#1 2018-06-17 16:36:52

doxa

Member

Registered: 2016-10-24

Posts: 32

Upgrade to Helium & Keep Data

How exactly can I upgrade to Helium on a clean install and keep all my data?
I am running a dual boot BunsenLabs/Windows system with BL installed on an extended partition.

Is it just a matter of installing over the root partition?
All help appreciated.

Thanks.

sleekmason

zoom

Registered: 2018-05-22

Posts: 1,120

Website

Re: Upgrade to Helium & Keep Data

Is your /home on a separate partition?  Making a full backup before doing a reinstall is always a good idea.

In answer to your question about installing over the root partition, yes, mostly:)

The particulars could be different enough to cause problems if there were versions of programs that have changed dramatically. That part would need to be addressed by the devs here, or the separate package maintainers.
In general, if there have been no major changes, it is safe to install the new version over / . making sure to keep /home un-formatted.

A couple of other things to keep in mind might be any changes you have made/added in /usr and /etc, and whether grub is in charge, or if you used something from windows (I don't even know if that exists:)

A backup on a USB stick or some such is really the best option in case a mistake is made.

doxa

Member

Registered: 2016-10-24

Posts: 32

Re: Upgrade to Helium & Keep Data

Yes, /home is on a separate partition.
What I'm really trying to do is avoid having to backup 200GB of data, but it seems like it's the best thing to do regardless.
Thanks!

ohnonot

...again

Registered: 2015-09-29

Posts: 5,592

Re: Upgrade to Helium & Keep Data

a word of warning: it won't be smooth.
if /home is on a separate partition, and that's where all the data is, there isn't really a pressing reason to back it up first, imo.
what i'd do:

• install bunsenlabs all in one partition, completely ignoring the old /home

• log in at least once, see what files are created, and carefully move them over to old /home

• boot into recovery, delete the newly installed /home, and edit fstab to mount the old /home to become the new /home.

even so, there will be hickups with some apps as they access old configuration that might have become incompatible. more deleting/editing will be necessary.

also a good opportunity to wipe various cache folders.

Last edited by ohnonot (2018-06-18 18:03:53)

johnraff

nullglob

From: Nagoya, Japan

Registered: 2015-09-09

Posts: 12,676

Website

Re: Upgrade to Helium & Keep Data

^Sounds like solid advice, but:

boot into recovery, delete the new /home, and edit fstab to mount the new /home.

old? new? You mean delete /home in the new BL partition and then mount the previous "home" partition there I guess?

---

...elevator in the Brain Hotel, broken down but just as well...
( a boring Japan blog (currently paused), now on Bluesky, there's also some GitStuff )

Introduction to the Bunsenlabs Boron Desktop

ohnonot

...again

Registered: 2015-09-29

Posts: 5,592

Re: Upgrade to Helium & Keep Data

oops!
i edited my last post.
still sounds a little confusing, but i think i made it clear.