Warning 0: Read the whole post including the warnings near the end before you start doing anything!
Originally Posted by
GRobLewis
Yes, exactly, thank you. If I could simply copy the 14.04 install from partition 5 to partition 3 and make Grub work with it, I'd be good to go. Though shouldn't I upgrade the partition's file system from ext3 to ext4 first? (I'm still puzzled how the 14.04 installer simply chose to use partition 5, without any direction from me that I can recall.)
I still have the 14.04 installer on a USB stick, if that's of any use.
1. Boot from the 14.04 installer on a USB stick
2. Start gparted and format partition 3 to ext4.
3. Mount the two drives, assuming it it still device b, /dev/sdb. Check this !!!
Code:
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/sdb3
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/sdb5
sudo mount /dev/sdb3 /mnt/sdb3
sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /mnt/sdb5
4. Copy the content of partition 5 to partition 3 with rsync
First a DRY RUN (with the option n to see that it works correcly)
Code:
sudo rsync -Havn /mnt/sdb5/ /mnt/sdb3 # the trailing slash '/' in /dev/sdb5/ is important
Then run the real thing
Code:
sudo rsync -Hav /mnt/sdb5/ /mnt/sdb3 # the trailing slash '/' in /dev/sdb5/ is important
5. Fix the bootloader, so that it points to sdb3 according to this link
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr..._Broken_System
Preserving the work in my user directory in the 12.11 install on partition 3 would be a bonus, though not essential.
A big fear is that I'll accidentally do something to kill the Windows XP install in partition 1.
Final question: when I partitioned the drive I created the 8GB partition 2, thinking I'd use it for swap space. Is there any advantage to this? How do I enable it? (This machine is basically a learning tool for ubuntu, and not a day-to-day workstation or server.)
Warning 1:
If you want to preserve your work in the home directory, you should not work along the previous tips, but keep the home directory in sdb3 and let it become a separate home partition. Shrink the partition and use the other part as the root partition. This is more complicated but certainly possible. I am not sure which method would be the best. Maybe a fresh installation onto a system including a blank root partition and your home partition.
Warning 2:
In all cases, there are many risky moments both for mistakes and power failure, so be sure to have a good backup before you start.
-o-
It is good to have swap. If you intend to hibernate, you need at least the same amount in gibibytes as the RAM. Otherwise it is probably enough with one or two GB swap.
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