Elektrek “estimated”, using incomplete data.

So your issue sounds is one of disorganization rather than backup or migration.

Use something like WizTree or WinDirStat, which will help you visualize the data on your disk, and hopefully locate your critical files. You’ve got no choice other than to grind it out and get your shit organized.

Once done, migrate your newly organized files onto a new disk. Unless you want to play with weird drivers, I’d recommend you format the new disk as ExFat to maximize compatibility between Linux and Windows.

I understand the importance of backups and regularly practice doing so, even if not to the fullest extent.

File history is not a backup, and certainly not a backup strategy. If your data truly is critical, which given your lengthy post explaining how far you’re going towards not backing up your data, look at 3-2-1, then reassess how critical your data is. At a minimum, you should have an offline copy on another disk, and not just a volume shadow copy.

If you’ve ever connected a laptop or PC to a television as a monitor, the benefit of 4K for text readability is incredibly apparent.

If this isn’t your use case, and you’re not right up against your screen, 1080p is more than good enough; not like most content is coming down on 4K unless you’re paying extra, anyways.