Thinking about trying other distro(s)

[dibl]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

what I want to do is wipe / so I can install the new distro on it, but leave my /home and /data partitions as is. I'm guessing that regardless of distribution, this should not be a problem.

That will work -- just reformat the "/" partition.

HOWEVER, note that the many dot files and folders (i.e. .cache, .config, .kde, etc.) will remain in /home. So, if you install your new OS and set the old /home partition as the new /home partition, all the settings come along with it. If your new OS has a different (earlier) version of one of your packages, like chromium-browser, you'll be all hosed up with the settings from the wrong version.

So, you might consider nuking the dot folders out of /home somewhere prior to reinstalling. Then you'll just have your data.

[oshunluvr]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

I'll throw in one I often recommend - Bodhi Linux.

It's Ubuntu LTS core so it won't be much of a leap in that regard, but it uses a very well done Enlightenment desktop so that's new for you. Plus, it works extremely well on low power hardware and is the most beautiful out-of-the-box distro I've ever seen.

They also have a very involved community forum and some great people there and the project developer is on it daily. I was active there for awhile, but I don't have the time to keep up with both forums so I rarely visit that one anymore but I still use the distro on my netbook.

[oshunluvr]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

In re. dibl's post:

My method for distro hopping is to leave my /home in use only for my "daily driver" and for the distros I am playing around with, leave /home within the install itself. If I want to access files from my main home, I just mount the partition and symlink to Documents folder or what-have-you.

[Snowhog]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

I too, utilize separate /home partitions for my multiple installs (I have three on each of my two laptops). I think that one of the main contributors to new user problems with upgrades is the old stuff in their /home partition (when they use a separate /home). Setting up and installing a new Linux on it's own / and /home partitions, is IMO, the best way to go. As oshunluver points out, one just have to mount the other /home partition(s) when you want to access something there.

[DoYouKubuntu]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

Thanks for the great input and suggestions.

I think what I'd do is create a new username during the install process, so that user would have everything as it's supposed to be for that distro. Then I'd copy over everything but settings files from my real account, then rename the user and its $HOME to my usual, and be good to go.

[dibl]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

Kubuntu (Ver.6.06) was my first Linux, and still has the best forum in known Universe. 8)

I've been running aptosid with KDE as the only installed OS for a couple of years now -- I've come to admire the "pure" Debian, and the rolling release model, and it still feeds my apetite for "bleedy edge" software. Rather than having a big upgrade drama every six months, I have a little bit of upgrade drama every few days or weeks.

Kubuntu runs very well on Vmware Player, as does Windows 7 and any other OS I might need.

[DoYouKubuntu]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

I'll throw in one I often recommend - Bodhi Linux.

I downloaded the ISO last night. I think I'll install it on my other laptop. One thing I'm wondering, not just with Bodhi but with other distros as well, is do they require a wired Internet connection initially as *buntu does? (Or have I gotten so set in my ways that *I* automatically do the wired thing so I can get all the updates while I'm doing the initial install?)

[Snowhog]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

The 'tried 'n true' method is to use a wired connection, as unless one has an exotic connection device, wired "just works". Hoping that a wireless connection will work all the way through the installation/download/configuration process is to much of a gamble (for me). *buntu provides for alternate installs using a LiveDVD which usually enables one to do a full installation without the need for any Internet connection. While not 100% fool-proof, if one is able to use their wireless connection when running off of the LiveCD 'natively' - without having to install anything - there is a high likelihood that it will also work 'out of the box' after the installation.

[dibl]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

No wired connection required to install aptosid. When you are ready to connect, use ceni (under system menu). It has one of the better user manuals you'll ever see, on their site -- review it first, and save learning things the hard way.

[Snowhog]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

...and save learning things the hard way.

What? And miss out on all the fun you'll have!?

[dibl]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)



I needed to mention the manual, because most answers in their forum advise "Read The Fine Manual", or something like that.

[Snowhog]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

I agree, aptosid's manual is very well constructed.

[arochester]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

One of the things I like about Aptosid is that it works out-of-the-box with the Intel Video card on my Dell C400 P3 Laptop. The only other ones I have found are #!Crunchbang and Antix.

[dibl]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

I have installed aptosid on 7 completely different hardware platforms, and had it work flawlessly on all of them. Its hardware detection and support is pretty amazing.

[DoYouKubuntu]

Re: Thinking about trying other distro(s)

It still amazes me that there are so many Linux distributions I've never even heard of--until this thread.

I really couldn't remember if having a wired connection was just something I had gotten into the habit of doing during a fresh install, or if it was actually required.