MX Linux Forum

I want to follow the advice in the migration note which says "A clean install is highly recommended for most users–make sure to back up your Home files and any data or settings you want to preserve." I've installed the MX21 iso from live USB in a separate partition on my hard drive but don't know what the next steps are to get my original apps and data working in MX21. I'm relatively new to Linux.

In case it helps this is my disk setup ('data' contains my Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos using method in Video: My Home Folder Setup (and Disk Manager) ):
There's a wiki page for Upgrading from MX-19 to MX-21 without reinstalling. I can't find similar for upgrading with a clean install. I'd really appreciate it someone could tell me how to do it.

For the apps - make a list of those applications you want to re-install. Use the MX Package Installer to get these (or at least most of these) installed. If there are any in your list not available through MPI, you can use the Synaptic Package Installer (I think that's the name of it). You might also be able to use Discover for this - I'm not sure as I've never used it for this. Finally, there's always the option of using the command-line tool "apt" - though that may be a bit beyond you given your progress in your Linux journey.

As for the getting your "data" partition mounted - check out the Arch fstab wiki (https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/fstab). There's also, probably an MX tool for this as well - not sure as I'm a bit old school and like to do things from the command-line.

Thanks srq2625.

I'll make a list of the apps I use and get them installed. The missing bit for me is how do I load the current configuration and content in my apps, for example the emails and contacts in Thunderbird? I have a backup of my /home folder.

MX installer allows user to carry out a fresh install while preserving /home. That should keep all your current configs.

Thanks asqwerth.

I'm not sure what you mean by "preserving /home" as I've installed MX21 on an empty partition. Do I replace the /home created by the MX21 installer with /home from my MX19.4 backup?

asqwerth wrote: Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:25 am MX installer allows user to carry out a fresh install while preserving /home. That should keep all your current configs.

I'm with you, asqwerth...it worked like a charm for me...did a fresh install of MX-21 over MX-19.4.1...Once I selected my "Production" partition, then I selected the little "pull down menu" option in the Installer to "Preserve /home" (or words to that effect.) The best thing about it...the Installer pulled in all of my Settings from MX-19...then I only had to tweek a few minor things in Settings. And install one or two apps to get back to where I was before the MX-21 fresh install.

To be perfectly clear, as Paul said, that option to preserve home is in the installer. You have to do that when you are installing the new system.

turfymiler wrote: Tue Oct 26, 2021 9:29 amas I've installed MX21 on an empty partition. Do I replace the /home created by the MX21 installer with /home from my MX19.4 backup?

Yep. Just do it on a live session, copy-paste (overwrite).

asqwerth wrote: Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:25 am MX installer allows user to carry out a fresh install while preserving /home. That should keep all your current configs.

I was not aware that configuration settings would work, going from 19.4 KDE to 21 KDE. I've always maintained a separate /home partition, renamed my old $(USER) folder to something else, did the install, then did a lift-and-shift of the parts of my old "home" that I knew would transition (.thunderbird, for example) and then just went about the process of fixing the other configurations to my liking.

I have two or three more machines to migrate so I'll give this a go and if it works as advertised, "Learning all the time!"

Some configs may not transfer over perfectly, esp in plasma, because kde is forever switching/changing things around every new plasma version.

But most other stuff, eg app settings, xfce settings, should work. If simething doesn't, the relevant dot files/folders can be deleted from home. Sometimes older gtk themes may not work perfectly with a newer gtk version, though this has improved in recent times.

I was simply replying directly to OP's question about wanting to do a clean install from 19 to 21 but saving the mx19 config settings. (though OP appears to have already made a SEPARATE installation of mx21).

I've done both a direct installation over an older mx (while preserving home), and I've also done installation of new mx into a new partition then copying over selected config dot files from old mx on the other partition.

I have one installation of mx where I've preserved home from mx14 to mx16 and then to mx19. But these were always xfce. Never tried with plasma yet.