Frequently Asked Questions

No, only automatic partitioning is supported, which takes the entire drive.

No. Download all files. Disable any Cloud sync (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloudDrive, Sync, etc.) 'on-demand' features and ensure files are fully downloaded locally before copying. If you proceed without handling Cloud syncing, synced files may not be migrated and the migration-installation may be disrupted. Solutions that used to not get in the way, do now.

No problem: as soon as you boot up this ISO you're in Linux Mint and can connect to the Internet as well as automatically transform your PC from Windows into Linux Mint permanently. Download it in the library if you have to.

No, the thumb drive the ISO is on, needs to be separate.

No, it replaces the entire hard drive with Linux: it’s the standard automatic partition installation of Linux Mint install.

Either. Setting it as the copy drive is fastest as it only requires copying once. It also leaves you with another backup of your data.

The exact same username as Windows. Only in lowercase with underscores in place of spaces. Otherwise, you will end up with an additional user. If there are multiple Windows users, any one of them is fine. If one of them uses a language other than English then enter that one to enable support for that language in addition to English.

About seventy language options are supported by this migration-installation tool (most of the Linux Mint supported languages that are read from left to right).

Image the entire Windows hard drive beforehand using a tool like Clonezilla at the end of step 3 (after performing steps 1 and 2).

No, Windows antivirus or firewall settings do not disrupt the installation-migration process. The live session runs entirely in RAM and from the optical/USB drive, leaving the Windows partition untouched and isolated unless designated as install drive. Since Windows is powered off, its kernel, drivers, and security services are completely dormant. You can proceed without worrying about Windows security software interfering with the process.

Probably not, yet. Cloud-based apps (e.g., email, software suites) work in browsers. Linux Mint includes LibreOffice which is reliably compatible. Additionally, there is an option to install Steam through Lutris and Protonup-rs: community-maintained installers for games, etc. Just say yes in post-install script. Unless you prefer purchasing annual support for thousands of Windows programs via CodeWeavers: CrossOver Linux is $74.

Only standard browsers are supported by the post-install script. Not dev, testing or other versions. But the Windows browser profiles are all copied over (because they are user files). Look in /home/username/.AppData/Local/ directory.

It’s moved to the hidden jackjump directory in users home directory (/home/username/.jackjump) along with backups of other things the script affected.

No, this is a completely replace Windows with Linux solution. Other Linux Mint install options besides automatic partitioning option support dual boot, if you want to pursue that avenue on your own afterwards for another computer.

Beta feature (most common in Windows 7). Select a large enough install drive to consolidate the data from all of the Windows drives. Then set C: drive as copy drive. Otherwise, only files from same hard drive C: is on will be copied to copy drive (so you'll have to mount each additional uncopied NTFS drive in Linux Mint using Disks option from the menu afterwards then use the resulting update to /etc/fstab to manually add a corresponding bind mount line if desired).

Yes, check your drive’s health in Windows with wmic diskdrive get status. If it doesn't pass with no issues, install a new drive for Linux and select the old drive as the copy drive. Also, run chkdsk /f. See Hard Drive Health.

No, disable BitLocker in Windows (Control Panel > System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption) before using the tool or else it won't work.

Yes, image entire Windows drive, add directories to OneDrive and verify they are being backed up or back up all data with a service like Backblaze to protect against hardware failures or power outages.

Probably because OneDrive/Cloud syncing wasn't handled in step 2. Or NTFS compression is used (see below). Or both install drive and copy drive have Windows. More details may be found in /var/log/syslog (search for 'JACKJUMP').

Probably because OneDrive/Cloud syncing wasn't handled in step 2. Or NTFS compression is used (see below). Or you need to format it. Or rename jackjump directory from prior use. More details may be found in /var/log/syslog (search for 'JACKJUMP').

Probably because a directory has NTFS compression enabled in which case it needs to be disabled and contents need to be decompressed in Windows as demonstrated below. Or OneDrive/Cloud syncing wasn't handled in step 2. More details may be found in /var/log/syslog (search for 'JACKJUMP').

Email a copy of /var/log/syslog file as well as a screenshot of error message to support@jackjump.com before restarting the computer.

No, NTFS compression must be disabled on all directories (and subdirectories) to be copied. If it was ever enabled on any directories, then they must be decompressed in Windows beforehand. For example, to decompress AppData\Local directories for all users open Command Prompt as Administrator and run: compact /u /s:"%LOCALAPPDATA%" /i /q.

Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Vivaldi, Opera, and Chromium bookmarks, history, cookies and web data are migrated. Run the post-install script to install and configure them automatically. Note: Many browsers use third-party repositories.

If saved in Pictures/Wallpaper it'll definitely work. The post-install script sets the Windows wallpaper for each user it can find it for.

Yes, the post-install script converts .URL icons on Desktop to Linux-compatible .desktop files.

Yes, run the post-install script first for main user, then for each additional user.

Depends on hardware speed and amount of data to transfer. USB drives copy at ~300 Mbps; internal drives are faster.

Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon Edition, a user-friendly, secure desktop supported until 2029.

Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 (after disabling BitLocker). Windows XP and Vista are not supported. Only Windows 10 and 11 are tested.

You're either in the wrong section or on the wrong ISO. Either way without having to select a copy drive you're just installing Linux Mint. Which will mean having to reimage install disk from backup after.

Launching a game once is necessary to generate directory structure before previously saved games can be copied there from /home/username/.Saved Games.

It may have been hidden (has a . in front of name now). Or, it may have been a duplicate (symlink): go to the source (which may also be hidden).

No, only Windows to Linux Mint is supported.

No.

Post publicly on social media (r/migratepc on Reddit, @migratepc or @jackjumpinc on X, etc.).

No, only the main user (who installed Linux Mint with this tool) can run it.

Ventoy for its ease and reliability.