PDA

View Full Version : [ubuntu] How to back-up before fresh install?



Daremo_06
December 19th, 2009, 09:50 PM
I want to do a fresh installation of 9.10 and I spent some time looking for a guide, but the couple that I found seemed to have holes in them so I don't want to start until I am sure I have everything backed up.

Is there a good COMPLETE (or mostly complete) guide for this?

Otherwise here are my questions.

What do I need to back up to put my system back the way it is right now?

I have already done this.


sudo dpkg --get-selections > /home/user/package.selections

And then copied package.selections to my storage drive.

I also copied over /etc/apt/sources.list

What about firefox plugins and settings?

Evolution settings?

I know I need to copy my home folder over to my storage drive also, do I need to run
gksu nautilus in order to copy hidden files? Or is there a better way to do this so that I properly capture everything?

Will I need to re-associate things once I re-installed 9.10?

Thanks!

phillw
December 19th, 2009, 10:19 PM
I want to do a fresh installation of 9.10 and I spent some time looking for a guide, but the couple that I found seemed to have holes in them so I don't want to start until I am sure I have everything backed up.

Is there a good COMPLETE (or mostly complete) guide for this?

Otherwise here are my questions.

What do I need to back up to put my system back the way it is right now?

I have already done this.


sudo dpkg --get-selections > /home/user/package.selectionsAnd then copied package.selections to my storage drive.

I also copied over /etc/apt/sources.list

What about firefox plugins and settings?

Evolution settings?

I know I need to copy my home folder over to my storage drive also, do I need to run
gksu nautilus in order to copy hidden files? Or is there a better way to do this so that I properly capture everything?

Will I need to re-associate things once I re-installed 9.10?

Thanks!

Most of your applications are installed by default - you only need to note any you have specifically added yourself.

If you've been a gud boi - then a backup and restore of your ~home will suffice. That will capture all your bookmarks, documents, vids, etc.

doing a backup & restore of ~home is quick & painless - You just need to decide where to put the backup copy.

You can look at like Pybackpack --> http://www.ubuntugeek.com/pybackpack...x-desktop.html (http://www.ubuntugeek.com/pybackpack-a-user-friendly-file-backup-tool-for-ubuntu-linux-desktop.html)
Or Clonezilla --> http://www.tuxradar.com/content/how-...ves-clonezilla (http://www.tuxradar.com/content/how-clone-hard-drives-clonezilla)

I use the command line for my backups. But, you choose whatever method you're happiest with.

Phill.

laceration
December 20th, 2009, 04:06 AM
A list of your packages is pretty useless, because it mostly consists, not of the programs you installed, but of the software libraries that run system and software. Since many, probably even most, libraries are updated in subsequent releases there is no reason carry that list over. It might be useful to look through that list and make a note of software you have installed, so you can reinstall it, but most of what you see there won't make much sense.
Depending on what software you have installed, you may have some other settings in /etc and you might want to copy your /etc/fstab because you mentioned a storage drive so you might have a line in there that automatically mounts it.

terry@softreq.com
December 20th, 2009, 04:14 AM
You could do your install on another (new) disk.

Keep your current disk as a backup.

If you don't have a lot of files you could copy them to a usb jump drive and then copy them to your installation.

Once your happy with your result, use your current disk as a second internal or external drive :).