New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Questions about Grub, UEFI,the liveCD and the installer
Forum rules
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Locked
redninja
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 5:42 am

New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by redninja »

I am currently running Mint 19.3 Cinnamon off a 1TB HDD.

I have purchased a 240GB SSD and I want to install Mint 20.2 Cinnamon on this but keep /home on the HDD.

If I do the install as something else and point the install towards the HDD for home but tell it NOT to format the partition will i preserve the data etc. on the HDD or am I likely to run into problems.

Thanks in advance.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Mint 19.3 64bit

MoBo = ASUS P8Z68v-PRO
CPU = Intel i7 2600K, not overclocked
RAM = 16Gb Corsair @ 1600mhz
HDD = Seagate Barracuda 1Tb
GPU = NVIDIA GeForce 630 v.2
VDU = 2 x Asus 24 inch
User avatar
AndyMH
Level 21
Level 21
Posts: 13582
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2016 5:23 pm
Location: Wiltshire

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by AndyMH »

redninja wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:40 am If I do the install as something else and point the install towards the HDD for home but tell it NOT to format the partition will i preserve the data etc. on the HDD or am I likely to run into problems.
Yes it will preserve your settings and data. As / is only going to need 30-40GB on the SSD what are you going to do with the rest of the space?
Thinkcentre M720Q - LM21.3 cinnamon, 4 x T430 - LM21.3 cinnamon, Homebrew desktop i5-8400+GTX1080 Cinnamon 19.0
User avatar
all41
Level 19
Level 19
Posts: 9498
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 9:12 am
Location: Computer, Car, Cage

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by all41 »

AndyMH wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 8:19 am
only going to need 30-40GB on the SSD what are you going to do with the rest of the space?
Install more Mints
Everything in life was difficult before it became easy.
redninja
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 5:42 am

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by redninja »

Thanks, not decided yet what to do with spare space
Mint 19.3 64bit

MoBo = ASUS P8Z68v-PRO
CPU = Intel i7 2600K, not overclocked
RAM = 16Gb Corsair @ 1600mhz
HDD = Seagate Barracuda 1Tb
GPU = NVIDIA GeForce 630 v.2
VDU = 2 x Asus 24 inch
djph
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1882
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2019 5:43 am
Location: ::1

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by djph »

redninja wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:40 am I am currently running Mint 19.3 Cinnamon off a 1TB HDD.

I have purchased a 240GB SSD and I want to install Mint 20.2 Cinnamon on this but keep /home on the HDD.
Is "/home" on the existing drive already contained in its own partition? If not, you'll have to make accommodations for that. (Basically backup data / create partiton / copy data back / etc.)
redninja
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 5:42 am

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by redninja »

Yes it is in its own partition
Mint 19.3 64bit

MoBo = ASUS P8Z68v-PRO
CPU = Intel i7 2600K, not overclocked
RAM = 16Gb Corsair @ 1600mhz
HDD = Seagate Barracuda 1Tb
GPU = NVIDIA GeForce 630 v.2
VDU = 2 x Asus 24 inch
djph
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1882
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2019 5:43 am
Location: ::1

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by djph »

then you're good to go -- install as per normal, then before you reboot, setup the new (SSD-install) /etc/fstab to mount that HDD partition to /home.
User avatar
AndyMH
Level 21
Level 21
Posts: 13582
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2016 5:23 pm
Location: Wiltshire

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by AndyMH »

djph wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:42 am then you're good to go -- install as per normal, then before you reboot, setup the new (SSD-install) /etc/fstab to mount that HDD partition to /home.
That is the hard way. OP has said they are going to do a 'something else' install which allows you to point at the existing /home partition and tell the installer to use it for /home and not reformat it.
Thinkcentre M720Q - LM21.3 cinnamon, 4 x T430 - LM21.3 cinnamon, Homebrew desktop i5-8400+GTX1080 Cinnamon 19.0
kunal
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2020 6:40 am

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by kunal »

redninja wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:40 am I am currently running Mint 19.3 Cinnamon off a 1TB HDD.

I have purchased a 240GB SSD and I want to install Mint 20.2 Cinnamon on this but keep /home on the HDD.

If I do the install as something else and point the install towards the HDD for home but tell it NOT to format the partition will i preserve the data etc. on the HDD or am I likely to run into problems.

Thanks in advance.
Yes. What you have decided to do is correct. The data on your HDD will be preserved and LM will point its /home partition to your HDD.

Ensure that before you click on the Next button, there is no green tick mark on the HDD (/home partition). This is obvious but usually people forget it. If there is no green tick mark, that means your HDD will not be formatted.
djph
Level 7
Level 7
Posts: 1882
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2019 5:43 am
Location: ::1

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by djph »

AndyMH wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 1:30 pm
djph wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:42 am then you're good to go -- install as per normal, then before you reboot, setup the new (SSD-install) /etc/fstab to mount that HDD partition to /home.
That is the hard way. OP has said they are going to do a 'something else' install which allows you to point at the existing /home partition and tell the installer to use it for /home and not reformat it.
yeah ... that was supposed to read slightly differently. Hooray for posting early and not re-checking after the coffee was finished...
redninja
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 5:42 am

Re: New install on SSD but keep /home on existing HDD.

Post by redninja »

Thank you all I am going to do the install tomorrow. I will let you know if all goes well.
Mint 19.3 64bit

MoBo = ASUS P8Z68v-PRO
CPU = Intel i7 2600K, not overclocked
RAM = 16Gb Corsair @ 1600mhz
HDD = Seagate Barracuda 1Tb
GPU = NVIDIA GeForce 630 v.2
VDU = 2 x Asus 24 inch
Locked

Return to “Installation & Boot”