Before we get into the process of installing Linux Mint while retaining data, it's important to first mention the LTS releases that are available in Mint. LTS releases are supported for 3 years, unlike the 9-month period of non-LTS releases. If reinstalling Mint is an inconvenience for you, you can consider the LTS releases instead. The main downsides of LTS releases are that the kernel is usually out of date (and therefore, the latest computers may not work well with them) and applications are also not the newest versions. If this is not an issue for you, using LTS releases would mean that you would need to redo your installation less often. The process of retaining data between installations, discussed in this appendix, is compatible with the LTS releases as well. So, you'll still be able to use the same method to keep your installation updated.