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Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?

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Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2018, 08:05:58 PM »
 

Robo_Pi

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Another UPDATE:

Instead of editing all the paths on the launchers on the new Linux I just went back to the original Linux and fixed them all there properly.

I just made sure that they all used %/Documents/etc,...   in both the Command box and the Working Directory box in the launchers.

Then I only had to copy over the panel folder and do a reboot on the new computer and now all the launchers work without a hitch.

So that's definitely the way to do it.   The only slight problem after that would be any WINE programs.  I'm pretty sure they would need to either be edited or just recreated on the new computer.  But at least the panels will be there with the non-working placeholders.  That's good enough for me.  I'll just recreate those launchers.  I only have a few WINE programs and I don't mind cleaning up those launchers.  This is still a huge time saver.
 

Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2018, 07:23:38 PM »
 

Robo_Pi

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IMPORTANT UPDATE ! ! !

Moving a ton of panels and launchers to a freshly installed Linux is doable, but it's not for the faint of heart.  ;)

Just some notes from my current experiments:

To begin with I am storing all my data files in a single directory tree under the Documents folder.

In fact, my folder currently looks something like this:

Documents
----> Daily Diary
----> Projects
----> Project Archives

There are also numerous other folders in these subfolders.  But the idea here is that everything is kept in the Documents Folder.   This way I only need to copy over the documents folder to the new computer and all the data is preserved with precisely the same paths.   This is important if the launchers are going to work without needing to edit them all to change paths.

So the data needs to be copied over first so it's available when you move over the panels and launchers that point to these files.

The next thing I did was copy over the entire panel folder. That is stored in user/.config/xfce4 (Change the name of the original panel folder first just to hang onto it in case you want to revert back to the original configuration.)

Then I went into the xfconf folder opened the xfce-perchannel-xml folder, and replaced the xfce4-panel.xml file.  (again, rename the old file just to save a copy of it before replacing it)

What you end up with at that point is an absolute NIGHTMARE!  The original panel is all filled with red X's and nothing works!

Don't panic. Just chose SHUT DOWN and reboot.  When it reboots MAGIC OCCURS and all the new panels and launchers suddenly appear with all the unique icons you had assigned them.

~~~~~~

Unfortunately this doesn't work without a hitch.    Some of the launchers wouldn't work because I had included  the user name of the other computer in the launcher paths when I created them.   So I had to go in an edit the user name on the path of all those launchers.  However, I also realized that this could have been avoided.  When setting up the launchers always start from %/Documents/whatever .  Then it won't matter if the user names are different.  I had used /home/user/Document/blah/blah/blah instead of %/Documents

I'm learning the hard way by trial and error.  So heads-up on that one.

~~~~~~

More potential trouble:

Well, it should be obvious that you need to have installed the software that the launchers call.   So this new computer will need to have all the same software installed.  But as long as the software is there they should work.  EXCEPT in the case of WINE installed software.

I have a few Windows programs I installed via WINE.  Those specific launchers will need to be recreated because WINE programs have special C: drive Windows installation directories.  For me this was only 4 programs.  And it was still nice having the original launchers there to see what I needed to replace.   So at least the launchers were copied over.  I all needed to do was create new ones and then delete the old ones.   But at least I could see where I wanted them to be.

~~~~~

So overall, it was well worth it for me.   But it's kind of scary when you first copy the files over and it looks like everything is going to crash.  ;D

Just reboot and that should do the magic.  Then clean up any spilled WINE.  Applications that were installed by Linux all seemed to work without a hitch.  It was only the WINE app Launchers that needed to be recreated.

Like I say. this is not for the faint of heart, but it's certainly doable.  Just remember to always start the launcher paths at %/Documents.    Don't start any paths in the launchers at /home/user/ or you'll need to edit the user name on all the launchers like I did. ::)

Live and learn!

I'm going to do this again too because I have four computers I'm installing Linux on and I want the same panels and launchers on all of them.  I'll be an expert at this before I'm done.  8)



 

Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #15 on: February 12, 2018, 05:06:24 PM »
 

Robo_Pi

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@justme2

Thanks for the tip on Liberty Basic.  I might look into that.  That's not a bad price either.  The reason I want SharpDevelop is because I already wrote a lot of programs using that IDE and I have a lot of code that I can reuse in future programs.   So that's my main interest in sticking with SharpDevelop.   Now that I'm going to reinstall Windows I might just keep Windows just for SharpDevelop. 

Sorry for the many topics in this thread.  I'm just now converting over to Linux so I have a lot of issues, it's hard to stick to just one thing.

I should probably mark this thread solved though since I think the original topic of transferring Panels has been taken care of.   But I'm glad for the off-topic info.  I came out of this thread deciding to reinstall Windows onto a new drive.  So after I do that I'll have a place to keep SharpDevelop and won't need to move it over to Linux after all.   That's probably all I'll use the Windows OS for after that.
 

Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2018, 03:47:47 PM »
 

justme2

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I need to keep Windows around until I find a replacement for SharpDevelop.  I use SharpDevelop to do C# programming.   I've been trying to install SharpDevelop on Linux using WINE, but so far no luck.
 

We are getting a little off topic in this thread and I have no idea what your programming applications are, but if its for your own hobby use you might find Liberty Basic and LBBooster are much easier and quicker for GUI generation and windows executables can be built, down to a single exe app with LBBooster. You have full access to windows APIs, sockets, serial comms etc. and Liberty and LBBooster both run under linux with wine. Liberty Basic is not free though. Ignore if it is of no interest to you!
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Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2018, 01:29:00 PM »
 

Robo_Pi

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If I may ask, since you have a new HDD, why don't you just make a fresh new Windows install on it? I think it will be easier that way; backup your data from the old drive, replace it wih the new one and install Windows on it.

To be honest I never really thought about doing that.  I was so intent on cloning the drive to salvage all my installed software and other modifications I had made.  But yeah, reinstalling a clean system would be better than losing the Windows entirely.  This drive is making a racket but it's still working for now.  Maybe it will last until I make a new install.

I just found this site, it looks easy enough to do:

How to Reinstall Windows

Does that look like good enough instructions.  I'll definitely give that shot.  I'll need to buy another drive though.  I used that last drive as my external Linux System.  ;D
 

Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2018, 12:23:31 PM »
 

Moltke

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Oh no, no, no!

I wasn't trying to boot it up in a different machine.  I can understand why that might not work.  I wasn't trying to bootleg a copy of Windows

Oh I see...my bad! Since you were talking about different pcs I wrongly assumed that was what you were trying to do.
 
Quote
I even took it to a compute shop to see if they could do it, they said they could but they would charge me $200 to do it!  And I even had the new drive to put in it.   I said, "No way".  I'm not paying $200 just to clone my drive.  I can buy a brand new Windows 10 OS for something like $119.   In fact I can almost buy a whole new notebook computer for $200

If I may ask, since you have a new HDD, why don't you just make a fresh new Windows install on it? I think it will be easier that way; backup your data from the old drive, replace it wih the new one and install Windows on it.
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Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2018, 11:43:33 AM »
 

Robo_Pi

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Yeah that won't work, ever! Once Windows is installed in a pc it attaches itself to that hardware, so cloning the drive and trying to get it boot in a different one with different hardware won't work, I don't even think it'd work in two identical pc's with identical hardware, cause Microsoft doesn't think it's profitable for their business that people can simply clone their Windows install which requires to buy a license and install it into another computer without paying more money.  ;)

Oh no, no, no!

I wasn't trying to boot it up in a different machine.  I can understand why that might not work.  I wasn't trying to bootleg a copy of Windows.

My hard drive is making a racket, so I wanted to replace the drive.  So I cloned the drive and put the cloned drive right back into the very same notebook that I took the old drive out of.  I figured it should work because it's the very same computer.  All I was trying to do was replace a bad hard drive.

And I couldn't even get it to boot up on the same computer.   I had to put the old noisy drive back in and that's where I'm at right now.

I even took it to a compute shop to see if they could do it, they said they could but they would charge me $200 to do it!  And I even had the new drive to put in it.   I said, "No way".  I'm not paying $200 just to clone my drive.  I can buy a brand new Windows 10 OS for something like $119.   In fact I can almost buy a whole new notebook computer for $200.

In fact, it was that whole episode that caused me to give Linux a shot.   I'm fed up with Windows.
 

Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2018, 11:18:41 AM »
 

Moltke

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I don't know what a grub/bootloader is

To my knowledge, the bootloader is a piece of code that runs before any operating system is running, it looks for OSes installed if more than one and offers the user options to select which OS to boot in. When you select a drive just like you did to boot from your USB hdd, the bootloader is the one that handles it. If I'm wrong and/or missed something please someone step in and let us know.  ;)

Quote
these notebooks

Oh it is a notebook. Yes, there's no way to unplug internal drives on those ones just in like a desktop, which is what I have.

Quote
I've cloned the Windows drive but it refuses to recognize it as a bootable drive

Yeah that won't work, ever! Once Windows is installed in a pc it attaches itself to that hardware, so cloning the drive and trying to get it boot in a different one with different hardware won't work, I don't even think it'd work in two identical pc's with identical hardware, cause Microsoft doesn't think it's profitable for their business that people can simply clone their Windows install which requires to buy a license and install it into another computer without paying more money.  ;)
« Last Edit: February 12, 2018, 11:30:01 AM by Moltke »
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Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2018, 11:09:09 AM »
 

justme2

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I own a Cloning Drive Dock.  The only thing I'm wondering about with a totally cloned drive is whether it would work well if booted up on a totally different notebook computer?  I'm thinking it might be better to install Linux on that computer from scratch and then just copy over these panel folders.  That way the install will have potentially addressed any special hardware issues with the other notebook computer.

I've also found a way to "cheat" on Windows. (ha ha)

I've created a Linux system on a drive connected via USB.  Then I just set the BIOS up to boot on the USB first.  If I have the Linux drive plugged in when I turn the computer on it boots up in Linux.  If leave the Linux drive off-line then the computer boots up to the notebook hard drive with Windows.   So I've discovered I can have the best of both worlds without any major hassle.  ;D


That's the way I have run linux for years - on a class 10 SDHC card in a usb card reader, set to be the first boot device. (some older PCs won't boot from USB directly). As for hardware problems when plugged into different PCs, I have found none and the system has been used to demonstrate Linux Lite on numerous Windows PCs at a local U3A group. I believe windows becomes tied to the hardware after installing but linux detects the hardware each time it boots (dmesg output seems to indicate that). Anyway, my LL/USB/SDHC installation moves from machine to machine without problem. Try a cloned drive and see if it works!
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Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2018, 11:01:14 AM »
 

Robo_Pi

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I've created a Linux system on a drive connected via USB.

I did this myself once too and installed Debia 8 on my usb HDD. Just curious, did you unplug the internal drive before doing so? I had to because I read and was adviced in another forum to do so in order to avoid any grub/bootloader issues.

I don't know what a grub/bootloader is.   But it's not possible to unplug the internal drive without taking the computer apart.   So I don't bother.   It hasn't been a problem yet, although Windows sometimes senses a problem and wants to diagnose the drive before it will boot up.  But so far it's always booted up. 

This is an old computer.  It does have Windows 10 on it (upgraded from Windows 8).  But this original internal drive is making noise and probably about ready to die.  When it finally dies I'll just stick the Linux drive in permanently.   I'm about fed up with Microsoft constantly upgrading and poking their nose around in my business all the time.  They are constantly adding junk to the computer that I don't even want.  This is one reason I decided to move over to Linux.

The other reason is that Windows doesn't seem to want to clone on these notebooks.  I've cloned the Windows drive but it refuses to recognize it as a bootable drive.  I think this has something to do with Windows making it impossible to copy their OS?  I don't know what the problem is, but I just wanted to replace the drive without losing the Windows.   But I can't seem to clone a bootable Windows drive.

So I'm leaving Windows in the dust. 

With Linux I can just create a brand new fresh system disk anytime I want and I don't need to worry about Microsoft screaming for a security Key or whatever.   I'm fed up with Microsoft.

But I do LOVE SharpDevelop.  I don't know if Microsoft owns SharpDevelop or not, but I think it's pretty exclusive to Windows.  From what I've read thus far it doesn't appear that I'll be able to get it to run on Linux.  I think it's too dependent on the Windows core OS stuff.

 

Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2018, 10:12:44 AM »
 

Moltke

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Thanks for the tip Moltke

You're welcome @Robo_Pi

Quote
I've created a Linux system on a drive connected via USB.

I did this myself once too and installed Debia 8 on my usb HDD. Just curious, did you unplug the internal drive before doing so? I had to because I read and was adviced in another forum to do so in order to avoid any grub/bootloader issues.
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Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2018, 09:41:20 AM »
 

Robo_Pi

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I honestly spent far more time customizing the panels than actually installing the OS and any additional software I needed. I'm looking forward to avoiding that kind of time-sink on next install by doing what you said. Thanks again!  ;D

Hi Vera, I'm glad my problems are helping others.  That's always nice to know.  8)

I feel your pain!  I know exactly what you mean.  I've been spending two days so far getting my panels organized and I have more organizing yet to do.  I've learned a lot of time-saving tricks along the way too.  Too much to type in here, but I was thinking about making a "Tips and Tricks" thread to explain what I've done.  I might do that yet.
 

Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2018, 09:37:19 AM »
 

Robo_Pi

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Thanks for the tip Moltke.

I'll definitely look into that Live System Create feature.

I'm also planning on cloning this drive when I'm finished getting all my files organized.   

I own a Cloning Drive Dock.  The only thing I'm wondering about with a totally cloned drive is whether it would work well if booted up on a totally different notebook computer?  I'm thinking it might be better to install Linux on that computer from scratch and then just copy over these panel folders.  That way the install will have potentially addressed any special hardware issues with the other notebook computer.

I've also found a way to "cheat" on Windows. (ha ha)

I've created a Linux system on a drive connected via USB.  Then I just set the BIOS up to boot on the USB first.  If I have the Linux drive plugged in when I turn the computer on it boots up in Linux.  If leave the Linux drive off-line then the computer boots up to the notebook hard drive with Windows.   So I've discovered I can have the best of both worlds without any major hassle.  ;D

I need to keep Windows around until I find a replacement for SharpDevelop.  I use SharpDevelop to do C# programming.   I've been trying to install SharpDevelop on Linux using WINE, but so far no luck.
 

Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2018, 09:13:46 AM »
 

Vera

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Supposedly the data describing the panels is in the following folder and file

Code: [Select]
/home/<user>/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-panel.xml
And the launcher specific data is stored in the following folder

Code: [Select]
/home/<user>/.config/xfce4/panel

Thanks for the above info @Robo_Pi  ! I had been keeping an eye on this thread eagerly because I have a similar (but not identical) problem. And it looks like your info might solve it. My problem was that when I last did a fresh install of LL, it took me awhile to customize the panels for myself, and then I had to repeat the exact same manual processes for the panels on the other 2 user accounts on the machine (one for each of my kids). I felt sure there must be a faster way! Thanks to you, next time that I do a fresh install I will first save my customized panel file info from the paths you specified, then I will use that for all users' panels.

I honestly spent far more time customizing the panels than actually installing the OS and any additional software I needed. I'm looking forward to avoiding that kind of time-sink on next install by doing what you said. Thanks again!  ;D
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Re: Saving and/or Transferring Entire Desktop Panels?
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2018, 08:41:15 AM »
 

Moltke

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Hi @Robo_Pi

Quote
Is there a way to save an entire panel including all its launchers and transfer it to another Linux computer?

Systemback has the option to create a LiveCD from your current installation.





I haven't tried this and don't know if the live system can be installed onto another pc but the option's there. Also, you might want to read this article https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/2-methods-to-clone-your-linux-hard-drive/

Hope this helps! :)
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