handle many situations, but Windows has access to some NTFS metadata that Linux repair utilities don’t fully support.
Make a complete backup before installing, even if you’re certain you’ve selected the right drive. Installers can make mistakes, and it’s especially easy to choose the wrong disk during a first Linux installation. If you don’t have somewhere to back up the files, temporarily disconnect the data drive while installing Mint so it can’t be accidentally formatted.
Yes, the files on the second drive should remain untouched as long as you select only the SSD for formatting and installation. Mint can generally read and write NTFS drives, so your photos, videos, PDFs, and documents should be accessible. You’ll just need compatible applications, such as LibreOffice for Word files and the included media and PDF viewers for the other types.
Modern Linux versions support NTFS directly. Programs and games installed on that drive are a different matter, though; they may need extra configuration or may work better after being reinstalled on the Linux drive.
For maximum safety, consider trying Mint from a live USB first. That lets you confirm the hardware works and check that the data drive can be opened before you commit to installing anything.
If the drive was used by Windows, disable Windows Fast Startup before switching. A hibernated or partially shut-down NTFS volume can be locked, preventing Linux from safely mounting it.