Backing up before a fresh install of Windows (10)

[timber pike]

Hi! I've installed a new CPU recently, only to find out all my devices have duplicated (showed as new ones) under the already existing drivers. I know it was dumb to not start with a fresh install right away, but I was also expecting everything to work flawlessly. Anyway.

I would like to know what's the most efficient way to copy all my data from my Windows drive somewhere else (second drive or an external USB one) to not leave anything behind? I don't want to use any software with proprietary crap. I'm also talking about app data directories which I don't want to leave behind.

Is there any utility on Linux I could use? Like, live booting off an USB drive and dumping the whole partition into a single folder?

[boreal wigeon]

Copying app data directories kind of defeats the point of a new install

Yes you can boot on Linux and make a copy of the drive or partition, but you'll have to go through it manually and pick out what you want, it wouldn't be great to just do that and then dump it back onto the OS

[jagged widget]

^^ the most that you will want to copy are personal files and shii of that like, programs and everything else will need to be reinstalled and re-setup properly.. files in appdata aren't exactly "plug and play" and you will run into issues if you just copy it all