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- are you currently regularly backing up your data? If so, use that. In case everything goes tits up, you'll need a Windows box to restore that (unless your tool can also work on Linux). Now, if you're not using a backup tool yet, you can either choose one for Windows now or accept some metadata loss and carry on with #2 below.
- I'm assuming for this question you mean a tool to transfer data between your installs. Most data compressors will store creation and modification times and folder structure. Some can store owners, but that will be useless in your new Linux install. What other metadata are you talking about? Photography metadata (ISO, aperture, etc) stays in the file, not outside it on the filesystem. So if you're satisfied with that, I'd recommend 7zip. Add your important files to an archive on an external hard drive.
- If you mean Windows partitions, don't worry, those are fully supported in Linux. If you man individual files, it's more complex to explain, but not a cause for worry. There's nothing inherent in a file that ties it to a particular OS, with the exception of applications (executables). So what you have to look for is what Linux applications can handle the particular file type you're interested. Failing that there's Wine/Proton. You know the Steam Deck? It's a Linux device running Windows games through Wine and Proton, which are compatibility layers. It's no silver bullet, though, some apps don't work well or at all.
- Bonus A: for backup on Linux, it's hard to beat Borg. Vorta is a great GUI for it. Easy to set up, is remarkably fast, and compresses data really well.