Linux noob here. Usually in Windows if I have a 1TB SSD, I make a 250GB partition for Windows and all of its things and I use the rest for a second partition where I install my stuff and store my files.

Usually in case Windows decides to go belly up, I still have my files. In more than 20 years it has never happened but I’ve always done it like that. I mean if Windows goes bad, I can still remove the drive and insert it into a different PC and copy my files away.

Should I shrink Partition 3 and make another one? Or keep it as it is? If I would, I read that I need to boot with a live usb to be able to shrink it. What kind of partition would I make?

  • mudeth@lemmy.caEnglish
    33·
    11 months ago

    Feels like good practice to have /home mounted on a separate partition if you want to install a different distro or reinstall but I’ve never had to test the theory.

    • Quazatron@lemmy.worldEnglish
      17·
      11 months ago

      This. For home use having a separate / and /home (and maybe a swap) formated as ext4 is solid and allows you to distro hop with ease. As you get more comfortable with Linux, you’ll learn about the luxury of LVM volumes and more exotic filesystems with compression and other features. What is important is to always keep fresh backups. BorgBackup is your friend, you can find a few graphical front ends for it to simplify things.

    • NaN@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      8·
      11 months ago

      Works well for distrohopping too, I usually would rename my home to oldhome or something and then just move my files to the new one to prevent dotfiles from potentially causing issues.

      Also beware Debian installer with a luks encrypted drive. Where most things will unlock a previously-encrypted drive and use it, Debian installer will (or would, it’s been a while) reformat the encryption before it confirms any potential partition layout changes and you can end up with an empty drive before you know it.

      • CAPSLOCKFTW@lemmy.mlEnglish
        3·
        11 months ago

        Just add a new user when you install a new distro, then you can have a fresh start. If you want to try your old one, just useradd you old user and try it out.

    • Freeman@lemmy.pubEnglish
      3·
      11 months ago

      If you use something like btrfs you can use a single partition and just use sub volumes to achieve similar. Though it’s definately more complex.

    • atlasraven31@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I’ve heard the same but I went with the defaults as a n00b. Ubuntu made me create a /swap and other sub directories.

      • pinchcramp@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        Is the screenshot you posted from Ubuntu or Pop!_OS? Because partition 4 is a swap partition.

        But I agree with mudeth, having a system partition and a dedicated /home one is a decent setup.