I just back up the Home folder as it contains all your config files as well as regular files like docs and pics etc. In a file manager, you might not see them until you change it to view hidden files as all the conf file folders start with a dot
.mozilla
etc
If going from one version of ubuntu based OS to another, it brings all your settings back like nothing has changed as far as each program is concerned. You do have to reinstall any programs that don’t come with the new OS by default.
That’s when I use the command line for most as it’s faster; as long as I know the package name and most of them are single words.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gimp
Every “Software Center” I’ve used was laggy so I tend to use Synaptic if I don’t know the package name or I’m searching. Only problem with is that it lists all kinds of stuff like software libraries that programmers use. There are some cool little utility programs that you won’t find in the software center though. You can also repair broken packages on the rare occasion it happens and can manage software repositories.
I have no experience outside of ubuntu based linux so I don’t know if backing up and restoring the Home folder would work if going from ubuntu based to something else.
There’s really no need to back up the entire HDD or partition of the HDD, at least with ubuntu based. Of course you might want a list of installed programs and reinstalling them takes time but it’s a whole lot less to back up and for most people, it would fit on a thumb drive.
Some people create a partition specifically for the Home folder so they can swap versions without having to back anything up. It’s different when installing because you have to tell the installation where your custom home folder is. I’ve never done it but it would be faster as my Home folder is close to 100gb.
That first backup with Deja Dup is slow, as is restoring it but after the first backup, subsequent backups aren’t too bad.
[[Only problem with is that it lists all kinds of stuff like software libraries that programmers use.]]
Yeah, that’s what confuses me- not sure which files to get
[[I just back up the Home folder as it contains all your config files as well as regular files like docs and pics etc.]]
Thanks, I’ll look into how to do that- I assume you would reinstall the os, then restore this home folder, right? Reinstalling linux is very quick and easy- so that wouldn’t be a problem, as long as restoring the backup home folder would reset all my preferences and customizations- I assume it would restore things like video card drivers too, right? Not that it’s hard to update those- but would be nice if a restore restored the right drivers for me-
Even if i have to reinstall and start from scratch though, with linux, it’s very quick and very easy- unlike windows 7 used to be- used to take me literally days- with all the customizations and windows updates, which were slow as mollasses- with linux, i can be up and running in about 1 hour- maybe two at most- all updated, customizations, programs i like back on- etc- it was such a nice thing to have it functional and updated so quick compared to windows-