Making Ubuntu my main OS, any advice before I wipe and reinstall?

[baudrillard]

Anyway to back up my original set up of ubuntu so i can reinstall it?

[ian-weisser]

I'll like my setup and won't have to redo it.

The experience of many here is that your first or second install will eventually get redone.
Your tastes will change, you will discover new fun stuff to try.
Happily, changes and reinstalls are usually much easier with Linux distros that you are likely used to.


you know that when it installs, everything is ready to go, etc. With Ubuntu, and the control it gives you during set up, you can screw that up lol. I don't want to do that.

Then use the default settings and applications. Avoid advanced options until you understand them.
Ubuntu is designed to be 'ready to go' for most new users.


First, I've realized that other than my /Home directory, everything else is literally controlled by Root, so I can't ever just right click 'move to trash' anything but stuff in my /home directory. How can I prevent that next time?

Ubuntu is not trying to behave like Windows. It's different. Sometimes very different.
Get used to the differences. Embrace the differences.


when I decided I didn't want dropbox, I had to use command console to delete all of its different directories because of them all being under Root control.

The command line is powerful. The command line is your friend.
The command line complements the GUI.
Learn to use both. Embrace both.


Advice:
1) Back up your data before installing anything.
2) Make sure you know how to use your Windows recovery media.
3) Test your hardware with a LiveUSB before installing.
4) Start small.
5) Do not follow random instructions off the dirty internet. Wiki.ubuntu.com is your friend.
6) Install software from the Software Center for the first few days.
7) When in doubt, search ubuntuforums. Then ask Ubuntuforums.

[yancek]

First, I've realized that other than my /Home directory, everything else is literally controlled by Root,

That's by design and is the same on any Linux. Everything outside the user /home directory is a system file and the only reason to do anything outside the /home is to install or modify software or system files. That won't change with Linux. You can easily create separate partitions for data such as movies, music or documents and give a user read/write permisisons to that partition.

[Bucky Ball]

I'm going for the actual question as this is a support area (if you are after general opinions please post in a non-support chat area). Might be best to edit your post and leave the question at the end. Post the rest in Ubuntu, Linux & OS Chat. Trust me, you will get myriad set-ups and suggestions.

If you want to clone your current system and reinstall on another partition, then Clonezilla is your friend.

Create image:
http://rbgeek.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/how-to-use-clonezilla-to-backup-hard-drive-and-create-recovery-iso-image/

Create recovery ISO:
https://rbgeek.wordpress.com/tag/using-clonezilla-to-create-iso-image/

Partition cloning step by step:
http://cdonner.com/partition-cloning-with-clonezilla.htm

Create Live media (with pics):
http://clonezilla.org/fine-print-live-doc.php?path=./clonezilla-live/doc/04_Create_Recovery_Clonezilla/01-clonezilla-boot-menu.doc#01-clonezilla-boot-menu.doc

[baudrillard]

I edited it as requested, and I'm sorry for error! And thank you for the links.