RESTORING the mint

[TANUJMINTLINUX]

CAN i restore my mint16 xfce installation to a previous state as one can do in windows 7.
If yes the how?

[topic continued http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 0&t=166470 ]

[karlchen]

Linux Mint does not create any system restore points. Therefore the answer is: on a Mint installation as it comes out of the box, you cannot.

[TANUJMINTLINUX]

Linux Mint does not create any system restore points. Therefore the answer is: on a Mint installation as it comes out of the box, you cannot.

so is there really no way by which i can safeguard my apps installed in mint

[karlchen]

There are ways of scheduling regular backups, e.g. using

+ Back in Time

+ Lucky Backup

+ Redo Backup & Recovery

+ the backup programme(s) that come pre-installed on Linux Mint

And when it comes to backing up and restoring whole disk partitions, then perhaps have a look at the software suggested in this thread, too: How to Full Backup & Restore Linux Mint 14?

[TANUJMINTLINUX]

There are ways of scheduling regular backups, e.g. using

+ Back in Time

+ Lucky Backup

+ Redo Backup & Recovery

+ the backup programme(s) that come pre-installed on Linux Mint

now suppose if i have to reinstall mint how can i do so without needing to reinstall software i installed on it

[karlchen]

now suppose if i have to reinstall mint how can i do so without needing to reinstall software i installed on it

This is a different question. Re-installing Linux Mint is different from restoring a previously created backup.

You should stick to the topic which you phrased yourself: "CAN i restore my mint16 xfce installation to a previous state".
And you should find out which of the suggested software products will fulfil your needs best and achieve the target of
+ creating system snapshots
+ which you can return to (restore) when need should be

If you find that out the need to re-install Linux Mint from the scratch may decrease dramatically.

[austin.texas]

There are two programs you could use to backup (and re-install) your software. Mint Backup and Synaptic.
Both programs can create a script to use for re-installation.

You can take it one step further. Before you install a new Mint, you can copy all of the .deb files in /var/cache/apt/archives/ in the old Mint, to a backup location.
Then after you install your new Mint, copy all of the .deb files in your backup to the new /var/cache/apt/archives/ folder.
That way the programs are already downloaded, saving you time and bandwidth - unless there is a newer version, in which case, the newer version will be downloaded and installed.
Then you use your script from Synaptic or Mint Backup to re-install

[TANUJMINTLINUX]

There are two programs you could use to backup (and re-install) your software. Mint Backup and Synaptic.
Both programs can create a script to use for re-installation.

You can take it one step further. Before you install a new Mint, you can copy all of the .deb files in /var/cache/apt/archives/ in the old Mint, to a backup location.
Then after you install your new Mint, copy all of the .deb files in your backup to the new /var/cache/apt/archives/ folder.
That way the programs are already downloaded, saving you time and bandwidth - unless there is a newer version, in which case, the newer version will be downloaded and installed.
Then you use your script from Synaptic or Mint Backup to re-install

but how can i create backup of programs that i installed using software manager

[austin.texas]

but how can i create backup of programs that i installed using software manager

Does your question mean programs installed with the Software Manager, as opposed to installed with Synaptic, or installed with gdebi?
Or does your question mean you want to create a backup using Software Manager?

The script that you create with Synaptic or Mint Backup will include all programs - no matter how they were installed.
The procedure I described will include all programs - no matter how they were installed.

[pkmaarsen]

Hi, since a week I'm on Linux Mint 13 Xfce. So far, everything worked out nicely: installation, etc. Took me some time to get my printer connected (drivers to install), but I'm of course in the beginning of my learning curve.
Now everything is still running smoothly, I wonder if it would be useful to make a sort of image of my system. For my Windows8-PC I'm happily using Macrium Reflect (gratis version): each month I make a backup (image). This has helped me a few times when my PC was stuck. As far as I know Macrium is also suited for Linux (at least that is what they say).
Can you advise on that, especially with respect to the methods you mentioned in the forumdiscussion?
Thanks, Paul.
PS: I'm surprised about the speed at which Linux Mint 13 Xfce starts up on a 6 years old PC: Windows XP is from the stone age in that respect (I replaced XP fully by Linux: no double boot).

[TANUJMINTLINUX]

Hi, since a week I'm on Linux Mint 13 Xfce. So far, everything worked out nicely: installation, etc. Took me some time to get my printer connected (drivers to install), but I'm of course in the beginning of my learning curve.
Now everything is still running smoothly, I wonder if it would be useful to make a sort of image of my system. For my Windows8-PC I'm happily using Macrium Reflect (gratis version): each month I make a backup (image). This has helped me a few times when my PC was stuck. As far as I know Macrium is also suited for Linux (at least that is what they say).
Can you advise on that, especially with respect to the methods you mentioned in the forumdiscussion?
Thanks, Paul.
PS: I'm surprised about the speed at which Linux Mint 13 Xfce starts up on a 6 years old PC: Windows XP is from the stone age in that respect (I replaced XP fully by Linux: no double boot).

hello there
no , i don't think a backup image is required of system files because i don,t think linux can boot from a backup image of systemm files.
and talking of your stuff on system it is always adviced to have backup of that

[austin.texas]

i don't think a backup image is required of system files because i don,t think linux can boot from a backup image of systemm files.
and talking of your stuff on system it is always adviced to have backup of that

Linux can, in fact, boot from a backup image - I just did it yesterday.
To be more specific, I ran gparted from a DVD, copied my Mint 16 / partition to an external hard drive as a backup a couple of months ago. Using gparted you just right-click > Copy, then right-click on unallocated space somewhere else and Paste. Then change the UUID to avoid conflicts.
Then I ran into a config problem that I wanted to check out, so I copied the backup / partition from the external drive to unallocated space on sdb (internal hard drive). Then I fixed grub and fstab and I can boot into the original Mint 16 or the backup Mint 16.

[adfd1]

Download Redo Backup and Recovery. Burn it to a disk, and create an image of your HDD. Then if you mess things up recovering from a backup is very easy. I'm fairly new to Mint and my backup has saved me already. -AD

[pkmaarsen]

Thanks adid1 for telling your experience with Redo Backup and Recovery. I have done the same as you. Thus, i have an image of my Linux Mint 13 on an external disk, but I have not had the courage yet to place it back. I'm afraid to change and spoil a well running Linux Mint configuration. You give me the confidence it will work when necessary! Paul.

[MtnDewManiac]

Isn't (wasn't?) there a way to install the Mint of your choice, remove the apps you don't want, install the ones you do, and then create a semi-custom .ISO of it? Seems like it was used for people who needed the same setup on multiple computers (IOW, business' IT workers), but it might be useful for those who wish to create a permanent "no download required" custom installation media.

Or was thatsomething specific to Ultimate Edition linux? I ran that before Mint and sometimes my memories get jumbled/confused (sins of a misspent youth ).

Regards,
MDM