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Re: [LUG] Wife's computer

 
On 09/02/2020 14:04, Julian Hall wrote:
> On 09/02/2020 12:00, Neil wrote:
>> On 08/02/2020 16:12, mr meowski wrote:
>>>
>>> It will partly work but you'll run into a whole bunch of problems you
>>> weren't expecting, which is exactly what these instructions take care
>>> of! Bear in mind this is exactly the sort of thing I'm paid to do all
>>> day every day so I didn't pull this methodology out of my ass, this is
>>> "The Linux Way" of doing things. You're obviously using Linux and are
>>> going to spend far more time wondering why things aren't working
>>> properly and trying and failing to fix them afterwards if you just
>>> blindly start dumping random files manually back and forth on USB. Your
>>> call my friend ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
>>>
>>
>> Well, lots of information and help there. My first reaction was to run
>> for the hills. However, that will not help so ....
>>
>> I have a desktop computer. Wife and daughter each have laptops. All
>> three are set up with MX 19.
>>
>> I treat all three machines as quite separate and independent. Every
>> year MX Linux has a new version ready. This requires a full
>> installation, not an upgrade. So I take each computer separately, copy
>> the necessary files and folders (eg documents, pictures, profiles)
>> from the current version on to an external HD. Then, on each machine,
>> I run the new installation, copy over the above folders and files,
>> install any extra programs that aren't automatically included with the
>> install and away we go. Never had any problems with that.
>>
>> I can see that in this case each machine is treated as a single, stand
>> alone, computer. This  time I am talking about adding a second user.
>> Perhaps this will make a difference.
>>
>> Meanwhile, I will do some research into SSH, since I have no knowledge
>> about it at the moment. But, are you really saying that, because this
>> time it will be a second user on to the laptop, that I could have
>> problems, whereas, previously, on each machine with just the one user
>> it was all fine?
>>
>> More research,
>>
>> Neil
> 
> Hi Neil,
> 
> Do you not install /home to a separate partition? That would preserve
> all user files and program settings whilst allowing you to do a full
> reinstall. The only difference when you install is that you choose
> 'Something else' when it asks you where to install the OS, select the
> partition you installed Linux on, '/' for the mount point and check to
> Format it; then the already existing partition with /home installed,
> '/home' as the mount point, but do /NOT/ Format it.
> 
> When the machine is booted with the new installation the boot process
> will seamlessly pick up the user settings from /home as usual.
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> Julian
> 
> 

Confirm.
 Separate partitions for "/" and "/home" has been used by me since (long
time ago [2003?]) thus upgrading openSUSE each year on a point (yearly)
upgrade is no hassle from  burnt DVD or USB memory stick.

"/home" is preserved and only base OS is upgraded.
-- 
regards
Eion MacDonald

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