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Installing after other distribution

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:02 pm
by sfeinst
I have been a user of another Linux distribution for a few years. In the past, whenever I install a new distribution I start from scratch - including my data . I've made the decision to change my distribution to Linux Mint, but this time I don't want to start from scratch. My current setup has root on one partition, home on another and swap on a 3rd. I'm guessing I can just install Linux Mint into root and then reuse home and swap. Since my last distribution used KDE (and I like digikam enough that I plan on staying with KDE), I am planning on installing Linux Mint KDE. That distribution was on KDE 4.6 at my last update.

Now for the question. Do I run a risk using the home partition without cleaning anything off since I have all of these configuration files set for various KDE components and Linux Mint uses a different version of KDE (I think). Or doesn't it matter?

Thanks,

Steve

Re: Installing after other distribution

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:20 pm
by Orbmiser
Best way is do your way. Like you have a separate /home. Can intall fresh root and see what happens.
Worst is fixing broken apps or settings. And can always copy your personal data out then do fresh install to home and copy back.

Current Mint 14 KDE is 4.9.4 and had a ran good with little in the way of issues.
Tho enabled backports to upgrade it to 4.10 Which in my opinion was worth it and runs even better.
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 9&t=124912

Good luck as was always a Gnome guy but liking KDE more than I thought as use to hate it.
It has come forward pretty darn far and am impressed with it.
.

Re: Installing after other distribution

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 6:06 am
by usbtux
When you get to the partition table by selecting "Something Else", instead of deleting the old partition(s) and adding new ones for Mint, just use the "Change" button at the bottom of the table to edit the existing partitions.

Click on a partition you want to replace and click "Change" a partition edit window will open. Leave all partition parameters the same, just click "Format the partition as..." and select your file system choice from the drop down menu. The partition will be formatted (overwriting the existing OS) and the selected Mint partition (root, /home, etc.) will be installed. * Obviously donot format your home partition.

For Grub installation, either click on the drop down menu at the bottom of the partitioning page and select the location for Grub installation, or just leave this alone and take the default installation. The default is /dev/sda. This will install Mint's Grub in the mbr over any existing bootloader (Ubuntu Grub, Windows, etc.), and set up the dual boot menu automatically.

http://youtu.be/kBrRL6iG0NM using the installer (ubiquity) after setting up your partitions. Or installing over an existing install partitions.

Re: Installing after other distribution

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:44 am
by sfeinst
Thanks for the information. Sounds like the install program is very easy to use. My grub is on its own partition, so I will probably leave that and modify grub to point to Linux Mint using a live CD to access the partition.

Do you think I should remove the .kde and .kde4 folders from each user so their login would be kind of a clean login or do you think that is overkill?