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 <sect1 id="backup">
 <title>Back Up Your Existing Data!</title>
<para>

Before you start, make sure to back up every file that is now on your
system. If this is the first time a non-native operating system is going
to be installed on your computer, it is quite likely you will need to
re-partition your disk to make room for &debian-gnu;. Anytime you
partition your disk, you run a risk of losing everything on the
disk, no matter what program you use to do it. The programs used in
the installation of &debian-gnu; are quite reliable and most have seen years of use; but
they are also quite powerful and a false move can cost you. Even after
backing up, be careful and think about your answers and actions. Two
minutes of thinking can save hours of unnecessary work.

</para><para>

If you are creating a multi-boot system, make sure that you have the
distribution media of any other present operating systems on hand.
Even though this is normally not necessary, there might be situations
in which you could be required to reinstall your operating system's boot
loader to make the system boot or in a worst case even have to reinstall the 
complete operating system and restore your previously made backup.


</para>

 </sect1>
