Will reinstalling Linux Mint on my SSD wipe out my Windows data?

[bruhguy]

If I were to reinstall Linux Mint on my SSD, it would remove all my data on Linux Mint, but would it remove the data on Windows?

[karlchen]

Hello, bruhguy.

Welcome to the Linux Mint forum.

You have to install Linux Mint on the same disk partition(s), where the current Linux Mint installation lives. If you do, the installer will not touch any Windows disk partition.

• Before you start re-installing, still running your current Linux Mint installation, determine the device name(s) of the disk partition(s), which are part of your current Linux Mint installation.
• Write down the device names and the name(s) of the filesystem mountpoints.
• Boot your machine from the Linux Mint live & installation system.
• Inside the Linux Mint installation select as your installation type Something else.
  Only this "Something else" installation will permit you to tell the installer which disk partitions to use for the filesystem(s) /, /home (in case /home is on a separate partition) etc.
• Select the same devices, which you have noted down above.
  Assign each device the same mountpoint as before.
  Do not select any other devices.

Unless you commit a bad mistake, your Windows disk paritions should be safe and remain unchanged.

HTH,
Karl

[linux-rox]

I have an additional suggestion, but rather than try to cover all cases, would prefer to see what you actually have. Please post a brief overview of your present partition scheme. A screenshot of how it looks in Disks would be great. The output of lsblk -f would be fine also.

[motoryzen]

Why not keep things simple and install Linux Mint into a separate ssd instead of " along side windows" ?

Seriously. think about this.

If you prep a Linux mint install drive, disable quick boot in Windows and your uefi/bios ( also disable secure boot) , properly power down the system, disconnect your windows drive, connect only the LM installation drive and the target drive to install that into, select " continue testing " at the end of the install wizard, properly power down the pc ( gui buttons or terminal command of shutdown now), then reconnect your windows drive....


....You'll have a much safer and simpler version of a dual boot system if you're not yet ready to go 100% Linux. Grub will be on the Linux drive where it really belongs..and wont' touch Windows Boot manager..and Windows boot manager won't touch the Linux world where it doesn't belong.

Also chances are you can use a quick boot menu access Fkey if your motherboard is modern enough. And you can still always change which of the two drives in uefi/bios is the one that the system boots to automatically.

Also..backing up your system is much easier this way as there is no guessing involving which partition has exactly what. You'll be able to more easily tell which is which OS world.

Simplicity, intelligent separation and thus less chances for accidental data loss.

[all41]

+1 on separate drives.
Also if something goes south--only one os to reinstall