Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBoot Ubuntu from a separate Live USB, copy the files you need from the installed system’s data volume to a different drive, and verify the copy before attempting filesystem repair. If the disk may be physically failing or the files are irreplaceable, minimize activity on the original and prioritize making an image or getting professional recovery help; a repair attempt is not a backup.
Choose file copying or imaging first
The right preservation method depends on the disk’s condition and what you need to recover. A file copy is useful when the volume is readable and you mainly need personal folders. An image preserves a whole volume for later recovery work and is the safer priority when the device is damaged or the data is exceptionally valuable.
| Approach | What it preserves | When it fits | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy selected files | The folders and files you select | A readable disk with no clear signs of physical failure, when you need user files quickly | It is not a full-volume image and does not preserve everything on the source volume. |
| Create a volume or device image | A whole volume or device image for later recovery work | Especially valuable data or a damaged device; work from the image where possible | Ubuntu’s guidance recommends imaging but does not specify a particular imaging tool or procedure here. |
Ubuntu’s DataRecovery guidance advises imaging a damaged device and working on the image file. Its filesystem repair guidance recommends saving a volume image before repair when the data is too valuable to risk.
Prepare separate boot and backup drives
Use one USB stick to start Ubuntu and a different drive to hold the backup. Ubuntu’s current bootable USB guide documents an installer stick of 8 GB or larger and warns that writing the Ubuntu image erases the selected USB stick. Do not use the only copy of important files as installation media. The 8 GB figure applies to the installer stick, not to the capacity required for your backup destination; that depends on how much data you need to save.
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Boot the live session and identify the volumes
- Start the computer from the Ubuntu Live USB. If the startup screen offers it, choose the option to try Ubuntu without installing it.
- Before opening or copying files, inspect the available disks and partitions in the live desktop. Identify the installed system’s data volume and the separate destination drive by their details; do not assume a device path such as
/dev/sdais universal. Drive names and ordering can differ, including on NVMe systems. - If the disk may be failing, avoid mounting the affected partition or its swap space automatically, and avoid writing to the device. Ubuntu’s recovery guidance warns that writes can worsen hardware failure or overwrite recoverable data.
If the volume is readable and the device is not showing signs of physical failure, use the file manager to open the source volume and copy the personal folders you need to the separate destination. The volume may not mount automatically, and encrypted volumes may require steps not covered here; do not assume they will open in the live session.
Copy and verify the files before repair
- Copy the most important personal files first, in case the disk becomes less readable.
- Check the destination for the expected folders and files. Open representative files from the backup to confirm they are usable.
- Only after checking the copy should you move on to repair, unless you are prioritizing an image or professional recovery instead.
A file-level copy is meant to preserve selected files for use. An image serves a different purpose: retaining a whole volume or device for later recovery work. Ubuntu does not establish universal instructions here for accessing encrypted installations or preserving every permission and metadata detail across different source and destination formats.
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Stop if the drive appears to be failing
Unusual noises, repeated input/output errors, a drive that disappears, or a volume that becomes less readable are reasons to stop normal use and avoid repeated repair attempts or lengthy tests. For irreplaceable data, reduce activity on the original device and prioritize imaging it if feasible. Ubuntu’s recovery guidance recommends professional advice when recovery applications do not work and the data cannot be replaced.
Repair only after preservation
Checking a filesystem and repairing it are different operations. Ubuntu’s repair documentation says a filesystem check does not modify the filesystem, while repair attempts to bring it to a consistent state and can move damaged file parts to lost+found. If repair fails, imaging the volume may be needed for later recovery.
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The fsck manpage for Ubuntu Resolute, util-linux 2.41.3-3ubuntu2.2, describes fsck as a front end for checking and optionally repairing Linux filesystems. It can target a device, mount point, filesystem label, or UUID. There is no safe universal repair command: confirm the actual target and filesystem type, ensure the filesystem is unmounted, and follow documentation for that filesystem. Do not mistake running repair for backing up data.
Use disk-health checks as supporting evidence
The smartctl manpage for Ubuntu Noble, smartmontools 7.4-2build1, describes SMART monitoring and disk self-tests. A USB bridge can limit health-status reporting, and an extended self-test can take several hours. These checks do not replace preserving data; avoid a long test before copying or imaging a drive that appears to be failing.
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