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Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive?

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Oguz Kaan Ocal <oguzkaanocal3169@hotmail.com> writes:

> Not just documents and photos. I mean everything.
Take them with you.

> Old projects, music collections
Take.

> browser profiles, saved passwords,
Dump them, get new ones, not useful anymore.

> software archives,
Take if they are special and you can't download them again easily.

> random folders from 10+ years ago, game saves, old chats,
Dump them.

> drivers,
Not needed anymore.

> forgotten utilities, etc.
Leave them. Linux has 10 million.

> Part of me wants to do a clean break and force myself to fully adapt
> to Linux.
Yes, put Linux as the main system and leave the old Windows disk as
secondary. *If* you need something, copy it over. Dual booting is a
bitch, and Windows will try to kill anything else that you're
booting. Plus, you'll keep using what you already know (Windows) and not
move on. 

> Another part of me thinks that would be stupid and I'd eventually need
> something from the old system again.
When I left, wanted to take IDA, Ollie Debug, and some cool PHP IDE. I
put a bunch of stuff on CDs. Bordland C++. And of course I took my
virus collection. I didn't use 90% of it. Some stuff I did use for
Windows NT4, but that's for old time's sake.

> So lately I've been considering installing Linux on a completely
> separate SSD and just keeping the Windows drive disconnected and
> untouched instead of wiping it.
Just leave it and mount it if you do want it later. Once you find you
don't, take the space for something else.

mount /dev/whatever /mnt/hd

> Was keeping the old drive useful in the long run, or did it just slow
> down the transition because Windows was always there as a fallback?
I didn't need it, really. You'll find new things to use. 

> I'm also curious about the non-technical side of this. I've used
> Windows for most of my life, so changing operating systems feels oddly
> bigger than just installing another OS.
Yes it is. 

> Any regrets, advice, or things you wish you had backed up before switching?
If you need Windows for work or school be careful. Much software is
Windows-only, and most hardware is made for Windows (though it's better
than it was 10 years ago). Your bank might assume you're using Windows,
and if you need help your ISP will likely say they don't support
Linux. Also, if you game, gaming is... different on Linux. Don't expect
to AAA game like with Windows. Yes, you can, but it's more effort. This
as well has gotten better over the years.

Watch secure boot. Windows will *require* it and many Linux won't work
with it. This won't be a problem if you don't dual boot.

> Also interested in hearing whether people still dual boot in 2026 or
> if most have moved to VMs / secondary machines / old preserved drives
> instead.
If you need Windows at all, use a virtual machine. Dual booting is
sketchy - despite what some here will tell you. 

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Thread

Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Oguz Kaan Ocal <oguzkaanocal3169@hotmail.com> - 2026-05-10 11:48 +0300
  Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-10 12:25 +0000
  Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-10 19:29 +0200
  Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-05-10 17:40 +0000
    Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-05-10 17:08 -0700
      Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-05-12 19:55 +0000
        Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-05-12 15:44 -0700
          Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-05-12 23:42 +0000
            [OT] Booting Windows system partition on a VM (was: Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive?) Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-13 09:48 +0100
              Re: [OT] Booting Windows system partition on a VM (was: Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive?) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-05-13 19:47 +0000
          Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-05-13 04:38 +0000
    Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2026-05-11 07:07 -0400
    Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-11 12:52 +0100
      Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-05-12 19:55 +0000
        Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-13 09:49 +0100
  Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-05-10 18:21 +0000
  Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-10 20:08 +0000
    Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Borax Man <boraxman@geidiprime.invalid> - 2026-05-11 14:02 +0000
  Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? jayjwa <jayjwa@atr2.ath.cx.invalid> - 2026-05-10 20:14 -0400
  Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-05-11 04:34 +0200
    Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-05-11 03:29 +0000
      Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-11 01:08 -0400
      Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-05-11 11:14 +0200
        Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-11 12:37 -0400
      Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-05-12 07:26 +0200
        Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-05-12 01:32 -0400
  Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows drive? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-11 12:32 +0100
  Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows Jack Strangio  <jackstrangio@yahoo.com> - 2026-05-14 04:20 +0000
    Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-05-14 10:24 +0100
    Re: Thinking about moving to Linux permanently, should I keep my Windows rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-05-14 17:17 +0000

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