Ubuntu

backup files and settings before fresh install

Asked by quixote

Where can I find out exactly which directories or files I need to backup so that I can keep most of my settings, programs installed in home, and so on?

Backing up my home directroy, including all the hidden files is the easy part. But what do I need in /etc? How can I be sure that my old settings don't overwrite something I actually need from the new install? Which other directories or files are essential?

The reason I ask is this. I have a finicky old laptop. It runs Feisty, but the LiveCD of Gutsy would not run. The alpha liveCD of Hardy does run, so I assume Hardy will. But I can't do the usual Feisty -> Gutsy -> Hardy upgrade path, because the Gutsy step would KO my system. I'll need to do a fresh install, but I'd like to do as little work reinstalling and recustomizing as possible.

Thanks for your help!

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Bhavani Shankar
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Best Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#1

Hello:

You can use sbackup to backup files on your computer... Refer the following link for a detailed info:

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/backup-and-restore-your-ubuntu-system-using-sbackup.html

Regards

Bhavani Shankar.

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Kristopher Ives (nullmind) said : 		#2

I recently migrated all of my data and installed the Hardy beta from scratch. I used the graphical installer. I first took my home directory and moved it to the root of my file system (ext3) and renamed it "old_home", this required me to run nautilus as root (gksudo nautilus). I actually deleted all the files while in the live CD except for "old_home", but this step isn't necessary because when I started the installer and told it to use the partition it informed me it would overwrite directories name d /bin, /usr, etc., and I continued. It didn't delete my "old_home" and I was very happy. A good clean install without hours of copying.

In short, remember:
1.) Back up important data (sorry, have to say it!)
2.) Move your home directory to the root and name it something obscure
3.) Boot the live CD and use the installer selecting "Manually edit partitions"
4.) Ensure the "Format" option is NOT checked, it will ask you if you're sure though
5.) You can also use your old swap too

Cheers,
Kris

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quixote (commer-greenglim) said : 		#3

Thanks for the useful answers! I can't believe it never occurred to me that I don't <i>have</i> to reformat the / partition. :embarrassed face here: Did you have any issues with that method, such as maybe old config files or something that interfere with the new install?

Sbackup is new to me. I've been using rsync, but there you have to know what to sync, which is exactly my problem. So sbackup is going to be useful in general, not just for the install. Question: after the fresh install, is it okay to simply copy back all of the "system data held in /etc, /usr/local, and /var"? Won't that mess up at least some of my fresh install?

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quixote (commer-greenglim) said : 		#4

Another question re sbackup: is there a way to check how it's progressing during a backup?

 I'm trying it right now, and the lights on my laptop and external backup drive are blinking and flashing nicely, but I haven't found a way to see if it's actually working. My first attempt failed (too many apps running at once, I think) but the only reason I knew was because it definitely takes longer than 5 minutes to back up my home directory.

I restarted it, but don't see a process ID that matches what sbackup said it was using. And yet, as I say, lights are blinking ....

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Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#5

Hello:

Sbackup normally keeps a list of backup sessions that you can later use to select a particular backup for restore. It uses the Label you supply to keep track of backup sessions. sbackup will check the media label to verify the session on restore.

Once you enter the label, sbackup mounts the media and begins the backup operation. It shows the progress of the backup in a status screen.

When a message appears indicating the completion of the backup, press <Enter>. The backup menu appears.

Regards

Bhavani Shankar.

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quixote (commer-greenglim) said : 		#6

Bhavani-

I don't see where to enter a label, nor is there any status screen. ?? Very odd. After just letting it run overnight, this morning the "restore" function found the backup (something it hadn't done with the incomplete earlier ones) and all the directories seem to be there. I haven't actually restored anything, but it looks okay.

I guess, really, this has turned into an sbackup question thread and should be moved. :) Since my original question has been answered by seeing which dirs sbackup looks at, I'll mark this "solved."

Thanks!

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quixote (commer-greenglim) said : 		#7

Thanks Bhavani Shankar, that solved my question.