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I'm sorry if this question is not on topic. I am moving from Windows to Linux and had the idea to use a bootable Linux Mint external SSD to slowly download and integrate all the software I use, while at the same time using Windows as my daily driver. Once I am comfortable with Linux, I will then discard windows and use Linux Mint as my daily driver.

I will then need to clone the bootable Linux Mint on to my main SSD. Would Clonezilla allow me to clone the bootable SSD on to my main SSD and use the rest of the allocated space on my drive as free space for Linux Mint?

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    It's a notebook? If you are new to Linux maybe an easier solution is to install Mint alongside with Windows, in the same disk, reducing the Win partition. At boot GRUB will let you choose your OS. Always backup of everything! Commented Jul 11, 2024 at 15:41
  • I must agree with the previous comment. You can dual-boot or, if you intend to use Linux from now on but you occasionally need a given Windows program, then use Windows in a virtual machine. Also any Linux distro takes very little time to install, less than what you want to do which is a bad idea to start with. Commented Jul 11, 2024 at 18:10
  • Well, I hope that Mint uses LVM by default (or at least provide an option in its installer), otherwise after discard windows the OP may need to perform the worst -- moving a partition, in order to use the regained space flexibly. (While reinstalling Linux takes much less effort and time when compared with Windows, it doesn't mean that it is necessarily easy / won't be a hassle, especially for newbs.) Commented Jul 11, 2024 at 18:26
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    I use Kubuntu on external SSD that is copy of my Kubuntu on main working desktop. External drive if SSD works very well. I would never clone it to HDD, but do a new install & restore from backup. Restore would include /home, list of installed apps, and then any data partition(s). If system files changed, copy those from /etc. I edit grub, but since that is about all, I just copy those files into /home so part of normal backup. Commented Jul 11, 2024 at 18:34
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    Best to keep a backup of Windows. We regularly find users to totally convert to Linux, but then find one app or game that only runs in Windows and wants to restore Windows. I have Windows laptop only for tax software & travel. And use external SSD when traveling. My main install is on desktop & I connect external to desktop & rsync /home settings & data to SSD. Only issues are desktop has large screen but laptop does not, so I have to change font defaults and few other settings. Commented Jul 12, 2024 at 18:11

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