starcannon
June 1st, 2008, 10:09 PM
Before you ever consider installing another Operating System, whether it be Linux, another version of Windows, a Hackintosh:
BACKUP ALL OF YOUR IMPORTANT DATA!
I've read too many heartbreaking posts of someone messing up a partition, generally a windows partition, that contains important data. This problem does not have to exist, it is insanity to mess with your hard drive partitions before you back up your important data.
So here is how you go about messing with your hard disk drive:
Back Up everything that may now or in the future be of importance to you.
Leave the restore partition alone, just don't mess with it.
Double Check that your data is backed up, be sure its readable from another computer somewhere in the house or at work or where ever you have to go to check that the data is truly there and faithfully represented.
Be prepared to start over from scratch, you may mess up and have to do a complete full reinstall of windows. You'll be glad you didn't mess with the restore partition if you decide to put it back to OEM
If and only if you are certain that you backed up everything of importance to you, then proceed to move forward with your new Operating System Install.
If your new to Linux, or Operating System Installs in general, you will find that sanity will thrive in this method. If you've never partitioned, or resized partitions, or messed with the mbr or grub, then I can almost guarantee your going to foul it up at least once while your in the learning process. While this can be frustrating if your trying to learn it fast, it can be devastating if you did not back up mission critical data, family photo's and movies, mp3 collections, or whatever else you have of importance on your hard disk drive. Recovering lost data is possible, but it can be VERY time consuming, it can lead to only partial results, and it can lead to a life time of misery and binge drinking.
If you have read this post, you have been sufficiently warned that not backing up your data may lead to trauma of biblical proportions.
BACKUP ALL OF YOUR IMPORTANT DATA!
I've read too many heartbreaking posts of someone messing up a partition, generally a windows partition, that contains important data. This problem does not have to exist, it is insanity to mess with your hard drive partitions before you back up your important data.
So here is how you go about messing with your hard disk drive:
Back Up everything that may now or in the future be of importance to you.
Leave the restore partition alone, just don't mess with it.
Double Check that your data is backed up, be sure its readable from another computer somewhere in the house or at work or where ever you have to go to check that the data is truly there and faithfully represented.
Be prepared to start over from scratch, you may mess up and have to do a complete full reinstall of windows. You'll be glad you didn't mess with the restore partition if you decide to put it back to OEM
If and only if you are certain that you backed up everything of importance to you, then proceed to move forward with your new Operating System Install.
If your new to Linux, or Operating System Installs in general, you will find that sanity will thrive in this method. If you've never partitioned, or resized partitions, or messed with the mbr or grub, then I can almost guarantee your going to foul it up at least once while your in the learning process. While this can be frustrating if your trying to learn it fast, it can be devastating if you did not back up mission critical data, family photo's and movies, mp3 collections, or whatever else you have of importance on your hard disk drive. Recovering lost data is possible, but it can be VERY time consuming, it can lead to only partial results, and it can lead to a life time of misery and binge drinking.
If you have read this post, you have been sufficiently warned that not backing up your data may lead to trauma of biblical proportions.