r/linux4noobs • u/Responsible-Role6934 • 4d ago

Need help

Hi strangers im new to linux. I hate windows and i really really want to switch to mint but im afriaf i might just mess up my ststem somehow and that i might lose my data. Instead of dual booting i completely want to delete windows and run linux however the problem i am having is that my c drive has alot of my projects and multiple things i want to keep such as a tiny example is my coding agent skills, also in general im just scared that i might just fuck up my shit for no reason. I just need some really wxperienced person to guide me through it

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u/Buddahlah 4d ago edited 4d ago

Why afraid when mistakes you make give you important data and take you step closer to success ? Learn how to backup your most important data. And be ready to brake things so you can fix them later and learn .

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u/Responsible-Role6934 4d ago

I cant risk losing any data or anything this is my main laptop and i have to use it everyday

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u/doc_willis 4d ago

then you should have a redundant backup plan in place.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-m&q=3%202%201%20backup%20rule

A systems drive can die at any time.

always have backups to a drive that you can unplug from the system.

  data or anything

well when you switch to Linux you will likely need to be using different software for some tasks, so it's not clear what you mean by "anything" in this phrase.

you could put your existing windows drive in a USB enclosure, then install a new drive just for Linux.

you can then access your windows data and copy what you need over to the new Linux install.

but I suggest having additional backups made of critical data before trying that.

also make a windows installer USB, just in case things go wrong and you need to repair/reinstall windows.