Hey,
I was thinking about converting pure Jessie to Betsy and I was not able to find anyone else asking about this. So, it is possible to seamlessly upgrade pure debian to LMDE2 just by editing sources and few package installations?
The thing is, I would like to switch to LMDE on my work computer, but I cannot spend an hour by complete reinstallation of system, and also I would like to keep my home folder and software as is. For same reason I cannot experiment with it so I'm asking if anybody successfully converted.
My current sources are only standard jessie main contrib non-free and jessie-backports main contrib non-free.
Thank you!
Converting Jessie to Betsy
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LMDE 2 has reached end of support as of 1-1-2019
LMDE 2 has reached end of support as of 1-1-2019
Converting Jessie to Betsy
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Re: Converting Jessie to Betsy
I think it should be possible. Steps:
1. Add the Linux Mint repositories to your sources.
2. Adjust apt pin-priority configuration to make Linux Mint have higher priority than Debian.
3. Install Linux Mint and deb-multimedia keyring.
4. Install any Linux Mint packages you want (like mintinstall, mintupdate, mintsources).
(1) Here is the contents of file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
Add the repositories you are missing.
(2) Here is the contents of the file /etc/apt/preferences.d/official-package-repositories.pref
And /etc/apt/preferences.d/official-extra-repositories.pref
(3) Install the package linuxmint-keyring and bypass authentication (as you can't authenticate Linux Mint packages till you have installed the keyring). Do the same with the package deb-multimedia-keyring.
(4) There are a lot of packages installed from the Linux Mint repositories, but most are for either Cinnamon or MATE. Do you intend to use either of these? Then we could give you a list.
1. Add the Linux Mint repositories to your sources.
2. Adjust apt pin-priority configuration to make Linux Mint have higher priority than Debian.
3. Install Linux Mint and deb-multimedia keyring.
4. Install any Linux Mint packages you want (like mintinstall, mintupdate, mintsources).
(1) Here is the contents of file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
Add the repositories you are missing.
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deb http://packages.linuxmint.com betsy main upstream import
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian jessie main contrib non-free
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian jessie-updates main contrib non-free
deb http://security.debian.org jessie/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://www.deb-multimedia.org jessie main non-free
deb http://extra.linuxmint.com betsy main
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Package: *
Pin: release o=linuxmint
Pin-Priority: 700
Package: *
Pin: origin packages.linuxmint.com
Pin-Priority: 700
Package: *
Pin: release o=Debian
Pin-Priority: 500
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Package: *
Pin: origin build.linuxmint.com
Pin-Priority: 700
Package: *
Pin: release o=LP-PPA-gwendal-lebihan-dev-cinnamon-nightly
Pin-Priority: 700
Package: *
Pin: origin download.virtualbox.org
Pin-Priority: 700
(4) There are a lot of packages installed from the Linux Mint repositories, but most are for either Cinnamon or MATE. Do you intend to use either of these? Then we could give you a list.
Last edited by xenopeek on Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Added that you also need to install deb-multimedia-keyring.
Reason: Added that you also need to install deb-multimedia-keyring.
Re: Converting Jessie to Betsy
Thanks for quick reply, I'll try it soon. I would like to use Cinnamon, I have it actually installed now from Debian's repo, do you think I should purge it first or it can be smoothly upgraded by adding LM repo?
Re: Converting Jessie to Betsy
Good question but I haven't tried this so don't know. It will likely work either way but both might have some bumps in the road to get there.dejvk wrote:do you think I should purge it first or it can be smoothly upgraded by adding LM repo?
Here is the list of packages installed from the Linux Mint repositories on LMDE 2 Cinnamon by default. So you will likely want to install all of these are upgrading your repositories. That should force installing the Linux Mint version of packages also available in the Debian repositories.
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apturl - install packages using the apt protocol -
apturl-common - install packages using the apt protocol -
blueberry - A configuration tool for Bluetooth
cinnamon - Cinnamon desktop
cinnamon-common - Cinnamon desktop (Common data files)
cinnamon-control-center - utilities to configure the Cinnamon deskto
cinnamon-control-center-data - configuration applets for Cinnamon - data
cinnamon-desktop-data - Common files for Cinnamon desktop apps
cinnamon-screensaver - Cinnamon screen saver and locker
cinnamon-session - Cinnamon Session Manager - Minimal runtime
cinnamon-session-common - Cinnamon Session Manager - common files
cinnamon-settings-daemon - daemon handling the Cinnamon session setti
cinnamon-themes - Cinnamon themes
cinnamon-translations - Translation files for the Cinnamon desktop
cjs - Mozilla-based javascript bindings for the
debian-system-adjustments - Debian adjustments specific to Linux Mint.
dmz-cursor-theme - Style neutral, scalable cursor theme
firefox - The Firefox web browser
folder-color-switcher - Change a folder color
fortunes-husse - Fortunes containing quotes from Husse.
gedit - official text editor of the GNOME desktop
gedit-common - official text editor of the GNOME desktop
gir1.2-cinnamondesktop-3.0 - Introspection data for CinnamonDesktop
gir1.2-cmenu-3.0 - GObject introspection data for the Cinnamo
gir1.2-gtk-3.0 - GTK+ graphical user interface library -- g
gir1.2-gudev-1.0 - libgudev-1.0 introspection data
gir1.2-muffin-3.0 - GObject introspection data for Muffin
gir1.2-nemo-3.0 - libraries for nemo components - gir bindin
gir1.2-totem-1.0 - GObject introspection data for Totem media
gnome-keyring - GNOME keyring services (daemon and tools)
gnome-terminal - GNOME terminal emulator application
gnome-terminal-data - Data files for the GNOME terminal emulator
grub2-theme-mint - Grub2 theme for Linux Mint
hunspell-en-us - English_american dictionary for hunspell
iputils-arping - Tool to send ICMP echo requests to an ARP
iputils-ping - Tools to test the reachability of network
iputils-tracepath - Tools to trace the network path to a remot
libcinnamon-control-center1 - utilities to configure the Cinnamon deskto
libcinnamon-desktop0 - Utility library for loading .desktop files
libcinnamon-menu-3-0 - Cinnamon implementation of the freedesktop
libcjs0e - Mozilla-based javascript bindings for the
libgail-3-0 - GNOME Accessibility Implementation Library
libgtk-3-0 - GTK+ graphical user interface library
libgtk-3-bin - programs for the GTK+ graphical user inter
libgtk-3-common - common files for the GTK+ graphical user i
libgudev-1.0-0 - GObject-based wrapper library for libudev
libmuffin0 - window and compositing manager (shared lib
libnemo-extension1 - libraries for nemo components - runtime ve
libpam-gnome-keyring - PAM module to unlock the GNOME keyring upo
libpam-systemd - system and service manager - PAM module
libsystemd0 - systemd utility library
libtotem0 - Main library for the Totem media player
libudev1 - libudev shared library
libyelp0 - Library for the GNOME help browser
linuxmint-keyring - GnuPG key of the Linux Mint repository
mdm - MDM Display Manager
mint-artwork-cinnamon - Default artwork for the Cinnamon edition o
mint-artwork-debian - Default artwork for Linux Mint
mint-backgrounds-debian - The desktop backgrounds made for Linux Min
mint-backgrounds-maya - The desktop backgrounds for Linux Mint 13
mint-backgrounds-nadia - The desktop backgrounds for Linux Mint 14
mint-backgrounds-olivia - The desktop backgrounds for Linux Mint 15
mint-backgrounds-petra - The desktop backgrounds for Linux Mint 16
mint-backgrounds-qiana - The desktop backgrounds for Linux Mint 17
mint-backgrounds-rebecca - The desktop backgrounds for Linux Mint 17.
mint-backgrounds-retro - Backgrounds from early versions of Linux M
mint-common - Common scripts and resources for Linux Min
mint-flashplugin - Metapackage for Adobe Flash plugin
mint-flashplugin-11 - Adobe Flash plugin 11
mint-flashplugin-steam - Flash plugin for Steam
mint-info-debian-cinnamon - Necessary information about the Linux Mint
mint-mdm-themes - Linux Mint MDM Themes
mint-mdm-themes-gdm - Linux Mint MDM Themes
mint-mdm-themes-html - Linux Mint MDM Themes
mint-meta-debian-cinnamon - Set of packages installed by default in th
mint-meta-debian-codecs - All the packages required for multimedia s
mint-meta-debian-core - Core Linux Mint packages
mint-mirrors - Linux Mint Repository mirrors
mint-search-addon - Enhances the results given by Google
mint-themes - Mint themes
mint-themes-gtk3 - Mint themes for GTK3
mint-translations - Translation files for Linux Mint
mint-user-guide-cinnamon - The Linux Mint User Guide - Cinnamon Editi
mint-x-icons - Mint-X Icon themes
mintbackup - Home Directory Backup Tool
mintinstall - Software Manager
mintinstall-icons - Icons for the Software Manager
mintlocale - Language selection tool
mintnanny - Domain blocker for Linux Mint
mintsources - Software Sources configuration tool
mintstick - write .img and .iso files to USB sticks
mintsystem - Linux Mint System Base Package
mintupdate - Update Manager
mintupload - Uploads files on the Internet
mintwelcome - Welcome screen for Linux Mint
mintwifi - Collection of drivers for you to configure
muffin-common - window and compositing manager (data files
nemo - file manager and graphical shell for Cinna
nemo-data - data files for nemo
nemo-emblems - Change a folder or file emblem
nemo-fileroller - File Roller integration for Nemo
nemo-folder-color-switcher - Change a folder color
nemo-share - Nemo extension to share folder using Samba
plymouth-themes-mint - Linux Mint Plymouth theme
python-central - register and build utility for Python pack
python-nemo - Python binding for Nemo components
python-sexy - python language bindings for libsexy
synaptic - Graphical package manager
systemd - system and service manager
thunderbird - The Thunderbird email client
totem - Simple media player for the GNOME desktop
totem-common - Data files for the Totem media player
totem-mozilla - Totem Mozilla plugin
totem-plugins - Plugins for the Totem media player
ttf-ubuntu-font-family - Ubuntu Font Family, sans-serif typeface hi
udev - /dev/ and hotplug management daemon
yelp - Help browser for GNOME
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apturl apturl-common blueberry cinnamon cinnamon-common cinnamon-control-center cinnamon-control-center-data cinnamon-desktop-data cinnamon-screensaver cinnamon-session cinnamon-session-common cinnamon-settings-daemon cinnamon-themes cinnamon-translations cjs debian-system-adjustments dmz-cursor-theme firefox folder-color-switcher fortunes-husse gedit gedit-common gir1.2-cinnamondesktop-3.0 gir1.2-cmenu-3.0 gir1.2-gtk-3.0 gir1.2-gudev-1.0 gir1.2-muffin-3.0 gir1.2-nemo-3.0 gir1.2-totem-1.0 gnome-keyring gnome-terminal gnome-terminal-data grub2-theme-mint hunspell-en-us iputils-arping iputils-ping iputils-tracepath libcinnamon-control-center1 libcinnamon-desktop0 libcinnamon-menu-3-0 libcjs0e libgail-3-0 libgtk-3-0 libgtk-3-bin libgtk-3-common libgudev-1.0-0 libmuffin0 libnemo-extension1 libpam-gnome-keyring libpam-systemd libsystemd0 libtotem0 libudev1 libyelp0 linuxmint-keyring mdm mint-artwork-cinnamon mint-artwork-debian mint-backgrounds-debian mint-backgrounds-maya mint-backgrounds-nadia mint-backgrounds-olivia mint-backgrounds-petra mint-backgrounds-qiana mint-backgrounds-rebecca mint-backgrounds-retro mint-common mint-flashplugin mint-flashplugin-11 mint-flashplugin-steam mint-info-debian-cinnamon mint-mdm-themes mint-mdm-themes-gdm mint-mdm-themes-html mint-meta-debian-cinnamon mint-meta-debian-codecs mint-meta-debian-core mint-mirrors mint-search-addon mint-themes mint-themes-gtk3 mint-translations mint-user-guide-cinnamon mint-x-icons mintbackup mintinstall mintinstall-icons mintlocale mintnanny mintsources mintstick mintsystem mintupdate mintupload mintwelcome mintwifi muffin-common nemo nemo-data nemo-emblems nemo-fileroller nemo-folder-color-switcher nemo-share plymouth-themes-mint python-central python-nemo python-sexy synaptic systemd thunderbird totem totem-common totem-mozilla totem-plugins ttf-ubuntu-font-family udev yelp
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aptitude search "?narrow(?installed,?archive(betsy))"
Re: Converting Jessie to Betsy
I'll be surprised if converting saves you any time in comparison to a fresh LMDE installation, all things considered. If you try it, do let us know!dejvk wrote:The thing is, I would like to switch to LMDE on my work computer, but I cannot spend an hour by complete reinstallation of system, and also I would like to keep my home folder and software as is. For same reason I cannot experiment with it so I'm asking if anybody successfully converted.
Re: Converting Jessie to Betsy
xenopeek: Thanks again, your response is very helpful.
MALsPa: The main difference is that upgrading can run on background (with restart maybe), but reinstallation forces me to sit there and watch it unable to do my work.
MALsPa: The main difference is that upgrading can run on background (with restart maybe), but reinstallation forces me to sit there and watch it unable to do my work.
Re: Converting Jessie to Betsy
Oh. Yeah, hadn't thought of it that way.
Re: Converting Jessie to Betsy
So, upgrade worked like a charm! It took about 30 minutes to complete.
Few comments: I also had to install deb-multimedia-keyring package as deb-multimedia is not present in original debian sources. Some collisions appeared during installation, probably because I already had installed both Cinnamon and XFCE from Debian repos, but aptitude seemed to handle them correctly. Then I simply dist-upgraded rest of packages and restarted system. I didn't encounter any other problem.
So thank you again!
Few comments: I also had to install deb-multimedia-keyring package as deb-multimedia is not present in original debian sources. Some collisions appeared during installation, probably because I already had installed both Cinnamon and XFCE from Debian repos, but aptitude seemed to handle them correctly. Then I simply dist-upgraded rest of packages and restarted system. I didn't encounter any other problem.
So thank you again!