Fresh Install, how-to?

[KingTermite]

Ok...I've been running Ubuntu 8.04 for about 2 or 3 weeks now. I'm happy with it and wanting to keep it. Through my learning process so far, I've installed a lot of "crap" and want to start fresh now.


1) If I delete partition and reinstall, will it screw up GRUB and my dual boot with XP?

2) Once I start fresh, is there any tool/utility that can help me keep track of what I've installed/changed since the fresh install?

3) If I upgrade at some point in time, can I just install over what's there? I want to upgrade without having to reconfigure everything the way I've tweaked it.

4) If I install two partitions with Ubuntu, how will GRUB handle that? Which menu.lst file will be the one used? I'd like one for "real" and one that is a "test playground".


Thanks in advance.

[drs305]

3) If I upgrade at some point in time, can I just install over what's there? I want to upgrade without having to reconfigure everything the way I've tweaked it.

One thing you can do is to create a separate home partition when you reinstall. You will create (a minimum of) a / (root), /home and swap partition. Having a separate home partition of about 5GB will allow all of your settings to be retained if you have to reinstall the system.

[housam]

1) No.
2) add / remove programs can help
3) yes , upgrading will keep your settings as it is
4) it will give you a grub menu to choose which system to boot.and you can always make a backup before you change any thing

[KingTermite]

1) No.
2) add / remove programs can help
3) yes , upgrading will keep your settings as it is
4) it will give you a grub menu to choose which system to boot.and you can always make a backup before you change any thing

Thanks for the reply, but.....I still have questions on 2 and 4.

How will add/remove programs help me keep track. Can you be more specific? I'd like to know exactly which things *I* installed.


And on 4, I think you missed the point of the question. I know how GRUB gives you a menu, I have a dual boot now. But that menu comes from the menu.lst file.

If I installed a second Ubuntu, then each installation will have a GRUB menu.lst file, will it not? Which one is used? How do I know WHICH menu.lst file to updated if I want to tweak it?

[indytim]

If I installed a second Ubuntu, then each installation will have a GRUB menu.lst file, will it not? Which one is used? How do I know WHICH menu.lst file to updated if I want to tweak it?

By default, you will be using the menu.lst from your last install. The others will exist but will no longer be active. See my sig if you want to have a stable Grub covering multiple Lxs.

IndyTim

[KingTermite]

By default, you will be using the menu.lst from your last install. The others will exist but will no longer be active. See my sig if you want to have a stable Grub covering multiple Lxs.

IndyTim

Thanks for the info.

I'm also looking at your article now.