Ubuntu - Doing Updates

The Problems

A system upgrade via update manager is not working or not intended. Several ppa archives are installed. A complete new installation is needed.

In any case

Backup or keep your home directory!!!
Be sure which ppa's you did install and if they are avaiable for your new distribution

The best is to keep your home data on a seperate partition.

In case you need a new install, this is very easy. Mount an external backup drive or insert a dvd. Save the following files onto that media.

1. Save Package informations

sudo dpkg --get-selections > ~/Desktop/myselections

Save this file to your backup media!

2. Save home

Logout !!!

Switch to a terminal screen via Strg+Alt+F1 and login with your normal username!

Then enter the following commands:

cd /home
tar cjvf ~/Desktop/${USER}.tar.bz ${USER}

This creates a file called "yourUserName.tar.bz" on your Desktop.

Switch back to the graphical login screen with Strg+Alt+F7 (sometimes F8) and login. Now burn your backup file from your desktop to a CD/DVD and/or - dependent to the size - to a backup drive. Be careful!!! Better save your data twice. A CD or DVD could be defective. The securest way is a backup onto an external hard drive.

HINT: If you are using evolution email, it is a good idea to backup your data with the evolution backup procedure which also generates a backup file!

3. Install your new ubuntu

You can savely install your new ubuntu using and erasing (!) the whole partition.

4. Recover home

After you installed your new ubuntu (you can savely use the whole partition) do the same as above.

Copy back your backupfiles

Login to your new ubuntu with the same (!) username you used before.

Copy the backup of your home directory (yourUsername.tar.bz) and the paket selections (myselections) to your desktop.

Reselect archives

Be sure you reenabled all your ppa archives and all package sources you previously had.

Replay the backup

Switch to a terminal screen via Strg+Alt+F1 and login with your normal username!

Then enter the following commands:

cd /home
tar xjvf ~/Desktop/${USER}.tar.bz

sudo dpkg --set-selections < /Desktop/myselections
sudo apt-get dselect-upgrade

This could take a lot of time depending to your sources.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes your multimedia might not work.

Deletion of the following folders / files might (!) help.

cd ~
rm -rf .pulse