Upgrading to MX-21 from MX-18 - Keep my Home folder

[gmap27]

Done. Is that correct?

[richb]

Done. Is that correct?

Yes. Thank you.

[h3kt0r]

Something one might find useful is as follow :
1. Make a backup of your old MX install 'Home' tree.
2. Install new MX version. Then immediately make a backup of your fresh 'Home' tree.
3. Step by step cherry-pick copies of configurations files from your old MX 'Home' tree to your fresh one.
4. In case of trouble, restore basic config from your fresh 'Home' tree backup.

Tedious process unless you have some failsafe "Revert to default configuration" routine implemented in case the configuration file does not match against the software version you're trying to run...

[Duliwi]

I don't think, we can replace the whole Home in a running system. Can we? Do we not need to replace Home via life system?

[asqwerth]

I don't think, we can replace the whole Home in a running system. Can we? Do we not need to replace Home via life system?

If you are only referring to those hidden "dot" config files/folders in $HOME that relate to user-facing applications and not your desktop environment, there is usually no problem, though please do NOT ignore h3kt0r's advice to FIRST make backups of your fresh system's config files/folders where they exist, just in case.

For XFCE or plasma, I tend to not copy over config files/folders, esp for plasma since it is actively developed and every new Debian version has a significantly changed plasma.

Usually, until you open an app for the first time on your newly installed system, the dot file/folders for that app are not generated and don't exist. So while on your new system and before you open an app, you can copy the old system's dot files/folders from old $HOME to your system.

Examples of some things I selectively copy over on the old $HOME (or a backup of it):

/ .luckybackup folder
/.mozilla folder [if you are doing this from an MX install that is 2 or more versions back from the current, this may NOT or may be successful since Firefox may have changed a lot 2 Debian versions ago]
/.qmplay2

Some of the subfolders in $HOME/.config like:
variety [very helpful if like me you had saved many wallpaper file locations]
Clementine [though it is not default anymore in mx23] - this is pretty helpful since it will bring in your whole music collection and album cover pics, etc and you don't have to scan your collection again]
geany [so I don't have to set the text wrap, "open previous tabs" and toolbar configuration all over again]


It doesn't matter if your system doesn't yet have the relevant app installed. The config files are simply unused until you install the app in question.

[Duliwi]

Thank you.

[asqwerth]

Thank you.

I just copied over my strawberry config files form MX23a2 to MX23beta1. Works similarly to Clementine. When I opened Strawberry in MX23b1, my music collection was all listed there already as well as the Dynamic music playlist that I had been in the midst of listening to on MX23a2.