Linux Mint Forums

I've installed every release since Bianca, some several times, from iso-burned CDs, so I'm getting used to the process.

Felicia is working nicely - this time I had a great idea: copy Desktop folder to a Backup file, then copy its contents into the new Desktop after installation - thus recovering all the hyperlinks and application icons which I use for quick access.

There was one snag: the application icons all reappeared and work nicely, but the links were broken - why? Because in the Elyssa which I was using, my hdds are listed as sda,b,c, and in this new Felicia they have reverted to sdb,c,d.

I have mentioned this before - it really is a nuisance - why does it happen? Installation from the same CD is not even consistent in this respect, in my experience.

The Release Notes list an alarming array of problems, but none of these has obtruded so far. 139 Updates following installation (presumably because there isn't room for them on the CD) included a lot referring to Open Office, and errors were reported - it is unfortunate that those reports can't be copied from the box where they appear, for subsequent reference. Nevertheless, Open Office seems to be opening normally. The updates apparently didn't include its Help file - so that awaits a separate call.

Anyway, thanks again for a great release.

TJ

I am interested in your idea of backing up your home directory. How did you do this as some methods do not copy all of the hidden files and links?

The only bits of my home directory which I have always copied via a backup to a new installation are: ~/.mozilla (to carry forward my Firefox setting, identity et c.) ~/.mozilla-thunderibird (similarly thunderbird account and mail archives) ~/.tomboy and ~/.tomboy.log for similar reasons.

My new idea this time was to do the same with ~/Desktop, because I keep there a lot of links to various frequently-used folders and documents. I was let down by the change in identification of my hdds, which is a continuing puzzle. I've raised that question before.

Of course, to do this Hidden folders must be shown, as set in File Browser/Edit/Preferences/Views. The other non-hidden folders (i.e. no dot before the filename) in my home directory are empty as I keep my data in another partition. I leave the rest of the hidden folders to be set up by the new installation.

I've seen reported the idea of copying the whole personal home directory - possibly this would bring forward extra software; I have had to re-install that - for me, gramps-3.0.4.1 (not in the Mint repository, but it works OK) and gimp, which is.

Do you simply copy the files or do you use backup software to do it and if so what?

I usually copy with the mouse - Copy from the selected file or files, 'Paste into folder' to the selected folder.

If it's my home/user folder (named theo) it is necessary to navigate back to the /home folder which contains /theo and /lost+found.

Your home/user folder will be shown on your desktop as xxxx's Home where xxxx is your username. If you open that (double click) it will show (in a File Browser window) its contents either as icons or as a list. I greatly prefer list view, and this can be selected in Edit/Preferences/Views, where you can also select Show hidden files.

At the top of the File Browser window are 4 rows - Heading, Menus, Commands, and one showing what is displayed - user, by default. Click twice on the < beside that, and it will take you back to the root menu, showing folders including /home. Open this with 1 click on the > triangle, then showing /lost+found and /user. You can the select that and past into it, assuming that you have already acquired what you want in your clipboard by the Copy process.

I use the same process to create backups, having first created or otherwise prepared a folder in the appropriate location - preferably another disk. It would be better to use the command rsync, and Fred has written a program using that but I don't yet adequately understand it, and keep putting it off. (See the How-to forum). I shall be posting an enquiry into that forum sometime soon!

Best of luck!

Thanks for the info.

I have had a problem with the size of my /home file and need to back it up or move it to another partition as using virtualbox has used all the file space. This is using Elyssa although I now have Felicia installed and working to my satisfaction.