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Open Source and Free Software

mwooldri

(10,429 posts)

4. Short answer: yes.

Reply to mntleo2 (Reply #2)

Sun Dec 11, 2011, 08:34 PM

Dec 2011

If you duplicate all the files on the laptop to an external hard drive, and then on the laptop put Ubuntu as a replacement, then for most external hard drives you can plug it in, Ubuntu will recognize it, and the files would be on the external drive just like any other.

If you have plenty of disk space on the laptop, then if you're looking to try Ubuntu you can, during the Ubuntu install, partition your disk. Then the laptop will give a choice of booting into Ubuntu *or* Vista. Ubuntu can see all the files on a Vista installation just fine so reading will be OK... writing is a different matter, it's supported but on reboot into Vista, Vista may ask to check the integrity of the disk.

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Highlight:

Download Ubuntu 10.10; take the Ubuntu Server Edition Survey 2011 [View all] Swamp Rat Apr 2011 OP

I tried to upgrade 10.04 LTS to 10.10 from a USB stick Occulus Apr 2011 #1

I have a question about Ubuntu mntleo2 May 2011 #2

I have used Ubuntu onpatrol98 Dec 2011 #3

Short answer: yes. mwooldri Dec 2011 #4