migrating from old to new machine

[oldsoundguy]

Well, comes a time when upgrading is the only answer, but I am at a loss as to how to do it!
I picked up a new box with lots of disk space, lots of memory, and a 4 core processor (64 bit)
The old box is just that, OLD ..
New box is 64 bit and SATA only ... where the old box was 32 bit and had both IDE & Sata, but the drive is IDE I want to move 32 bit Ubuntu 16.04 to the new machine and then update to 18.04. (64 bit)

I really could uses a step by step....... do I need to try using a stick (i have a couple of 16gb units)? ...
Or, can I just run a cable?...
Or, can I use my home network?...

Will I need special software?

Not been under the hood in Linux for a LONG time, so, please be kind and treat me like a newbie (lol)

AND THANKS!!

[CelticWarrior]

You can't upgrade from 32 to 64-bit. You need a new installation.

Simply backup your personal files from the old to an external media or cloud service and then transfer to the new after installing the OS.

[oldsoundguy]

THANK YOU!! Nice and quick! (not sure as to what are the "personal files". Guess I will get the 18.4 now and get that part done.)

[SeijiSensei]

Anything under /home should constitute "personal" files.

If you want to have the same software on the next machine as the old, you can use the command


cd ~
sudo dpkg --get-selections > package.list

That will create a file called "package.list" in your home directory. After installing a new Ubuntu version on the new machine, you can use this file to recreate your installation:

sudo dpkg --set-selections < package.list

Put the file on a USB thumbdrive or equivalent so you can use it on the new machine.

[mörgæs]

With new gear 18.04 is not always a good option. Hardware support is better in 19.10.

You might be lucky that 18.04 works but the safe bet is 19.10.

[oldsoundguy]

Thanks for the hardware tips as well ... I am an oldefart and retired over 25 years ago. So, I do spend a lot of time on my computers. I have the new(er) box up and running and updated with 18.04 and later this week will set up the stick and see how that goes.

Again, thanks people.