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

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On Sun, 10 May 2026 11:48:36 +0300, Oguz Kaan Ocal wrote:


> Another part of me thinks that would be stupid and I'd eventually need
> something from the old system again.
> 
> 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.
> 
> Did anyone else here transition this way?

Not exactly. I have a couple of Windows laptops, Win 11 and XP, that I 
keep as Windows systems just in case. I've been using Linux for a long 
time so most of my projects are either on Linux or lend themselves to 
cross platform development so I could transfer them from Windows. My music 
and photos are spread over thumbdrives and a WD Passport backup.

I understand the psychology and suffer from it myself but in reality if 
it's something I haven't used in years I don't need it. 

> Also interested in hearing whether people still dual boot in 2026 or if
> most have moved to VMs / secondary machines / old preserved drives
> instead.

The last dual boot I did was about 2012. It was a Dell box that came with 
Windows 7 and I added SuSE. I found I only ever booted to 7 to make sure 
it still worked. When I redid it I went with straight Fedora. I did the 
same with a mini and Lenovo laptop that came with Windows 11.  However, I 
do have multiple machines and still have a straight Windows 11 laptop if I 
need it.

Keeping the Windows drive sounds like a plan. Even if your machine is SATA 
a SATA SSD is a real improvement. If you have an extra bay just unplug the 
Windows drive, plug in the SSD and start fresh. At least when doing the 
install I'd suggest unplugging the Windows drive to avoid confusion. 

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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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