Upgrade or Reinstall when new version arrives?

[Jose Catre-Vandis]

Since my Warty Warthog days, on each new release I have fresh installed and reconfigured.

Now older and lazier, and with Jaunty on its way, I am seriously considering trying the update route as opposed to starting over again.

My reasoning for starting over each time is a "feeling" that an upgrade would not give all the goodies that the new release comes with. Is this view unfounded?

[Partyboi2]

Upgrading will give you all the goodies as if you did a clean install as well as it is the recommended way of upgrading as the upgrade method is more tested.

[florus]

My Hardy Heron has developed some minor problems: Sudoku is broken, and I cannot print pdf files. Will an upgrade repair these problems?

[Gramps]

I seem to have better luck doing a reesh install, that way I know I get all the new files and all the config files are also default. Things for me just seem better to me.

I have done it both ways and I prefer the fresh install.

[Partyboi2]

My Hardy Heron has developed some minor problems: Sudoku is broken, and I cannot print pdf files. Will an upgrade repair these problems?
Maybe, but if its minor then you could just try fixing the problems you are having. :P

[florus]

I have re-installed cups and games using Synaptic, but no effect.:(

[Sef]

My reasoning for starting over each time is a "feeling" that an upgrade would not give all the goodies that the new release comes with. Is this view unfounded?

Both an upgrade and a reinstall give you all the goodies. However, there are differences:

1) A reinstall is recommended because it is less problematic than an upgrade. This is what I prefer to do.

2) A successful upgrade will not require you to install anything. However, a successful upgrade is not guaranteed.

[Jose Catre-Vandis]

2) A successful upgrade will not require you to install anything. However, a successful upgrade is not guaranteed.

That has been my prior experience :)

[florus]

If I understand correctly, a straight reinstall would wipe all my data, so it would make sense to create a new home partition. If I do that, how do I tell Ubuntu where my new home directory is?

[Partyboi2]

After you have created a new /home partition and moved all your data over. (http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/separatehome) you would choose the manual partitioning option when installing and set the mount point for your /home partition as /home but do not tick the box to format. Then set the mount point for the root partition as / and tick the box to format.

[florus]

Thanks, Partyboi2. I have it clear now.:)