Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
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There are no such things as "stupid" questions. However if you think your question is a bit stupid, then this is the right place for you to post it. Stick to easy to-the-point questions that you feel people can answer fast. For long and complicated questions use the other forums in the support section.
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
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Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
Hi all, apologies if this has already been covered but I have an elderly friend who has Linux Mint 17 installed on a very old PC and would like to buy a new Windows PC.
What is the easiest way to move/copy all his Documents etc to an external drive?
I understand that this can be achieved via the Terminal but would prefer the GUI method if possible as I do not know a lot about Linux but I am very familiar with Windows. I understand that I need to format the drive to NTFS for Windows to recognize it.
A very basic step-by-step guide or a link to a video etc would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance.
What is the easiest way to move/copy all his Documents etc to an external drive?
I understand that this can be achieved via the Terminal but would prefer the GUI method if possible as I do not know a lot about Linux but I am very familiar with Windows. I understand that I need to format the drive to NTFS for Windows to recognize it.
A very basic step-by-step guide or a link to a video etc would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance.
Re: Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
plug in the USB hdd, copy the stuff. Same as in Windows.
No need to format or anything -- unless the drive they're using is formatted to a linux-only filesystem
No need to format or anything -- unless the drive they're using is formatted to a linux-only filesystem
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Re: Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
Thanks djph but I actually need to know what I click on first when I open Linux, eg how to find his Documents folder, then second click to copy, where will the USB be displayed, etc. I need a click-by-click guide as I have never used Linux. Could you elaborate on 'copy the stuff' please?
Re: Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
Click-by-click is not going to be easy as we can't see the screen. We don't know which desktop environment is installed, and whether there are specific customizations. But you should expect to find a main menu somewhere in the bar that is across the screen, usually at the bottom. The menu button is by default at the left hand side.
When you open the menu there should be lists of applications and also a search bar. Try typin 'Files' into that search bar; does anything come up? If it does, that's the file manager,
Note that so far, nothing you've seen is radiacally different from Windows.
In the file manager, you will see directories (visualised as folders) and files. The USB stick, too, should be visible in the file manager.
Try the things that you are used to doing. You can select, copy and paste very much like you are using to doing.
When you open the menu there should be lists of applications and also a search bar. Try typin 'Files' into that search bar; does anything come up? If it does, that's the file manager,
Note that so far, nothing you've seen is radiacally different from Windows.
In the file manager, you will see directories (visualised as folders) and files. The USB stick, too, should be visible in the file manager.
Try the things that you are used to doing. You can select, copy and paste very much like you are using to doing.
If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!
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Re: Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
Many thanks, Moem, I will try this over the next few days.
Does the external drive have a specific icon?
How do I safely remove the external drive after copying?
Does the external drive have a specific icon?
How do I safely remove the external drive after copying?
Re: Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
Start Nemo. It should have an icon similar to 1 below.Does the external drive have a specific icon?
. .
If yours doesn't look anything like mine click button 3, or just use what you have already.
The data on the Mint computer will be in directory 2, which is also the circled part.
Right click on 1 and select Eject or Unmount. Either one will work. But let the copying complete and then wait 5 minutes more before doing Eject or Unmount.How do I safely remove the external drive after copying?
Re: Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
We don't know that it's Cinnamon, so we don't know whether there is Nemo.
If your issue is solved, kindly indicate that by editing the first post in the topic, and adding [SOLVED] to the title. Thanks!
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Re: Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
Thanks, Mike and Moem, all I know is it's Mint 17.2 or something. The screenshot really helps.
I will be attempting the copy early next week so I will come back to you if that's ok.
I will be attempting the copy early next week so I will come back to you if that's ok.
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Re: Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
What's more important is how to make sure files have finished copying securely before removing the USB drive. There are times the GUI is being misleading, telling users things are copied when in fact they are still in the RAM "disk cache". This is especially likely to happen when one copy large amount of files into a slow USB stick.
Currently the most reliable solution is to go to terminal then run the
p.s. In the mean time of long wait for
to query how much stuff is not yet written to disk/drive.
Currently the most reliable solution is to go to terminal then run the
sync
command after one finished all the copy+paste in GUI. The GUI option of eject/unmount/safely remove to the USB stick is supposed to do that "sync" thing automatically, but they aren't reliable enough in visual feedback on whether the sync has finished. Meanwhile the sync
command in terminal won't quit and give the prompt back to user until after the operation complete, thus it is clearer. Then one can go back to the GUI and do that eject/unmount/safely remove with more confidence.p.s. In the mean time of long wait for
sync
after copying a lot of stuff into USB stick, one can open another terminal window then run
Code: Select all
cat /proc/meminfo | grep Dirty
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Re: Moving all Data from Linux 17 Mint to Windows via USB.
I have copied all files to an external drive, they are all text Documents, but the music files it says will take days and days!!
So we have given up on moving any Music.
Thank you all for your input.
So we have given up on moving any Music.
Thank you all for your input.