Windows 10: Best way to add user folders to W10 and Ubuntu dual boot PC?

Would appreciate guidance on best practice... I've successfully clean installed W10 on one physical HDD and Ubuntu on the second physical HDD of my desktop PC. Both are working great so I'm ready to add user folders/files from backup (both PC image and backup files stored on NAS prior to clean install using Macrium Reflect running in W10). From what I've read so far, it seems that user folders should be placed on the HDD containing W10 and I need to 'shrink' the W10 partition to create room for a separate NTFS partition, then assign the new partition a drive letter before returning all user's folders to the new partition. Or maybe I'm way off? As you'll have guessed by now, I'm relatively new to all this so won't understand jargon or too much detail at this stage - I'm just after a broad summary of the best approach please. I'll then investigate further. Also, broad guidance on installing various apps and drivers would be appreciated too (e.g. separate drivers for W10 and Ubuntu or can one driver work with both OS's? Where to place the drivers?). If there's a suitable tutorial I've missed, please point me to that. Many thanks.

:)

 

Best way to add user folders to W10 and Ubuntu dual boot PC?

Thanks for your reply, Macboatmaster. Just to check my understanding...

So there's never a "one-size-fits-all-OS's driver? This means that, assuming drivers are available for all my needs, there will be double the number of drivers installed on a dual boot PC compared to a single boot PC?

In terms of where to place the drivers, I clearly don't have to concern myself with that because Windows will place them in appropriate places on the Windows HDD and Ubuntu will place drivers in appropriate places on the Ubuntu HDD. So I only need to place user folders & files in the user accounts I have already created. It is my intention to keep all user folders & files on the (larger 1GB) Windows disc so the Ubuntu disc (500MB) will only contain the Ubuntu OS and necessary drivers - at least for the time being. And I take the point to copy only the user folders & files and not other folders/files in the user folders such as AppData etc, that I know nothing about.

I've read a suggestion that it's a good idea to create another primary partition on the Windows HDD specifically for user folders & files because, if there are serious problems with W10, the W10 partition can be wiped and W10 clean re-installed without having to wipe user folders & files and re-install them too. That said, I'm wondering what would happen to Windows' existing/in-built folder structure if I placed user folders/files on a separate partition to the OS?

So, just to be sure, even when I place user folders & files on the Windows HDD (whether that be in the existing C:/ or in a new primary partition I create on the Windows HDD), Ubuntu will have access to these folders & files, i.e. I don't have to duplicate all user folders/files on the Ubuntu disc as well? (I know that such duplication would, almost certainly, be unnecessary - and give rise to complications - but from previous experience, I know I can't assume anything when it comes to computers).

Final question: Downloaded files - I guess I am able to save them on the Windows HDD no matter what OS I am using to download them? I just choose the location I want?

Thanks for your consideration.

 

Best way to add user folders to W10 and Ubuntu dual boot PC?

1. Ubuntu will only have access to the data if you ACCESS it through Files - on Ubuntu via the disk on which 10 is, that would be so even if the dual OS was all on one disk
So you mount the drive on which 10 is
you go to your data eg pics, music etc, and you can then copy that to the folders on ubuntu
However it really IMHO is hardly worthwhile, as you can simply dual boot into 10.
OR you can mount and play the music on the user folder or read the doc in Ubuntu

Re the separate partition for the user data - you can but of course if the drive crashes that does not help one jot.
Image it and back up to keep personal data up to date
If a problem restore image to either new drive or to repaired damaged file system and then restore updated user data.

 

Best way to add user folders to W10 and Ubuntu dual boot PC?

Would appreciate guidance on best practice...

I've successfully clean installed W10 on one physical HDD and Ubuntu on the second physical HDD of my desktop PC. Both are working great so I'm ready to add user folders/files from backup (both PC image and backup files stored on NAS prior to clean install using Macrium Reflect running in W10). From what I've read so far, it seems that user folders should be placed on the HDD containing W10 and I need to 'shrink' the W10 partition to create room for a separate NTFS partition, then assign the new partition a drive letter before returning all user's folders to the new partition. Or maybe I'm way off?

As you'll have guessed by now, I'm relatively new to all this so won't understand jargon or too much detail at this stage - I'm just after a broad summary of the best approach please. I'll then investigate further.

Also, broad guidance on installing various apps and drivers would be appreciated too (e.g. separate drivers for W10 and Ubuntu or can one driver work with both OS's? Where to place the drivers?). If there's a suitable tutorial I've missed, please point me to that. Many thanks.