How to install LL but keep /home

How to install LL but keep /home - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: How to install LL but keep /home (/showthread.php?tid=7751)

How to install LL but keep /home - llmojo - 04-25-2021

Hello everyone

My laptop runs Linux Mint right now. On one partition is the OS(30gib) on an other is /home(200gib)

As a backup i made copies on my homefolder to an external SSD drive and created a bootable USB-Stick with LinuxLite

What i want is to delite the OS partition and install linux lite insted
How can i keep the home partition?

Re: How to install LL but keep /home - firenice03 - 04-26-2021

[member=48258]llmojo[/member]
If as you show have /home on a separate partition, when installing LL choose the "Something Else" option.
You would reformat root "/" but leave /home as is.

The caveat - is you'll possibly be reusing some files from 2 OS's ... You could run into problems - I would move these files to another folder - specifically any files with a "." in front of the name, that are in your home directory... thus allowing LL to create as needed...

Re: How to install LL but keep /home - llmojo - 04-28-2021

Hello firenice03

I tried it as you have written. After the installationi removed the LiveUSBstick. After a reboot only a hardwaretest runs and at the end it says:

Quote:No bootable devices were found! Possible causes could be a corrupt OS image or a boot device is not enabled in BIOS setup

the Laptop is a DellPrecision5510. If i press F2 while it boots it opens the ? UEFI or BIOS mode. It is not written there
wat mod it is.

At Settings -> General -> Boot Sequence ther is a Boot List Option switch with Legacy and UEFI
standard is UEFI. on the right side is a button "Add Boot Option". if i press it says

Quote:File System Not Found!

I changed it to Legacy mode and it boots currect. But me /home is emty.

So it worked but not as i expected

Re: How to install LL but keep /home - firenice03 - 04-28-2021

So did LL install as BIOS? sound like it may and the old os was UEFI...

Makes sence why home isn't there if so...
I'm not at my pc but don't think its end of the world.

Boot up LL so its working.. confirm if bios or uefi, there are instruction on how to confirm.
Also post the output of lsblk to ensure its not attached as it may need mounted

Re: How to install LL but keep /home - firenice03 - 04-29-2021

[member=48258]llmojo[/member]

If you're unsure how to confirm which BIOS LL is installed to (UEFI or Legacy BIOS) you can run the following command - it looks for the telltale efi directory..

Code:
[ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo "EFI boot on HDD" || echo "Legacy boot on HDD"

Again we'll want to confirm whether /home is attached..

Code:
lsblk

You could 'ls /home' to ensure its a blank/empty directory - it may not have gotten recognized - it may have needed the label "/home" reused or reentered at time of install...

You can also use gparted to view partitions. As we'll need the filesystem.. "/sdX#" i.e. /sda2 or /sdb1 etc..

IF...everything is seen by the OS or attached - then it should be easily mounted to LL ...
IF... the partition isn't seen by LL or cannot be mounted, it may be installed to the opposing BIOS - I don't see this being the case - as its not the OS and its not booting...

I really see that the problem being during the install the home partition didnt have the "/home" label (my guess)..

Re: How to install LL but keep /home - ohjrson - 07-11-2021

Hey, Not sure if this thread is still viable but I will ask anyway. I am currently running LL 4.8 on my T310 by Dell. I want to upgrade to the LL 5 seres. I just need to know the best way to save the current information I have on the 4.8 LL. I know it has to do with saving "home" but I am not sure the best way to do it when I install. I have LL 5.0 on a DVD loaded in the DVD tray. ready to go

Any help would be greatly apreciated.

Re: How to install LL but keep /home - Artim - 07-12-2021

When upgrading to a new series (4 to 5), it's not always best to preserve the /home partition, since the Xfce desktop upgrades as well, and your old desktop settings may mess up the new desktop. Instead, copy all your bookmarks, photos, documents, etc. to a thumbdrive and copy them back to your new fresh install of of 5.4.

Within a series, though, you can choose "something else" at installation when offered the partitioning choice, then uncheck "format this partition" to preserve the /home partition.