On 20 January 2013 10:26, Mihir Mehta <[email protected]> wrote: > Yo, > I think you should be careful because the options offered by the Ubuntu have > changed significantly between version 12.04 and 12.10. In 12.10, they give > you an option to re-install a broken installation of 12.10, where they claim > to be able to retain data, music etc and *some* of the installed software, > but they do not make it clear what exactly is happening behind the scenes > (and I have tried to find out, but the information is hard to find by Google > search or by searching wiki.ubuntu.com). On the other hand, Ubuntu 12.04 > desktop installer CD image does not offer any such re-installation option. I > think the safe thing is to keep a copy of all data, pictures etc and > *resign* yourself to a clean re-installation and having to install the > software again and copy the data back manually.
IMHO, the best way to keep your data safe in case of OS upgrades, or new installations, is to keep /home on a separate partition. This way you can do whatever you want with your operating system. The only thing which would matter is the packages, which you will have install again in case of a new installation, and which will also be taken care of by the OS during upgrade. And your personal data will sit happily on a separate partition which you can mount during install time without formatting. This way you can even install a different different distribution next time, or even keep multiple at the same time all having the same /home. > And I'm speaking as one who > has re-installed Ubuntu quite a few times, particularly in the last few > weeks ;) > > > On Saturday, January 19, 2013 11:31:20 AM UTC+5:30, somone-not-important > wrote: >> >> On 01/19/2013 09:18 AM, Alok Singh Mahor wrote: >> >> >> >> On Sat, Jan 19, 2013 at 1:25 AM, Shantanu Gupta <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> On Sat, Jan 19, 2013 at 1:18 AM, Alok Singh Mahor <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi all, >>>> what if I install Linux without formating root partition? new files will >>>> be overwritten or all the files/folder first get deleted before >>>> installation >>>> get start? >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Mailing list guidelines and other related articles: >>>> http://lug-iitd.org/Footer >>> >>> >>> depends on the installer. >> >> what does Ubuntu installer do to existing directories? >> -- >> Mailing list guidelines and other related articles: >> http://lug-iitd.org/Footer >> >> Re the GUI Installer of Ubuntu >> It gives you an option to install besides the existing file system (it >> shall dual boot it)or use the whole disk (formats to ext2/3/4 or whatever) > > -- > Mailing list guidelines and other related articles: > http://lug-iitd.org/Footer -- Chirag Anand http://atvariance.in -- Mailing list guidelines and other related articles: http://lug-iitd.org/Footer
