Ubuntu

IMPLICATIONS of Downloading/ installing Gutsy G in Kubuntu

Asked by Piet Beukes

IMPLICATIONS of Downloading/ installing Gutsy Kubuntu

Hi, 20 Oct 2007,
I'm currently running Kubuntu FF but wish to load Gutsy -

QUESTION:

I wish to understand the implications of downloading GG Kubuntu. Will it wipe out all my current data on the harddrive? or will I be able to download GG but still retain my personal data which is currently stored under the HOME directory? I also have a rather unique program which I placed under /usr/share. Will such programs still be intact or wiped out?

Does the way/manner/method in which I install or download GG influence if my data is retained or not? I realise that if I reformat the memory everything is wiped out - that is not what I'm asking. Can I download GG in such a way as to retain info which is special to me? - even if I have made a backup.

One of the reasons for asking is that everything is currently working on FF Kubuntu.
EVEN if for the sake of the answer to my questions above is that I will retain my data intact when I install GG, will I have to start making everything to work from scratch? - e.g. Networking, wireless etc.? I would not like to lose all my e-mail on Thunderbird (1.5.0.12 that came with FF) if GG comes with a later version of T-bird.

QUESTION 2
Can I use something like ADAPT INSTALLER or ADAPT MANAGER to install GG = e.g. download it from the Internet?.

I realise that it should be possible to install GG from scratch - the normal way of installing. But with my current question, I wonder if it is possible not to kind of importing GG so that I use GUI and can use ADAPT - i cannot program in Linux to do a installation in a terminal window.

QUESTION 3
If I install GG now, is GG a fully stable version with better features than FF or should I wait a bit so that problem can first be sorted out?
Rusty

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Wrwrwr
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Max Roberts (maxoroberts) said : 		#1

If you mean downloading it is of no consequence at all.
If it is an issue of installing, then these are your options:
1) Remove the previous desktop type (Gnome) and replace with KDE
2) Install the new desktop type (KDE) so that u can switch between desktop types at any time using the desktop-switching tool.
You may need to backup sensitive data to an external storage medium just in case. But in my opinion I would do a full system backup in case something goes wrong.

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Piet Beukes (zabear1) said : 		#2

thanx Max,
but I am already using KDE - I do not understand your answer - will I lose my data as I currently have it or not, if I download it making use of Adapt or something like Synaptic P manager (if it is possible to download it with SPM etc?)
Rusty

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Best Wrwrwr (wrwrwr) said : 		#3

You'll probably want to upgrade to Gutsy: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GutsyUpgrades.

This procedure just updates the system, without removing anything. However there is always a (very) small probability that something will go wrong and you'll be left with an unbootable system, in this case it probably wouldn't destroy your data but would make it hard to access. Regular backups are always recommended.

Gutsy is quite stable at the moment, many have been using it for a few weeks already, however with new things introduced there are some new problems (much more solved of course ;). If you want to be on the safe side, test gutsy using live cd and only then upgrade (using procedure from the above page).

You probably won't have to reconfigure anything, there are however some exceptions, see release notes:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/GutsyGibbon/ReleaseNotes

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Piet Beukes (zabear1) said : 		#4

Thanks Wrwrwr, that solved my question.