I desperately want to install Linux Mint but i am mainly hindered by the slight chance of failure. I have a lot of data on this computer that i could really live without, but I would rather not lose it, also the fact that i would have to explain to my parents that i lost photos and videos (even though most of my childhood stuff is on my other laptop) Since it is a lot I plan on not backing up the data on my computer. So facepunch, what are the odds of failure to the point of data loss (or worse) also, can i, worst case scenario, retrieve the lost data?
TL;DR: I want to install Linux Mint, I don't want to lose data, it is a lot to back up. What is the percentage of failure, and can i retrieve that data if lost.
If you are afraid of losing your data, just don't be lazy and back-up...
defrag, shrink NT partition, install mint in new space
does Mint have a built in partitioner like Ubuntu? I heard it was better than the windows partitioner.
[editline]30th October 2010[/editline]
[QUOTE=Joker169;25753203]If you are afraid of losing your data, just don't be lazy and back-up...[/QUOTE]
See, i don think i can. I dont have a portable harddrive big enough
[QUOTE=toaster468;25753300]does Mint have a built in partitioner like Ubuntu? I heard it was better than the windows partitioner.[/QUOTE]
yes
[QUOTE=ButtsexV2;25754548]yes[/QUOTE]
Alright then, Ill partition and shit later.
Mint uses Gparted (IIRC). Gparted is generally very reliable. You have to realize that with whatever you do. You risk fucking everything up. major times.
Always defragment the disk using a Windows utility FIRST.
Use the built in Vista/7 disk manager to shrink the Windows partition.
At this point, there's little to no chance of data loss, and you now have enough space to install Linux.
Boot from the linux CD, create a new partition. Make sure no others are touched.
Wait, so if i do everything in Windows (defrag and partition). Then it is just like installing an OS. But an extra step, I need a boot loader like GRUB right?
[editline]31st October 2010[/editline]
No, I read that wrong. When you shrink the windows partition it creates empty space on my hard drive which then Mint will fill?
Sometimes windows can be insanely bad at shrinking it's own partition. It will not allow you to shrink it too much. I remember that once for a class, we used the windows partitioner and it barely gave us a few gigs. Even after a thorough defrag.
You can give gparted the best chance of working by defragging and making sure the thing is powered constantly (laptop) and let it do it's thing.
Try the windows one, if it gives you good results then it's fine but you might have to use gparted.
the problem is, if you've only got one partition you can't shrink anything from within windows
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