On Thu, 27 Aug 1998, Francisco Matias Cuenca [iso-8859-1] Acu�a wrote:
> How can I upgrade my slackware 3.3 to 3.5? I have patched the kernel many
> times, but I think it's time to upgrade the whole set of utilities. I have
> made many customization to my system and I don't wanna lose them. What can
> I read? When can I find more info. on the subject?
I think I have 3.0. Unless 3.3 is a lot different, an upgrade involves
typing in a list of packages you want to delete. If they are fundamental
system software you need to be booted from a boot/root set, and that is
what you would do for a general upgrade. Then during the new installation
you select the packages you want to install, which presumably are those
you deleted and some new ones. The point is that it is selective. You
don't need to install over customized packages.
Customized startup files should be archived in prototype form somehere. I
use a directory called /usr/share/skel and I have files in it with names
like dot.bashrc. As regards /etc/rc.d/ I can only suggest that you
proceed carefully: make a copy of the directory and it's contents, and
after the new installation run 'diff -ur' on the two directories. You
should probably start afresh to customize the new rc.d/ files.
An upgrade, rather than a fresh install, should not overwrite config files
in /etc, but you should back them up just in case. If in doubt, back up
the entire directory and run diff -r afterwards.
But if you have been customizing your system I'm puzzled that you want to
do this. I have kernel 1.1.105, glibc and much else that wasn't in 3.0
and I think is not in 3.5. My utilities are generally up-to-date. To
install Slackware 3.5 would be a downgrade. The only reason I upgraded
from 1.1.1 to 3.0 was it seemed the easiest way to get from aout to ELF.
Rgds, mtw
