[SOLVED] New installation did not save all my new settings, software installation, etc.

[RLynwood]

Hello, again,

I'm having fits. This time I installed 22.04 onto my largest flash drive. After much difficulty, it worked, and I thought I finally had a useable OS while I turn my attention back to my SSD intallation problems. I rebooted the computer a few times for normal use necessities (I don't normally reboot it when everything is working) since the installation a few days ago, and everything worked normally. Now, today, I rebooted it in order to use this computer to install 22.04 onto another usb stick (don't ask why). That seemed to work. Now, after taking the sticks out and rebooting into the 22.04 on my large flash drive, which I intend to use as my normal OS until I get the SSD fixed, it booted alright--but it had NONE of my formerly installed software and settings; it was a completely new installation. Can anyone tell me how to begin to learn why this happened? Thanks.

[Qqmike]

I have also done such 'experiments' with flash drives. The only halfway tangible input I can think of is something about accidentally overwriting your /home on that largest flash drive?

[RLynwood]

Thanks for the (sort of) commiseration.
I thought I'd labeled that post SOLVED, but that didn't work either; I think that's fixed now. The problem turned out to be that, while installing 22.04 on another stick, it somehow installed a new 22.04 on the main stick (obviously shouldn't have had it in the machine), which I've been trying to get established as my interim OS. So had to start all over. I've finished all preparation (partitioning/labeling) and now am in the process of installing 22.04, should be finished in about 1/2 hour. I'll update this as appropriate.

[Qqmike]

Hi & yeah, I'm with you there. I meant to imply I've done it, too -- sometimes having 3 flash drives plugged in at once. Sometimes, not always clear 'where' you are (like when you view a drop-down list in a Gparted or KDE partitioner). And, I didn't see a "Solved" sign when I posted my first reply, btw. Glad you nailed it.

[RLynwood]

You didn't see it because it wasn't there. That's what I meant in my last post.
Well, all I nailed was why my old 22.04 with all of my settings no longer was there, instead a brand new installation. Argh.
Now I'm starting over. I thought I had this one right earlier today, but it turned out not to boot either. I've been working on learning why. I'll post when I get it solved, probably tomorrow.