deleting WIN Vista installing Linux
 

Want to install Linux on two PCs which have WIN Vista OS. Need to ensure all personal files are transferred.

That's a good idea and should be your first step before installing. You don't delete operating systems (vista) simply format the partitions after doing your backup and install. Do you have any idea which Linux you might want to install? Someone here should be able to give you specific advice if you let us know.

https://www.linuxmint.com/


:hattip:

Cool!
 

Hi.

You need something to copy your data to and another to write an .iso on... here's some links to links from a new :newbie::
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ot-4175579539/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ux-4175579540/

have fun! :)

For many years my personal files are saved to a separate partition, which is not affected in the event of Windoze crashing or installing alternative operating systems
I presently dual boot Win 7 Pro and Linux Mint with two additional Logical partitions, one for backups (drive inages) and one for everything else. nothing I want to keep is on the operating systems.

Alan.

Update your most recent data backup on whatever separate medium or media you normally use. Install whichever flavour of Linux you like the look of and then restore your files.

Using a separate partition for /home (where user files and data are kept) will USUALLY save you time when (in the future) installing a new Linux distribution. If you don't format this partition you ALMOST always won't need to replace your user data. But even so you should ALWAYS back up before doing anything major to your OS.

I would copy all personal data to an SD card before running anything else. If you have been running Windows for years on those machines, and have your data scattered everywhere and can't reorganize, I would clone the Windows partitions first with something Linux understands such as Clonezilla. Work like an alpinist.

Buy the largest USB Drive you can afford and start working on your backups.

Transfer your data to a flash drive or external hard drive, via USB. Then after installing Linux you can transfer your data back from said flash drive or external hard drive to computer with Linux.

Or, Blu Ray burner or SSD or old-drives and internal external hookups to USB or S-SATA or upload it &c!?. :)

If it's important keep going on that list and do them all, many may (or will) fail! ;)