[SOLVED] how to back up personal data before a clean installation? - no external drive

[lukakatoma]

I'm using Mint 19.3 Cinnamon 64-bit (as far as I know, it's supported by April 2023), and going to install Linux Mint 21.1.
I think an upgrade - to Mint 20 Ulyana, as System Reports suggests - is out of my reach cause I'm not familiar with ATP, and I've read the clean install is basically safer in that case.

I need so somehow back up my personal data (total: 200GB, indispensable: 40GB) before the installation.
I haven't got an external drive or a cable to connect two machines (there are the most efficient and safest ways i know).
I can store the critical data on clouds but it would be time-consuming upload and download.

There's only one volume - system and data aren't separated.

Thank you for your support

Code: Select all

System:    Host: lukasz-Latitude-E6440 Kernel: 5.4.0-128-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc 
           v: 7.5.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.4.8 wm: muffin dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 19.3 Tricia 
           base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: Dell product: Latitude E6440 v: 00 serial: <filter> Chassis: 
           type: 9 serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Dell model: 0159N7 v: A00 serial: <filter> BIOS: Dell v: A18 date: 05/19/2017 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT0 charge: 48.8 Wh condition: N/A/48.8 Wh volts: 12.5/11.1 
           model: Samsung SDI DELL P8TC727 serial: <filter> status: Full 
CPU:       Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core i7-4600M bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Haswell 
           rev: 3 L2 cache: 4096 KiB 
           flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 23146 
           Speed: 798 MHz min/max: 800/3600 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 798 2: 798 3: 798 4: 798 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics vendor: Dell driver: i915 
           v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0416 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
           resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2) v: 4.5 Mesa 20.0.8 
           compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio vendor: Dell 
           driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:03.0 chip ID: 8086:0c0c 
           Device-2: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio vendor: Dell 
           driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 chip ID: 8086:8c20 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-128-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Intel Ethernet I217-LM vendor: Dell driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: f080 
           bus ID: 00:19.0 chip ID: 8086:153a 
           IF: eno1 state: down mac: <filter> 
           Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Dell driver: ath9k 
           v: kernel port: f040 bus ID: 03:00.0 chip ID: 168c:0032 
           IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 190.76 GiB (40.0%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: SSDPR-CX400-512 size: 476.94 GiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: <filter> 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 468.38 GiB used: 190.76 GiB (40.7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 
USB:  Hub: 1-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Hub: 1-1:2 info: Intel ports: 6 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 8087:8008 
           Hub: 2-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Hub: 2-1:2 info: Intel ports: 8 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 8087:8000 
           Device-1: 2-1.8:3 info: Broadcom BCM5880 Secure Applications Processor type: Smart Card 
           driver: N/A rev: 1.1 chip ID: 0a5c:5800 
           Hub: 3-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 15 rev: 2.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0002 
           Hub: 4-0:1 info: Full speed (or root) Hub ports: 6 rev: 3.0 chip ID: 1d6b:0003 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 54.0 C mobo: 48.0 C sodimm: 37.0 C 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 2631 
Repos:     No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
           1: deb http: //ftp.icm.edu.pl/pub/Linux/dist/linuxmint/packages tricia main upstream import backport
           2: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic main restricted universe multiverse
           3: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           4: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-security main restricted universe multiverse
           6: deb http: //archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ bionic partner
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list 
           1: deb [arch=amd64] https: //repo.skype.com/deb stable main
Info:      Processes: 242 Uptime: 2h 13m Memory: 15.54 GiB used: 5.06 GiB (32.6%) Init: systemd 
           v: 237 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 7.5.0 alt: 7 Client: Unknown python3.6 client 
           inxi: 3.0.32

[motoryzen]

I need so somehow back up my personal data (total: 200GB, indispensable: 40GB) before the installation.
I haven't got an external drive or a cable to connect to machines (there are the most efficient and safest ways i know).
I can store the critical data on clouds but it would be time-consuming upload and download.

There's only one volume - system and data aren't separated.

1. You should always target a separate drive for critical data backups...and in this case since you're considering doing a clean install, you're going to NUKE that critical 40GBs of data...in the installation process. Given your total drive is a 500GB ssd SSDPR-CX400-512.... and how low cost per less than 1TB sata ssd's are these days...there's really not an excuse as to not buying a second one or two of them for backup drives. You can always connect one or both of the backup drives internally and easily unmount them as you wish to treat them as externally =easily =disconnectable drives..without needing the usb-to-sata adapter cables such as this one... https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-SAT ... B00HJZJI84

2. I recommend you break down your single volume into 3 total partitions...before doing the clean installation process.

One for /boot( aka the boot partition)

another for / ( aka the root directory to be in it's own partition with a minimum size of at least 80GBs)

And the last for /home ( aka for your home directory).

This way..from now on when it's time for a fresh start without losing everything since literally most things about Linux Mint live in the home directory..you can just target the / partition as your new Linux Mint newest whatever main version for installation.

There may be a step or two I'm missing. Veterans like AndyMH, rene, SMG, all41, pjotr..and many..many more chances are will have either more room to talk than I would and/or will know those steps. I'll try to dig deeper to find all my notes to elaborate tomorrow unless someone beats me to it

3. The most secure way to backup your data is NOT cloud based with a third party company if that is what you were eluding to. It is something you have 100% control over. But setting up a decided separate pc for your own personal cloud is a reasonable happy medium. Guys like Wendell from Level1Techs involving Linode and other resources have explained how to do this on that site. I'll bet Anthony from Linus Media Group is well verse in that too.

Ya don't need to know about ATP to upgrade properly to Linux Mint 20. Just know there is a chance some things may have to be redone...reinstalled such as a program or three involving new repos to be added and old ones to be nuked. It's a normal part of the "upgrade" process.

Thus a clean install is usually the better choice if done right.

[ricardogroetaers]

I need so somehow back up my personal data (total: 200GB, indispensable: 40GB) before the installation.
There's only one volume - system and data aren't separated.

Drives: Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 190.76 GiB (40.0%)
ID-1: /dev/sda ... size: 476.94 GiB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 468.38 GiB used: 190.76 GiB (40.7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1

It is recommended, whenever possible, to create at least one partition for storing data.
This data partition (or partitions) should, whenever possible, be larger than the system partition.

The output of the inxi command suggests that only 40% of the disk media is actually occupied by anything.
In theory there is 60% left, or at least 50% with a safety margin.
A Gparted figure may show this more clearly.

Therefore, I can see no other way than to decrease the size of the system partition (from the right) and in the free space that will arise, create a data partition.
Remember that manipulating partitions runs the risk of losing data.

Acquiring another storage device would be more recommended.
A 1 TB SATA laptop hard drive is not expensive, here the price is +- 140 reais, equivalent to +- 27 dollars. A USB adapter or a "Dock Station" costs about the same.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[lukakatoma]

motoryzen,
thank you indeed for the elaborate response.

1. You're totally right I should have an external drive. Actually, I do have one but I'm over 10000km from home and I'm not going to be back soon.

2. I recommend you break down your single volume into 3 total partitions...before doing the clean installation process.

It's definitely a good idea. It should have been done during the installation but It was my first contact with Linux and I somehow neglected it.
There's one problem - I no more have the live USB I installed the system from. As far as I know it's necessary - a partition which is being used cannot be resized, right?

3. The most secure way to backup your data is NOT cloud based with a third party company if that is what you were eluding to. It is something you have 100% control over.

Again, you're totally right - it's not the safest one but in my case it's convenient, and a separate pc is out of discussion cause I'm not settled. Perhaps I should get another external drive.

Ya don't need to know about ATP to upgrade properly to Linux Mint 20. Just know there is a chance some things may have to be redone...reinstalled such as a program or three involving new repos to be added and old ones to be nuked. It's a normal part of the "upgrade" process.

Thus a clean install is usually the better choice if done right.

Sounds promising but I think I'm not confident enough to go through the upgrade process myself. Moreover, I've researched a bit and the knowledge of ATP is usually mentioned as essential.

[lukakatoma]

ricardogroetares,
thank you for your insights.

The output of the inxi command suggests that only 40% of the disk media is actually occupied by anything.
In theory there is 60% left, or at least 50% with a safety margin.
A Gparted figure may show this more clearly.

The figures are correct, not much of the disk is free.

Therefore, I can see no other way than to decrease the size of the system partition (from the right) and in the free space that will arise, create a data partition.
Remember that manipulating partitions runs the risk of losing data.

I don't have the live USB the system was installed from - is it still possible to create the data partition?

Acquiring another storage device would be more recommended.

Cannot argue

[ricardogroetaers]

I don't have the live USB the system was installed from - is it still possible to create the data partition?

If you have a working Mint system, there is nothing to stop you from downloading another "iso" and creating an installation medium.

[lukakatoma]

If you have a working Mint system, there is nothing to stop you from downloading another "iso" and creating an installation medium.

Great thanks. I'll do that. Then, partition the volume, back up my personal data, and upgrade to Mint 20 or install Mint 21 - 32 days left.