alt Hacker NewsDo 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”
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hxugufjfjf • yesterday at 7:00 PM
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.
BoredPositron • yesterday at 6:15 PM
What desktop OS offers file migration from a different desktop OS during installation on the same machine? Windows and macOS definelty not...
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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.