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I am using Windows8 and now I am trying to install Ubuntu alongside my Windows8 .My professor has warned that i might lose all my data in the hard disk.Will I lose the data ?

user309311
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  • You will lose data from the partition you use for Ubuntu. Data on Windows partition is safe. – Michał Pietrzak Jul 26 '14 at 07:59
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    There always is a risk of data loss when installing an OS = make backups before you start. We have so many questions here from people who lost their data - just do a quick search to see what to avoid. – Takkat Jul 26 '14 at 08:09
  • Take a look at these: http://askubuntu.com/questions/linked/286181?lq=1 – Takkat Jul 26 '14 at 08:11
  • If you chose "alongside Windows" your windows should be untouched. However make a backup of all your data before installing Ubuntu. If the option "alongside Windows" doesn't work you can follow this guide http://www.everydaylinuxuser.com/2014/05/install-ubuntu-1404-alongside-windows.html – TuKsn Jul 26 '14 at 08:20
  • @bain - for installing alongside Windows 8, this may be more helpful. – Wilf Jul 26 '14 at 09:37
  • @Wilf That question is better for how to install Ubuntu, but this question is about whether it is safe to install Ubuntu. – bain Jul 26 '14 at 09:58

2 Answers2

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Installing Ubuntu as a dual-boot option alongside Windows requires your hard drive to be re-partitioned. Re-partitioning a drive is a potential risk for your data (this is not related to Ubuntu, it is always risky!). In case you are not familiar with disk partitioning this risk will be considerable.

Please backup all your data before you install any other OS

Only after that you will be able to recover in case anything goes wrong accidentally.

Then you may be able to install Ubuntu as outlined here:

The default installer should take care to make space for Ubuntu in your partition layout. In case you feel more comfortable in partitioning from Windows it is recommended to leave an unpartitioned space on your drive to hold Ubuntu. The installer will then create at least two new partitions on installing Ubuntu there.

In any case as soon as you told the installer to "replace" an OS or "erase" a disk it will inevitably repartition your hard drive(s) to remove all the content there. Then only those parts that were not overwritten may be recovered using forensic tools.

Please also note:

  • Ubuntu can't read an encrypted drive
  • Ubuntu can't read Windows dynamic disks
  • Do not hibernate Windows before installing (this includes the Windows fast-boot option!)
  • If in doubt or anything appears weird: don't continue. Ask somebody for help.

Last not least: don't worry too much. In the usual case nothing bad happens. Ubuntu just installs fine as dual-boot without any issues in the very most cases.

Takkat
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You may lose your data indeed. But if you are careful enough, you will not. First of all back everything up. Then, if you have enough free space, allocate partitions for Ubuntu OS. If you don't, try shrinking existing partitions using GParted or some other tool(there are plenty of those for windows too, google it), and allocate Ubuntu partitions there. I usually did this step during installation of Ubuntu. In the end I had all my windows data safe and Ubuntu running. But, nonetheless, do backups, you never know what may go wrong.

wirm
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