Disaster recovery 9.04 ext4

I'm guessing you're new to linux? In linux all your data & settings are stored in one easy place so that backing up is simply a case of copying your "/home" folder onto dvd/cd/external drive or even keep it on a separate partition. It can be a good idea to install the main bulk of Ubuntu onto a smallish partition of 15Gb and make the rest of the drive your /home partition. This way you can reinstall even a different version of linux (distros) and still retain the data and settings from your /home!

Also there are several disaster recovery options. During bootup you should get a menu with several different options of Ubuntu. The second one is usually "recovery mode" which has some monthly tidy-up tasks worth doing occasionally but it can also get you to a command-line which gives some powerful tools for sorting problems out. The next step up is the installer cd and be booted up from, into a working desktop - we call it a LiveCd and most distros (not just Ubuntu) have this option. Obviously from the LiveCd there are a huge range of tools and it's even possible to install programs to this LiveCd session. Installing programs tends to be a lot faster in linux and you invariably get the latest version so there's no need to do loads of updating afterwards!

Errr, i've not really helped here but basically to prepare for disaster recovery it's generally just enough to backup your /home directory to dvd or something. Find the /hime by going up to the "Places" menu and click on "Home Folder" (hmm, badly named lol) and then go up 2 levels using the up arrow in the window.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Err, that was a "Welcome in from Windows-land" btw, sorry i didn't amke it clear that it's great to see someone new. There's a lot of new people today and that should improve the community quite a lot. Welcome in :)))

I hope you have as much fun as i have had :)
Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

PS please ask questions because my last post was very unclear and rambly

add:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BackupYourSystem

Wow, thanks for all your help. I am shocked how quickly and thoroughly you answered my question. I never got this kind of service from Microsoft.

Lol, i think you just got lucky today. We kinda knew there would be a lot of people in but it's been strangely quiet. Thanks tho & have fun :)

Regards from
Tom :)

PS we are nearly all volunteers in here too :)