How to keeping data with install fresh Ubuntu?

[saidbakr]

Hello,

In Windows I used to partition my hard disk into two - or more - partitions, one of them - the C partition - is dedicated to the OS - Windows Folder, Program Files - while the other is dedicated for data files - Images, documents, movies, games, etc.. -.

In the above situation when I decide to install fresh copy of windows, I just have to format the partition C only and therefore the other partitions are kept without data loss.

In Ubuntu, How could I able to do some thing similar to what I have described with Windows?

By the way, I run Windows and Ubuntu on the same machine and Grub is used to maintain dual boot. The Ubuntu is installed over Small 8 G.B Hard disk - which is secondary master - while Windows is installed over Larger hard disk 80 G.B - which is Primary master -.

[Fafler]

One partition for / and one for /home.

[presence1960]

Hello,

In Windows I used to partition my hard disk into two - or more - partitions, one of them - the C partition - is dedicated to the OS - Windows Folder, Program Files - while the other is dedicated for data files - Images, documents, movies, games, etc.. -.

In the above situation when I decide to install fresh copy of windows, I just have to format the partition C only and therefore the other partitions are kept without data loss.

In Ubuntu, How could I able to do some thing similar to what I have described with Windows?

By the way, I run Windows and Ubuntu on the same machine and Grub is used to maintain dual boot. The Ubuntu is installed over Small 8 G.B Hard disk - which is secondary master - while Windows is installed over Larger hard disk 80 G.B - which is Primary master -.

You can create a separate /home partition when you install Ubuntu by choosing the manual (advanced) option at the prepare disk space (window 4 of 8). If you already have Ubuntu installed you can use gparted to create a new data partition (ext3).

In either case when you do a clean install those partitions will remain untouched. In case of the /home partition you must highlight it during the install , click edit and set parameters: Use as : filesystem ext 3, leave the format box unticked set mount point on the drop down box as /home. When all partitions are setup then continue with install.

I used to create a separate /home partition but got away from that opting to use a ext 3 data partition and use rsync to back up my home directory. For me that gives me more flexibility.

P.S. it will work whether you dual boot, only have Ubuntu or multiboot. I run Ubuntu 9.04, Sabayon 4.1, CrunchBang 9.04 & Windows.

[saidbakr]

You can create a separate /home partition when you install Ubuntu by choosing the manual (advanced) option at the prepare disk space (window 4 of 8). If you already have Ubuntu installed you can use gparted to create a new data partition (ext3).

In either case when you do a clean install those partitions will remain untouched. In case of the /home partition you must highlight it during the install , click edit and set parameters: Use as : filesystem ext 3, leave the format box unticked set mount point on the drop down box as /home. When all partitions are setup then continue with install.

I used to create a separate /home partition but got away from that opting to use a ext 3 data partition and use rsync to back up my home directory. For me that gives me more flexibility.

P.S. it will work whether you dual boot, only have Ubuntu or multiboot. I run Ubuntu 9.04, Sabayon 4.1, CrunchBang 9.04 & Windows.

Thank you for your detailed answer. I'm still a baby in the world of Linux, because I try to get a VISA to leave Windows world which I was born in it! I noticed something about this during installation of Ubuntu - mount point - but my fear of get loss my current computer life - Windows - pushed me to keep everything without advanced option.

I will be very appreciated, if you could able to tell me about some online resources that talk about Ubuntu file system and hard disk partitions in comparison with Windows.

[presence1960]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowtoPartition

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed _first.htm

http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/ -for a good step by step how to on installing ubuntu as well as many other topics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_systems

http://www.freeos.com/articles/3102/ some explanation of linux filesystem structure

http://www.linux.org/lessons/advanced/x1254.html -more about linux filesystems ext2, ext3, etc

That is just for starters. if you do a google search of Linux filesystems you will get a good amount of hits

[saidbakr]

Thank you again!