I have cleaned stray files from my desktop and am considering updating to Win11. But it's so much work to put files back into place and install all of my software. I have external drives for different types of files and one for a backup, and have in the past disconnected those before an OS upgrade to keep the computer from accidentally wiping the data. Reattaching them isn't always easy.

How have any of you managed this upgrade with external drives? Also - Microsoft has "Libraries" for file management and by pointing my Libraries to different drives mine always seem to end up with a couple of empty library links in the "Quick Access" area or "This PC" list.