Linux Question: home directory back up

[b_o_b]

Hi,

My desktop PC with Ubuntu 12.04 died two days ago. I was just upgrading it to 12.10 and the process was finalized but I never managed to boot it up. Was trying to fix it with Puppy Linux, but then my hardware failed.

Now I am using another PC with Ubuntu (12.04) but I would like to use the previous home directory (for various program settings and configuration) of my deskop.

I think I have two options:

- overwrite the complete home directory of the new desktop with the old one  

- copy the home directory to an USB key or SD card and adjust GRUB so it will use that directory

The first option is pretty straightforward and easy to do. I think I will need a bit of guidance for the second option.

Will this work? Any other suggestions?

 

[Binky]

Are you getting confused between root partition and home directory?

 

[b_o_b]

I don' t think I need the root partition in this case. Home directory should be good enough. I just like to restore personal preferences in programs and browsing settings, passwords etc. It is a different PC though, so I am not sure if the hardware change will matter for some settings in the home directory.

 

[Binky]

Why does grub need to know about where your home dir is?

I suggest trying to pick out the settings you really need and only coping those across.

I had a nightmare last time akonadi tried to be clever when I was switching machines - what DE are you using?

 

[b_o_b]

Why does grub need to know about where your home dir is?

I suggest trying to pick out the settings you really need and only coping those across.

I had a nightmare last time akonadi tried to be clever when I was switching machines - what DE are you using?

I though you need to instruct Grub to mount the home directory from the USB key instead of the harddrive so override default.

Also thought about doing it manually for a couple of programs, but this seemed less work and I liked my previous setup. DE - I was switching between XFCE and Unity so used them both.

 

[Binky]

Maybe easier to create a new installation on your new box, login to a shell (not a DE, which will fill ~ with new config files) mount and then and copy everything of the USB stick into ~. Then logout and login again to a full DE, which should then load all the config files you just copied over.

If that doesn't work, then not much harm done.

 

[b_o_b]

That approach is pretty simalar to copy the home directory. I might add an additional Ubuntu install next to the current version and try this method. If it fails I will still have the back up.

 

[Linux-SWAT]

Boot a live cd, copy your home folder on a usb drive (cp -r /home/me /media/disk/).

Install your Linux (actually, Mint surpassed Ubuntu as the distro-of-the-day).

Copy data in your home folder.

 

[b_o_b]

Boot a live cd, copy your home folder on a usb drive (cp -r /home/me /media/disk/).

Install your Linux (actually, Mint surpassed Ubuntu as the distro-of-the-day).

Copy data in your home folder.

Yep, was planning on doing something like that. I love Puppy Linux for this kind of rescue missions. Sometimes I just stay with it for a while because of the incredible speed. 

I am using Ubuntu mainly because I am just used to it, it always works on my hardware and it still has the largest community. When there are issues I can usually find the answer myself. 

Might give Mint a try though, reviews seem to be pretty positive.