Looking for advice: Moving from Windows 11 to Pop!_OS and getting your data working again.
Looking for advice: Moving from Windows 11 to Pop!_OS and getting your data working again.
Hey everyone, I'm switching from Windows 11 to Pop OS Linux on my laptop, due to running out of space on the SDD for the Windows 11 install. However, I have crucial data stored on my M.2 SSD within my Windows environment that I need ongoing access to post-transition. Could anyone here offer guidance on how I can smoothly transition to Pop!_OS while ensuring continued access to the data on my M.2 SSD, currently utilized by Windows 11? Any insights, personal experiences, or recommended resources or products would be immensely appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help!
To set up another operating system, you must format the storage device. This action will erase everything on the disk. It’s safest to back up your files to an external drive or USB before proceeding. You might divide the data into a different partition and relocate it there, then install Pop!_OS on the main drive. However, this process is more complex, increases the chance of mistakes, and reduces available space for the OS.
Enable mounting the Windows boot drive on Linux. Disable fast startup to prevent locking the drive during hibernation. It's a good idea to back up the drive if it isn't already.
Your approach seems reasonable. You plan to transfer your Windows 11 installation to a larger Sandisk SSD, clone it with EaseUS Partition Manager, and then proceed with Pop OS installation as usual. This would allow you to use the external drive during startup on your Lenovo laptop. Just confirm the steps and ensure the cloning process is complete before moving forward.
I focused on saving just your data instead of the entire system. After that, set up Pop!_OS and transfer the files you require. It’s unclear if Windows 11 supports booting from an external drive, but it might be possible. Another option is to purchase a bigger M.2 slot, clone the installation there, and replace the original SSD with an external one later—though you’d still need a protective case for the SSD.
When switching to a new operating system because of limited storage, consider deleting unused temporary files, logs, and software update archives. Use tools like WinDirStat to identify what might be consuming space excessively.