[xubuntu-users] Upgrading from Ubuntu to Xunbuntu

[James Freer]

On Wed, 15 May 2013, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
>>
>> But a regular install from USB or CD will want to reformat the disk, of
>> course, and the machine has everything in one partition (/)
>>
>> Is there a way to do it as an upgrade, so that /home is preserved?
>>
>> I can of course use the backup to copy /home and other stuff back after
>> an install, but there's a lot of it, and an upgrade would be faster.

I read your post with interest as I used to do an install with "format entire 
disk" - after having copied all work files to backup remote drive. I found this 
helpful as it removed junk like old hidden files and some application config 
files which don't seem to be removed with synaptic or apt-get autoremove. It 
also forced me to do some housekeeping and rubbish like revision files.

With 12.04 for the first time I had a separate /home partition. Which seems to 
be the way to go! But then one finds one is left with the old hidden files and 
other stuff. I also found that the auto disk checking didn't seem to work 
properly with a separate /home partition. Best solution I've found is just to 
have a second disk for data and do a complete *buntu install every release on 
the main drive. That's what I'll be doing shortly for 13.04 - it means one has 
to have a second HD but i think it's worth it.

Perhaps there is someone who has a better method but i didn't find /home the 
best.

james