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Do any of the main-stream Linux installers make any attempt at bringing over your files? I have seen so many ”anyone can switch to Linux” articles, and none of

by nikanj 9mo ago

Do any of the main-stream Linux installers make any attempt at bringing over your files? I have seen so many ”anyone can switch to Linux” articles, and none of them seem to mention ”all of your files are going to be utterly lost”

hackyhacky 9mo ago
This is a non-issue if your files are stored in a partition separate from your OS, and is infeasible otherwise. * If you have a separate partition, you can replace your OS and your file remain untouched. * If you don't have a separate partition, your OS and your files will be replaced by the Linux installation. The only way to preserve your files is to copy to some external media before installation. Even if the Linux installer could retain files while reformatting a partition (which might be technically feasible), it would have no way of knowing which files to retain: the user could easily keep important files in arbitrary directories, not just in their designated C:\User\Patrick directory, and they would be understandably irate if the installer promised to keep files but didn't. To say nothing of adding complications of copying files that Windows has pushed to OneDrive.
- nikanj 9mo ago
  > This is a non-issue if your files are stored in a partition separate from your OS, and is infeasible otherwise. That is one of the biggest ifs of 2026. I don't think any major PC laptop vendor has ever sold consumer laptops with anything but one-big-partition layout. For the average user, their files are not stored in any partition, they are stored "right there on my desktop, with a separate folder for photos and bills"
  - mixmastamyk 9mo ago
    EFI/ESP and a restore partition have been standard or at least common for a decade. Restore partition might be big enough to install to… my Linux system partition is only 30GB. But yes, been using a /data partition since it was called D:\ under DOS.
BoredPositron 9mo ago
What desktop OS offers file migration from a different desktop OS during installation on the same machine? Windows and macOS definelty not...
- nikanj 9mo ago
  Windows definitely keeps your files right there in your Desktop / Documents folder when you update from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Like it or not, Aunt Clara is going to expect the same when she "upgrades" to Ubuntu.
  - BoredPositron 9mo ago
    Can I interest you in some new goal posts right over there?
  - mixmastamyk 9mo ago
    Aunt Clara can ask Samantha to make a backup first.
hxugufjfjf 9mo ago
What files? Where would the files be originally for this to be a concern? I’ve switched OS many times but I don’t think I’ve ever thought about moving any files.

by nikanj 9mo ago

hackyhacky 9mo ago

This is a non-issue if your files are stored in a partition separate from your OS, and is infeasible otherwise. * If you have a separate partition, you can replace your OS and your file remain untouched. * If you don't have a separate partition, your OS and your files will be replaced by the Linux installation. The only way to preserve your files is to copy to some external media before installation. Even if the Linux installer could retain files while reformatting a partition (which might be technically feasible), it would have no way of knowing which files to retain: the user could easily keep important files in arbitrary directories, not just in their designated C:\User\Patrick directory, and they would be understandably irate if the installer promised to keep files but didn't. To say nothing of adding complications of copying files that Windows has pushed to OneDrive.

nikanj 9mo ago
> This is a non-issue if your files are stored in a partition separate from your OS, and is infeasible otherwise. That is one of the biggest ifs of 2026. I don't think any major PC laptop vendor has ever sold consumer laptops with anything but one-big-partition layout. For the average user, their files are not stored in any partition, they are stored "right there on my desktop, with a separate folder for photos and bills"
- mixmastamyk 9mo ago
  EFI/ESP and a restore partition have been standard or at least common for a decade. Restore partition might be big enough to install to… my Linux system partition is only 30GB. But yes, been using a /data partition since it was called D:\ under DOS.

BoredPositron 9mo ago

What desktop OS offers file migration from a different desktop OS during installation on the same machine? Windows and macOS definelty not...

nikanj 9mo ago
Windows definitely keeps your files right there in your Desktop / Documents folder when you update from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Like it or not, Aunt Clara is going to expect the same when she "upgrades" to Ubuntu.
- BoredPositron 9mo ago
  Can I interest you in some new goal posts right over there?
- mixmastamyk 9mo ago
  Aunt Clara can ask Samantha to make a backup first.

hxugufjfjf 9mo ago

What files? Where would the files be originally for this to be a concern? I’ve switched OS many times but I don’t think I’ve ever thought about moving any files.