SOLVED Installing LMDE without losing other OS

[jollyjack]

I'm a Kubuntu user, with W7 as a dual boot. I've also installed LM Cinnamon 17, alongside, to play with.

So far so good.

I want to play with LMDE as well, but when i went to install it on a spare partition, it seemed to give me the choice of (A) automatic installation which would wipe everything and install LMDE only, or (B) install manually alongside existing OS, but I would have to edit various files and install my own version of GRUB, etc. This is way beyond my abilities, so I gave up at that point.

Is it possible to do a semi-automatic install? IE, I choose the partition I want to use, define it as /, and LMDE installs itself, plus gives me a new version of GRUB with all my other OS still available?

Cheers

[Mute Ant]

LMDE is a total sweetheart to install manually, exactly where you want it, without a boot loader if you already have one. From the Live LMDE session, use gparted to prepare a partition, format it ext4, and note the /dev/sdX identity. Then close gparted and in a terminal do...

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sudo mkdir /target
sudo mount /dev/sdX /target

...and that's it. Run manual-install option and it will install a runnable version for you in that partition.
EDIT Near the end of the install it asks you to edit fstab, just continue without, linux is happy with an empty /etc/fstab if the whole OS is in a single partition. If you want LMDE grub to be in charge, accept the boot loader. I would leave it out myself. When you reboot into your previous Mint, just do...

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sudo update-grub

...to include LMDE in the list of OS available.

[jollyjack]

Ah, just what I wanted to hear.

I'll try it tomorrow (let's say, a steadier hand...)

Cheers

[jollyjack]

Mute Ant, you are a gentleman! It went like a dream, exactly as you said.

There is, however, a slight "problem" (though I can live with it if necessary). When I boot LMDE, I get several pages of CL commands rolling up the screen, before I get to the login screen - it's like starting Clonezilla or Gparted. I don't think this is right? Can I stop this happening, or hide it?

Cheers

[killer de bug]

When I boot LMDE, I get several pages of CL commands rolling up the screen, before I get to the login screen - it's like starting Clonezilla or Gparted. I don't think this is right? Can I stop this happening, or hide it?

This is the normal boot sequence of LMDE and it's totally normal.
This said, you can install plymouth if you want to hide it behind a Linux Mint logo

[Mute Ant]

You are seeing the output of scripts starting up, they all do it, just it's normally hidden behind a splash-screen. The idea is, if a startup process goes wrong, you can see which one from the screen. I would leave perfect for another day. Just nod and frown as they go past, maybe?

[jollyjack]

Ah, OK, now I know.

If it's normal, I'll stick with it.

Thanks again

[killer de bug]

If it's normal, I'll stick with it.

Like Mute Ant said, it's helpful to see if everything goes as expected. Especially after some upgrades