[ubuntu-uk] Replacing Linux Mint 13 with Ubuntu 12.04

[Alan Lord]

On 02/07/12 21:48, Gordon Burgess-Parker wrote:
> If I want to replace Linux Mint 13 with Ubuntu 12.04, will it just be a
> case of installing over the top, and if so will that affect my Home
> directory at all?
> In other words if I do this will my Home directory stay intact or do I
> need to back it up then restore after installation of Ubuntu?
>

I would be a little cautious about trying to use a Mint /home on a new 
Ubuntu system. The main reasons are all the hidden configuration files, 
especially for your Gnome setup that will almost certainly be different. 
IIUC Mint has a customised Gnome 3 window manager called Cinnamon or 
something. This will almost certainly not be compatible with Unity.

If I were you, I would just backup your home (sudo tar zcf 
/path/to/somewhere/safe/myhome.tgz /home/username) then install a clean 
Ubuntu and then copy your "real data" back from your backup into your 
new home dir.

I often do this and find I can always copy the important stuff back like 
.firefox and .thunderbird. So although it takes a little while you end 
up with a clean system just with the data you need.

For copying back (after extracting your old home tarball somewhere 
sensible) use cp -a (the -a implies recursion and maintains all file 
permissions/ownerships etc).

FWIW - I tend to create a dir in /home and call it something like 
/home/alord-10.10 so I know what it was. Once I am sure I have copied 
everything I need I can then delete it.

HTH

Al