Upgrade from 18.3 to 19.1 questions (Solved)

[farkas]

I'm about to try an upgrade from 18.3 to 19.1 on a desktop PC.

Code: Select all

anyu@anyu ~ $ inxi -Fmxz
System:    Host: anyu Kernel: 4.15.0-42-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: Gigabyte product: Z170XP-SLI v: Default string
           Mobo: Gigabyte model: Z270XP-SLI-CF v: x.x
           Bios: American Megatrends v: F7 date: 07/07/2017
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i5-7500 (-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 27264
           clock speeds: max: 3800 MHz 1: 1157 MHz 2: 3399 MHz 3: 2631 MHz
           4: 3230 MHz
Memory:    No dmidecode memory data: try newer kernel.
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GK208 [GeForce GT 730] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: nvidia (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: GeForce GT 730/PCIe/SSE2
           GLX Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 384.130 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel Device a2f0 driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1f.3
           Card-2 NVIDIA GK208 HDMI/DP Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-42-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel Ethernet Connection (2) I219-V
           driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k bus-ID: 00:1f.6
           IF: enp0s31f6 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300
           driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 04:00.0
           IF: wlp4s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 2256.5GB (11.5% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: MKNSSDTR256GB size: 256.1GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST2000DM006 size: 2000.4GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 227G used: 121G (57%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 8.54GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8C mobo: 27.8C gpu: 0.0:39C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 202 Uptime: 29 min Memory: 3643.3/7931.5MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 
anyu@anyu ~ $ 

This is not my computer!

In order to save all the settings and applications my preferred way to do so would be an upgrade.
Previously I used the instructions at
https://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/2416 on my own desktop, it worked, no problems. All my data and applications were there.
On my laptop it didn't, had to do a fresh install. All my data was saved on an external HDD. Had to reinstall applications.
I'm going to make a timeshift file on sdb and an external HDD, just in case.
I haven't used Mint Backup tool but I'll save personal data and software selections to external HDD. Will Mint Backup restore 18.3 settings, personal data and software selections in 19.1 Trying to cover all possibilities. (Belt and suspenders).
Looking through Mint forums my simplest option I found is in:

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=276547

using

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sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get install -f
sudo apt autoremove
mintupgrade upgrade

I'd like to hear opinions bout the above code.
Is there a way to to combine it into one command?
I hope this is a viable solution!
Thank you!

[deepakdeshp]

You will get a mint upgrade menu once you run the updates via update manager. It should be in Edit submenu ,If I am not mistaken. Use it to upgrade.

[farkas]

The only things I found in Mint update were from within updates within versions of 18 or 19.
Like 18.2 to 18.3 or 19 to 19.1 etc.

[smurphos]

You will get a mint upgrade menu once you run the updates via update manager. It should be in Edit submenu ,If I am not mistaken. Use it to upgrade.

Not for 18.3 > 19 upgrades - the correct procedure is https://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/2416

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=276547

using

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get install -f
sudo apt autoremove
mintupgrade upgrade

I'd like to hear opinions bout the above code.
Is there a way to to combine it into one command?
I hope this is a viable solution!
Thank you!

It's a way to potentially fix a stalled upgrade if the first attempt following the official tutorial fails with errors. But you should try the official method first.

Personally I would suggest a fresh install but use aptik as my backup and restore tool - https://github.com/teejee2008/aptik-gtk

[Pierre]

as always - - YMMV as each machine is different - for some reason.

what I've always done, is to use an separate /home,, /root,, swap partition(s).
& then perform an Clean Installation - - the /root does get overwritten:
but the /home files do get updated & also kept intact, as an general rule.

my old habit die hard - Too Many Failed Windows Upgrades,, do keep my updates, fairly conservative.
- - so there-fore, not many in-place upgrades - are done - - always an Clean System Install.
regardless of what the Operating System actually is.

[farkas]

Right now my success rate at upgrading is 50/50, I'd like to improve my odds. I mentioned earlier that this not my personal computer (it's my mom's), I really don't want to mess it up.
I used https://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/2416 twice, first time it worked, second time it didn't. Not sure what I did differently. I understand that I can revert to 18.3 with timeshift. If after a fresh install of 19.1 will Mint Backup made with 18.3 restore previous data and software selections in 19.1?
Trying minimize problems.

[smurphos]

Mint Backup is very limited - particularly in it's ability to backup installed software. When you try and make a backup of installed software does the list look comprehensive? I'd guess probably not. The issue is it only lists software explicitly installed via Software Manager. Anything installed via command line or synaptic will be missing. This will hopefully be fixed in Mint 19.2.

The tool I recommended is better in this regard.

[farkas]

Thanks for your reply smurphos, I checked out https://github.com/teejee2008/aptik-gtk but its a little bit above my expertise.

[majpooper]

as always - - YMMV as each machine is different - for some reason.

what I've always done, is to use an separate /home,, /root,, swap partition(s).
& then perform an Clean Installation - - the /root does get overwritten:
but the /home files do get updated & also kept intact, as an general rule.

my old habit die hard - Too Many Failed Windows Upgrades,, do keep my updates, fairly conservative.
- - so there-fore, not many in-place upgrades - are done - - always an Clean System Install.
regardless of what the Operating System actually is.

+1 What he said.

Basically Pierre's is the only way that really worked for me over the years - my rate of success has been 0%. Even the time I thought it worked issues cropped up later. I could probably fix those issues now . . . maybe as I have more experience but at the time they were too daunting. Now granted, I only tried it two or three times but each time took several attempts so I probably could have done a fresh install in about the same time. Also it was several years ago so maybe the process is better now but there is nothing like starting fresh.