The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A separate drive mounted as /home can keep your personal files available when you reinstall Linux, provided the installer mounts the existing filesystem there and does not format it. It is not a backup, and carrying every application setting from one distribution to another can cause compatibility problems. For frequent distro hopping, a shared data area with a separate home directory for each distribution is often the safer arrangement.
What a separate /home does—and does not do
Linux stores user-specific files and settings in /home. If that path is a separate filesystem, the operating system’s root filesystem can be reinstalled or repartitioned without necessarily erasing the home filesystem. It can be a partition on the same disk or a filesystem on another physical drive. A separate physical drive is the arrangement discussed here, but it still leaves your data dependent on one device.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
During a reinstall, the installer must assign the existing filesystem to /home and must not format it. Ubuntu’s Community Help Wiki also advises using the same username. Installer screens and wording vary by distribution and release, so verify the choices shown rather than assuming every installer follows the same steps. Ubuntu Community Help Wiki: Moving /home
This setup preserves a filesystem boundary; it does not create a backup or guarantee that another distribution can use all the settings stored there. Keep an independent backup before changing partitions, copying data, or reinstalling.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Choose what should be shared between distributions
Separate drive or partition for one home filesystem
A distinct /home makes it possible to manage the root filesystem separately, but it requires allocating storage and keeping the mount configuration correct. A dedicated physical drive provides that separation on another device, while a separate partition keeps the storage within the existing disk layout. ArchWiki describes the flexibility and storage-allocation trade-off of a separate /home. ArchWiki: Partitioning
One live home directory across unrelated distributions
Sharing the same home directory between distributions can expose application configuration to different software versions, patches, and defaults. ArchWiki advises against sharing home directories across distributions for this reason. Keeping documents and media available is a clearer use case than reusing every hidden configuration directory.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Separate homes with shared data
For frequent distro hopping, keep distinct home directories for each installation and put documents or media that should be common in a separate shared filesystem. This reduces the chance that one distribution’s application settings will interfere with another’s, while keeping personal data accessible. ArchWiki recommends considering shared media or separate home directories instead of a shared home. ArchWiki: Partitioning
Move an existing home safely
The outline below adapts the Ubuntu Community Help Wiki’s migration sequence. It is general guidance, not a guarantee for every distribution, filesystem, or installer. Consult your distribution’s current documentation before changing partitions or mount configuration.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
- Make a separate backup. Copy important files to storage that is not the source home or the destination drive. A copy on the new drive alone will not protect against drive failure or a mistaken format.
- Prepare the destination filesystem. Create a filesystem supported by your distribution and suitable for the data you need to preserve. Ubuntu’s guide shows ext3/ext4 examples; those examples should not be treated as a universal prescription for current systems.
- Identify and test the destination. Use
blkidto identify its filesystem UUID. Back up/etc/fstab, mount the destination temporarily at a location other than/home, and confirm it mounts as intended. Ubuntu documents UUID and label identifiers infstab(5). Ubuntu Noble fstab(5) manual - Copy the home contents while they are stable. Log out of the account being copied and close applications where feasible. ArchWiki notes that copying live files can miss files or capture inconsistent application state. Ubuntu’s guide uses
rsyncand retains the original home temporarily. ArchWiki: rsync Ubuntu Community Help Wiki: Moving /home - Account for metadata needs. Do not assume
rsync -apreserves every kind of metadata: archive mode does not include ACLs or extended attributes. ArchWiki describes adding-Aand-Xwhen those are needed. Which options are appropriate depends on your filesystems and data. ArchWiki: rsync - Change the mount configuration. Update
/etc/fstabso the destination filesystem is mounted at/home. Use the UUID for the intended filesystem rather than assuming a device name such as/dev/sdb1will remain the same. Check that the filesystem type and mount point are correct, and validate the entry before relying on it at boot. Ubuntu Noble fstab(5) manual - Test before deleting the old copy. Confirm the mount point exists, mount the filesystem, and check that the intended device is actually mounted at
/home. Reboot or remount as appropriate, then verify files and successful logins. Keep the original copy until those checks pass.
A UUID-based entry is generally more stable than a device-node name because device names can be enumerated differently. Ubuntu’s mount-point guide also cautions that removable external drives are often better handled by desktop auto-mounting than by an /etc/fstab entry required during startup. Ubuntu Community Help Wiki: Move mount point
Reinstall without formatting the existing home filesystem
When installing another Linux distribution, select the existing filesystem for /home only if you intend to reuse it, and make sure the installer will not format it. If the installer offers separate formatting controls for root and home, inspect each one carefully. A separate /home is a layout choice, not a universal installer workflow; the Debian installation manual presents it as one possible partitioning scheme. Debian stable installation manual: Recommended partitioning scheme
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Even if personal files remain intact, a new distribution may not be compatible with configuration files created by different software versions. If preserving those settings matters, keep the old home available as a fallback and selectively migrate configuration rather than assuming the entire directory can be reused safely.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteQuick Recap
Best Value
- [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Formatting the wrong filesystem: double-check the selected device and the installer’s format option before proceeding.
- Using a fragile mount identifier: a changing
/dev/sdXname can point to a different device after hardware or enumeration changes; prefer the correct UUID. - Deleting the source too soon: retain it until the new mount, files, and logins have been verified.
- Treating a second drive as a backup: it is still vulnerable to failure, accidental formatting, and configuration errors.
- Copying a changing home directory: close applications and log out where feasible so files are not changing during the copy.
- Assuming archive mode preserves all metadata: determine whether ACLs or extended attributes matter and choose copy options accordingly.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
