[Solved] Using Timeshift to restore over a different OS?
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Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
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[Solved] Using Timeshift to restore over a different OS?
Is it possible to use Timeshift to restore a working copy of the current installation of Linux mint over the top of a different OS?
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times 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: Using Timeshift to restore over a different OS?
I think just about anything is possible.....BUT
Timeshift is a system restore application. Indeed, by default (& by most experienced users recommendation) the /Home directory is not even saved.
So if you did install it over another OS you would end up with a horrible Frankenstein of an OS where / root was Mint & /Home was whatever.
Yes, you could tell it to save /Home as well but there are other applications that are so, so much better at cloning (which is what you are asking to do) that to use Timeshift would be, frankly, ridiculous.
Maybe it would be better if you explained what you are trying to achieve (rather than how) & then, I am sure, you will get some sensible suggestions..
Timeshift is a system restore application. Indeed, by default (& by most experienced users recommendation) the /Home directory is not even saved.
So if you did install it over another OS you would end up with a horrible Frankenstein of an OS where / root was Mint & /Home was whatever.
Yes, you could tell it to save /Home as well but there are other applications that are so, so much better at cloning (which is what you are asking to do) that to use Timeshift would be, frankly, ridiculous.
Maybe it would be better if you explained what you are trying to achieve (rather than how) & then, I am sure, you will get some sensible suggestions..
Re: Using Timeshift to restore over a different OS?
No, Timeshift does not work for "cloning"-like purposes like that. It cannot create a "full system image" to be plopped onto another machine/drive/OS. There were a few threads where some users tried to do that and messed up the system, had to do a fresh reinstall.
Re: Using Timeshift to restore over a different OS?
in theory .. YES .. in reality, it's an No ..
you would have to restore to an similar system, say another Debian based system,
but that may not work out, as the other system would have to be very similar,
or else the differences will kill the restore.
yet again, in theory any Windows Backup, can restore to an basic windows setup,
and that will work .. usually.
you could do the same thing with an Timeshift Backup,
that was onto the same Linux System, and you could get away with doing that,
- - it's still an risky move, though.
you would have to restore to an similar system, say another Debian based system,
but that may not work out, as the other system would have to be very similar,
or else the differences will kill the restore.
yet again, in theory any Windows Backup, can restore to an basic windows setup,
and that will work .. usually.
you could do the same thing with an Timeshift Backup,
that was onto the same Linux System, and you could get away with doing that,
- - it's still an risky move, though.
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] - when your problem is solved!
and DO LOOK at those Unanswered Topics - - you may be able to answer some!.
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Re: Using Timeshift to restore over a different OS?
thanks.
yes "cloning" is what I was after. I have used another distro that had a snapshot function that saved the whole install as an iso file, which could be burned to a USB drive and then installed as a "fresh" install over anything! I just wondered whether Timeshift was a similar function...
yes "cloning" is what I was after. I have used another distro that had a snapshot function that saved the whole install as an iso file, which could be burned to a USB drive and then installed as a "fresh" install over anything! I just wondered whether Timeshift was a similar function...
Re: Using Timeshift to restore over a different OS?
No...
Far from..
Far from..
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Re: Using Timeshift to restore over a different OS?
Thanks for that - I've used Parted Magic to create a disk image - took a lot longer than the other method in the other distro I mentioned!spamegg wrote: ⤴Mon May 10, 2021 9:08 am No, Timeshift does not work for "cloning"-like purposes like that. It cannot create a "full system image" to be plopped onto another machine/drive/OS. There were a few threads where some users tried to do that and messed up the system, had to do a fresh reinstall.