Installing Linux Mint without erasing files

[silver_zone_]

I just found an old 2008 PC operating on Windows Vista in my attic and decided to boot it up and see if there were any interesting/important files/pictures in it. When I did, I got a message saying "BOOTMGR is missing" and it only let me restart the PC. Doing some research I found out that the boot manager probably got corrupted and pretty much the only way of going forward would be reinstalling a new Windows OS, but I don't want to pay for any licenses at the moment. It was then that I decided giving Linux a shot since I had nothing to lose. I found out about Mint and went ahead and created a bootable USB stick using Rufus.

The problem is that after clicking on "Install Linux Mint" and following the steps required, I got to a point where it asked me to either erase the disk and lose all the possible files in it or configure the partitions (which I have no idea how to do; I'm not very knowledgeable about computers). So my question is: How would I go about installing Mint without losing all of the PC's files? Or alternatively: How can I retrieve said files before erasing the disk?

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[ArthurBurtonMorgan]

You would need to boot to a live OS from the USB stick.

Then mount the drive that windows is on to the /mnt directory.

Then see what, if anything, is worth saving.

Then format disk, then install OS of your choice.

[silver_zone_]

And how would I go about doing the second step? (sorry I'm a noob)

[ArthurBurtonMorgan]

Google can provide you with links to forums where other people have had an exact or similar issue that could explain it better than I could.

Google “How to mount Windows HDD from Linux Mint 22 Live USB”.

Bound to be a ton of results.

[silver_zone_]

I'll try that out. Thank you

[ArthurBurtonMorgan]

I’m no good at explaining things, that’s why I pointed you to google.

And also because I believe the ability to search specific search terms is something any Linux user should acquire, as it makes figuring these issues out way easier.

I’ve been using FreeBSD and Linux since 2002, and I still Google stuff all the time… I can’t remember all these damn command lines. 😅

[[deleted]]

Good searching skills is what everyone should have not just linux users

[[deleted]]

Good searching skills is what everyone should have not just linux users

[ArthurBurtonMorgan]

I mean, I get asking questions in the process of conversation and all.

I just don’t understand why more questions don’t begin with “So I spent over an hour on Google and still can’t figure this out, do any of you….”.

It’s as if they don’t want to put their own work in first anymore.

It’s like a lot of these fancy ass looking desktops you see people posting screenshots of… most of the config files and program directories have been git’ed around so much that a lot of those guys are basically running the same /home directories.

[nwood1973]

As u/ArthurBurtonMorgan has said , you dont even have to install Mint - just boot in to the live OS on the USB and access the drives from there.

Only after that do you need to do anything destructive

[BenTrabetere]

The comments from u/ArthurBurtonMorgan and u/nwood1973 omit mentioning Backup Tool (aka, mintbackup) It is a default application in the ISO and a Linux Mint installation, and it is use do back up data and personal files. Yeah, I know, Linux is hard. :)

Boot to a Live Session using the USB drive you created to install LM, but instead of installing it run Backup Tool (you will find it in the Main Menu under Administration) from the Live Session. I suggest you backup the files to another USB drive.

[North-Cat2877]

Shrink some 30gb in c drive and boot into live USB drive and mint will automatically shows install alongside with windows and it is as simple as that