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need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 1:10 pm
by Seeker
Hi all: have not been on the forum for ages. My MX19.4 is way beyond expir date so can't upgrade videodownloader or firefox and no security updates. I want to do fresh install of the most appropriate new MX ver. First, have simply forgot how to do that and don't know which ver would be best for me. Second, don't want to lose all the emails (inbox/outbox) on my Thunderbird. So, what to do? I have everything on one 500GB SSD and a data folder with all my data in various folders (Desktop, Business, Non-Business and then lower-level folders by topic). So I do not use the default MX structure. I back up using LuckyBackUp to three external drives (one ssd and two HDs). How do I test my backups are OK? I tried to set up backup folder for Thunderbird and thought it was working. But when I look in the appropriate target folder in LuckyBackUp I don't see anything. So how to backup my Thunderbird settings/in- and outboxes? thanks in advance for your help.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 1:45 pm
by Eadwine Rose
Thunderbird is easy, backup the .thunderbird folder which will have everything in there.
If you then put it in it should be there. HOWEVER since you are likely far behind in version numbers for staying at 19.4 too long, no guarantees.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 1:52 pm
by j2mcgreg
Please post your existing QSI so that we can look for and advise on any pitfalls that you can avoid with our help.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:35 pm
by oops
For a fresh install, it is better to have the root / , and the /home, into 2 different partitions (and a swap partition too ~same size of the RAM)
(use the : user-installed-packages .. before to save the list of your current installed packages)
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 4:28 pm
by m_pav
Start by ensuring all partitions on your internal drives have proper labels that make sense to you in a way they can not possibly be misconstrued for anything else, this step alone goes further than most any other towards removing confusion.
I recommend you use the terminal to print the layout of your partitions. If you use your file managers right click action "Open Terminal Here", the following commands will direct their output to the location from which you started the Terminal. If you opened the terminal with the F4 hotkey, or from the Menu, all output will be directed to the root of your homedir.
The first command simply runs the same command twice, once so you can see its output and a second time to save a copy of it. Note the period at the end of the 2nd command, that simply denotes "here", as in the current directory listing (your starting folder - refer to the above)
Code: Select all
lsblk && lsblk > Partition-Layout.txt
This next command simply backs up your existing fstab using the same feature as the command above so you get to see what is being saved.
If you have made any dirs under /mnt referenced by content in fstab, the following will print them to a file so you can remake them later.
Code: Select all
ls /mnt && ls /mnt > my-mount-points.txt
Some folk need more than text, so simply taking a screenshot of your partitions as they display in Gparted will make things a little clearer.
With your homedir safely backed up and all this information on hand, or printed, and when you're at the point where your system is most vulnerable to human error as you do the reinstall, you should be in the best form to perform an in place generational upgrade install whilst retaining your homedir.
The key thing to remember when upgrading from one Debian Generation to another in this manner is, the theming with the new version will likely not be compatible with the former.
Our installer has an option to re-use the homedir and when selected, you have the option to choose a totally new user name or re-use the old one. Re-using the old one has a benefit of retaining symlink integrity if you have created them within your homedir. When using this option you will be asked if you want to re-use the existing homedir or let the installer rename it and create a new one for you. If you choose the option to rename it, the old account folder (homedir) will have -001 or -old appended to its name and a new account folder will be created with a fresh set of configs that match the release you're installing. I personally think this is the best way to go.
I did post a video that touched on this a while back, but it's not my best work because I was recovering from cv19 when I recorded it and the portion covering this was an add-in I decided on at the last minute. You can fast forward to 4M 20s to get the relevant content
https://youtu.be/h64PS3P-NnU
When the installation is completed and you've logged into your new user account, the very first thing you will want to do is to
move the contents of your old renamed homedir to the same location in the new homedir. I caution you to open nothing but the File Manager on your first login to the new account so you can focus solely on getting your data back into place to avoid causing yourself a headache later. If you're accustomed to using your Desktop for storage, I suggest you leave it till last to ensure any symlinks etc within your homedir will be intact when you're done.
Using a split pane file manager or two File Manager instances, whichever works best for you, you will be
moving content from the old login dir to the new. An important thing to know moving forward is you
must not overwrite any of the following "primary" folders that your new user account was provided with as these contain special properties.
Starting from your old homedirs Documents folder, going sequentially through to the Videos Folder, move
ONLY the contents of each folder to the folder of the same name in the new user account, so you will be working in the following sequence.
Documents
Downloads
Music
Pictures
Videos
Desktop
Now set your FileManagers to show the hidden files and selectively move the entire ~/.filename folder from the old to the new for the apps whose content and settings you wish to retain. E.G., moving the .mozilla and .thunderbird folders will get these apps back to
near full function immediately. To get absolute full function with 0% loss, it may be necessary to copy across their respective caches from the ~/.cache/.filename locations. Unlike the first actions, the hidden configs are not quite so sensitive, but take care when you find the new login homedir already has a hidden directory for a specific app. For example, overwriting content in ~/.conky could break stuff, so use care and caution wherever you see an existing folder with the same name in the new homedir.
If you focus on the most important app types first you will get more than enough function and having moved the content out of the saved homedir, it should be relatively small. I've kept my old homedirs around for up to 6 months before I deleted them, so it doesn't cause any harm to have them hanging around.
One last thing, if you have sufficient RAM and a little time, do your updates and app installs/removals while you're booted live BEFORE you run the installer. As this all runs in RAM memory, it will work at the highest possible speed for your machine, and all the package updates, additions and removals will be integrated with your fixed disk installation when you run the installer. It has been my experience a machine with 8GB RAM is capable of pulling in a whopping 3 months worth of updates along with a Debian minor increment such as from 12.8 to 12.9 with room to spare, so a 900MB package download unpacked to RAM, plus the live system in RAM space. I once hit 7.6GB of RAM used and it was all integrated into the installed system.
You can always check your headroom any time when running live by simply watching the available drive space at the bottom of the File Manager from demos' home, works in Fluxbox, KDE & Xfce, can't speak for rPI as I haven't got one.
EDIT - multiple edits, clarifications, typos and errors corrected, I really could do with a spelling and grammar check, a new set of eyeballs and intravenous coffee

Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 4:45 pm
by m_pav
oops wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:35 pm
For a fresh install, it is better to have the root / , and the /home, into 2 different partitions (and a swap partition too ~same size of the RAM)
(use the : user-installed-packages .. before to save the list of your current installed packages)
That's all personal preferences, but as for the swap being equal to RAM, I totally disagree.
My daily has 16GB RAM and 6GB Swap, my ManCave has 32GB RAM and 8Gb Swap. It all depends on your use type. It's ridiculous to allocate 128 GB for swap on a Desktop machine with 128GB RAM unless you're smashing out 8K videos and editing 40K images, and therein, one would be better advised to use a fully fledged server for efficiency, not a regular Desktop.
I have an 11" HP craptop with 2GB RAM soldered to the motherboard & no option to increase, so I allocate 4GB Swap. Each machine is set and used within its capacity and on a machine with more than 2 internal drives, I might put a swap partition on each drive to facilitate more efficient use for when push comes to shove.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:01 pm
by oops
m_pav wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 4:45 pm
oops wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:35 pm
For a fresh install, it is better to have the root / , and the /home, into 2 different partitions (and a swap partition too ~same size of the RAM)
(use the : user-installed-packages .. before to save the list of your current installed packages)
That's all personal preferences, but as for the swap being equal to RAM, I totally disagree.
My daily has 16GB RAM and 6GB Swap, my ManCave has 32GB RAM and 8Gb Swap. It all depends on your use type. It's ridiculous to allocate 128 GB for swap on a Desktop machine with 128GB RAM unless you're smashing out 8K videos and editing 40K images, and therein, one would be better advised to use a fully fledged server for efficiency, not a regular Desktop.
I have an 11" HP craptop with 2GB RAM soldered to the motherboard & no option to increase, so I allocate 4GB Swap. Each machine is set and used within its capacity and on a machine with more than 2 internal drives, I might put a swap partition on each drive to facilitate more efficient use for when push comes to shove.
I agree too, but for a not expert user, it is a simple rule to have. (and I said for the swap: ~ (means almost) ... also depends if hibernation is needed or not, etc . And even 16MB for a 512MB or 1TB Hdd is not a big deal.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:44 pm
by DukeComposed
oops wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:01 pm
I agree too, but for a not expert user, it is a simple rule to have. (and I said for the swap: ~ (means almost) ... also depends if hibernation is needed or not
We've had multiple threads recently of users asking why their systems are suddenly unusable on recent installs and they all involved a new 50-60 GB root partition at capacity, with a 20-30 GB swap file taking up half their space and flatpaks consuming the rest under /var. Unless hibernation is a must-have feature for you, a small swap file is fine. If you're doing the kind of computing that benefits from having a ton of swap, then you've graduated from "not an expert" to "knows what you're doing well enough to make an informed decision".
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:57 pm
by oops
... Yes, but it is more easy to resize the swap partition than the others partitions.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:10 pm
by DukeComposed
oops wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:57 pm
... Yes, but it is more easy to resize the swap partition than the others partitions.
Resizing partitions is not a trivial operation, especially for "not an expert" users. Perhaps you meant resizing a swap file.
Resizing swap files is not a trivial operation for "not an expert" users who, often, don't even know what a swap file is.
Either you suggest new users invest in a huge amount of swap space they likely don't need, won't use, and which will eat half their root partition in a default MX install, or you suggest to new users that resizing swap is "easy". In the latter case, there's nothing wrong with starting with a small swap file.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:21 pm
by Antediluvian
Seeker wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 1:10 pm
I have everything on one 500GB SSD and a data
folder with all my data in various folders (Desktop, Business, Non-Business and then lower-level folders by topic). So I do not use the default MX structure.
Do you mean "and a data
partition with all my data"? If so that should simplify the detailed instructions of
@m_pav I think.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:44 pm
by DukeComposed
Antediluvian wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:21 pm
Do you mean "and a data
partition with all my data"?
We're still waiting on OP to provide the requested QSI to know the answer to that question. I'm particularly interested to know what "I do not use the default MX structure" means.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:44 pm
by oops
DukeComposed wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:10 pm
oops wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:57 pm
... Yes, but it is more easy to resize the swap partition than the others partitions.
Resizing partitions is not a trivial operation, especially for "not an expert" users. Perhaps you meant resizing a swap file.
Resizing swap files is not a trivial operation for "not an expert" users who, often, don't even know what a swap file is.
Either you suggest new users invest in a huge amount of swap space they likely don't need, won't use, and which will eat half their root partition in a default MX install, or you suggest to new users that resizing swap is "easy". In the latter case, there's nothing wrong with starting with a small swap file.
8GB/512GB = 0,015625 = 1.56% of the full hdd size ... where is the problem ?
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 7:17 pm
by uncle mark
DukeComposed wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:44 pm
Antediluvian wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:21 pm
Do you mean "and a data
partition with all my data"?
We're still waiting on OP to provide the requested QSI to know the answer to that question. I'm particularly interested to know what "I do not use the default MX structure" means.
I think he just meant he has his data folders laid out differently than the MX defaults.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 7:19 pm
by MXRobo
@oops Was going to post after post #4, but had to run.
Don't fully understand it, but recently Stevo commented regarding that "(and a swap partition too ~same size of the RAM)" is old-school because swap has been compressed for decade(s) - hopefully, I'm not conflating that with a swap file; yet the installer (or something) still mentions that the swap should be at least as big as ram for hibernation.
Possibly correct for MX-25.
Cheers all!
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:00 pm
by Seeker
Hi all: I was away, now I'm back. Have to get newer MX because can no longer update Firefox with my old version. Re file org questions: I created a Data folder, where I have all my data, organized in folders Business and Non-Business, and, within them, folders like Insurance, Photos, etc. The only folders from the MX default installation that I use are Desktop and Downloads. Several times a week I transfer my data from Downloads to Desktop. Later, I go through Desktop, and either delete or transfer to relevant folders within my Data folder. So when I back up I back up Data and Desktop. I have tried to back up my Thunderbird, but when I check the Thunderbird file on my backup devices, I don't see anything in it. Basically, I am asked you guys what newer version of MX to use and how to do a fresh install on my X220, which has a 500GB SSD. thanks!
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:25 pm
by Stuart_M
Seeker wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:00 pm
...Have to get newer MX because can no longer update Firefox with my old version.
...
It is easy to update Firefox in MX-19.4 Xfce to the latest version (135.0 as of 14 February). See the
viewtopic.php?t=83815 thread titled "Updating Firefox in MX-19" which was started yesterday, 13 February 2025.
Actually I'll save you time and tell you how here.
- Go to https://mirror.freedif.org/MXLinux/repo ... f/firefox/ and download either MX-21 or MX-23 Firefox Debian files to your MX-19 installation. (That link is for the MX repository.)
Both of those two files will install the latest version of Firefox, which is 135.0 as of 14 February 2025, in MX-19.4. I have tested both of those files myself, installing into MX-19.4 and both work equally well.
- Now just install Firefox 135.0 using Thunar and either double-clicking on the Debian file or right-click the Debian file and choose "Install Deb Files" to install it.
- That's it. Once it is installed you will see Firefox 135.0 installed in MX-19.4
In my Post 5 of the first link posted here you will see how to install other Firefox versions in MX-19.4.
This is the method I will be using to upgrade Firefox in MX-19.4 that I currently use full time.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:31 pm
by DukeComposed
Seeker wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:00 pm
Basically, I am asked you guys what newer version of MX to use and how to do a fresh install on my X220, which has a 500GB SSD. thanks!
Use MX 23. Beyond that, we still haven't seen the QSI that was requested when you started this thread a week ago.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:56 pm
by Seeker
thanks stuart and duke: I just installed per instructions above by mistake Firefox 135 32bit, rather than 64bit. Also, I've lost all my Firefox history. Yikes! What to do?
Meanwhile, how do I send the QSI--in fact, what is that?
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:57 pm
by Seeker
Here is my QSI:
Code: Select all
System: Kernel: 4.19.0-27-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 8.3.0
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.19.0-27-amd64
root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2 tk: Gtk 3.24.5 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm 4.14.0 vt: 7
dm: LightDM 1.26.0 Distro: MX-19.4_x64 patito feo October 21 2019
base: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
Machine: Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 4286CTO v: ThinkPad X220 serial: <filter>
Chassis: type: 10 serial: <filter>
Mobo: LENOVO model: 4286CTO serial: <filter> UEFI-[Legacy]: LENOVO
v: 8DET63WW (1.33 ) date: 07/19/2012
Battery: ID-1: BAT0 charge: 64.7 Wh (96.3%) condition: 67.2/85.9 Wh (78.3%) volts: 12.1
min: 10.8 model: SANYO 45N1175 type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Not charging
CPU: Info: Dual Core model: Intel Core i5-2520M bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Sandy Bridge
family: 6 model-id: 2A (42) stepping: 7 microcode: 2F cache: L2: 3 MiB
flags: avx lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 19934
Speed: 910 MHz min/max: 800/3200 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 910 2: 942 3: 988 4: 1395
Vulnerabilities: Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: Vulnerable
Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion
Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
Type: retbleed status: Not affected
Type: spec_store_bypass
mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl and seccomp
Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Enhanced / Automatic IBRS, IBPB: conditional, STIBP:
conditional, RSB filling, PBRSB-eIBRS: SW sequence
Type: srbds status: Not affected
Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics: Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics
vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0126
class-ID: 0300
Device-2: Chicony Lenovo Integrated Camera (0.3MP) type: USB driver: uvcvideo
bus-ID: 1-1.6:4 chip-ID: 04f2:b217 class-ID: 0e02
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.4 compositor: xfwm4 v: 4.14.0 driver:
loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1600x900 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 423x238mm (16.7x9.4")
s-diag: 485mm (19.1")
Monitor-1: VGA-1 res: 1600x900 hz: 60 dpi: 94 size: 434x236mm (17.1x9.3")
diag: 494mm (19.4")
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Sandybridge Mobile v: 3.3 Mesa 18.3.6 compat-v: 3.0
direct render: Yes
Audio: Device-1: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio vendor: Lenovo
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:1c20 class-ID: 0403
Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k4.19.0-27-amd64 running: yes
Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 12.2 running: yes
Network: Device-1: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network vendor: Lenovo driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k
port: 5080 bus-ID: 00:19.0 chip-ID: 8086:1502 class-ID: 0200
IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Device-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak] driver: iwlwifi v: kernel
modules: wl port: efa0 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:0085 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlan0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives: Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 117.23 GiB (25.2%)
SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 860 EVO 500GB size: 465.76 GiB
block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter>
rev: 3B6Q scheme: MBR
Partition: ID-1: / raw-size: 463.73 GiB size: 455.38 GiB (98.20%) used: 117.23 GiB (25.7%)
fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
Swap: Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 2 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
dev: /dev/sda2 maj-min: 8:2
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 50.0 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 3633
Repos: Packages: 2313 note: see --pkg apt: 2307 lib: 1192 flatpak: 6
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster-updates main contrib non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster main contrib non-free
2: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates main contrib non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
1: deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
1: deb http://mxrepo.com/mx/repo/ buster main non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nordvpn.list
1: deb https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian stable main
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list
1: deb [arch=amd64] https://repo.skype.com/deb stable main
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/teams.list
1: deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/ms-teams stable main
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/various.list
Info: Processes: 216 Uptime: 1h 30m wakeups: 2 Memory: 7.68 GiB used: 2.45 GiB (31.9%)
Init: SysVinit v: 2.93 runlevel: 5 default: 5 tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 8.3.0
alt: 8 Shell: quick-system-in default: Bash v: 5.0.3 running-in: quick-system-in
inxi: 3.3.06
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 12:44 am
by DukeComposed
Seeker wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:57 pm
Here is my QSI
Based on the QSI you should download and run the default MX-23 x64 ISO. Install the ISO to a USB and boot it and make sure all your hardware work in the USB live session. When you're confident that your system hardware functions the way you expect it to work in the MX-23 live session, you should be able to install MX-23 over MX-19 in accordance with the
MX Linux Migration page. As I understand it, that means that you do not """upgrade""" MX Linux, but that you install MX 23 over the same system and choose to preserve the /home directory during install.
Personally I've never done this and I don't recommend it, but devs on this forum insist that the MX installer can differentiate any /home partition and preserve it when the option is set.
Caveat emptor.
Your QSI shows that you do *not* have a separate /home partition. I have read that this shouldn't matter and that the MX installer will still protect this data when you set the preserve home option during install. I don't know for sure. I don't recommend it.
So your homework is to read, thoroughly, every thread on this forum you can find about upgrading MX while preserving /home. There have been some recent examples. If you're so inclined, you can install 19.4 on a VM and test an upgrade to 23 to see what it's like before you do it on a live system.
The important thing to understand is that you're taking an independent risk trying to update an MX system. Upgrades, as most people understand the term to mean, aren't a thing that is supported. You can overwrite the old install with something new and hope for the best, or you can just pave everything and reinstall from scratch.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:00 am
by Eadwine Rose
Considering QSI was not even known by the user, and firefox went wonky: do not migrate. I can guarantee you get to keep the pieces.
Backup every important thing, let the installer of MX23 format everything (don't keep /home, as software is upgraded, a lot might not work with that big of a step from 19 to 23), just treat it like you installed a new hard drive.
When all is done you can put your saved .docs and such back in. Yeah you need to reconfig everything, but that is a minor issue compared to the alternative I mentioned above.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:35 pm
by Seeker
tnx dukecomposed and eadwine rose: First of all, tnx for your speedy responses!
(1) I did not and do not now intend to update my old MX19.4. My intention is to do a clean install of MX23 (the version recommended to me in this thread).
(2) As you both note, I have a default install, I did not set up my Home or Data in a separate partition. Data is just a folder that I created after my first clean install of MX19. Right now, looking in File Manager, I have this setup: /home/[name I chose]/
(3) Everything I back up is in two folders under that, Data and Desktop. I do not keep stuff in the folders provided by the MX default install. When I download things and they go to the Downloads folder, I move all that stuff, after reviewing it, either to Desktop or to a relevant folder in the big Data folder.
(4) My concerns are for all my inbox and sent mail folders in Thunderbird. How do I back them up and how do I put them into the new Thunderbird that, I assume, comes with the new MX version?
(5) What will I have to reconfigure if the clean install of MX23 does not preserve Home?
Is there anything else I should pay attention to (besides first backing up!) when I do the MX23 clean install? I always get nervous and ready to freak out whenever I do this kind of thing.
thanks!
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:57 pm
by Gabriel_M
My suggestion is: copy your entire /home to an external device.
Then make a backup of the list of installed applications on the computer, by running:
Code: Select all
sudo dpkg --get-selections | grep -v deinstall > installed_packages
This will generate the list of installed packages, put it away.
Burn the iso to a USB and boot and make sure all your hardware works in the Live session, open a terminal and run:
Code: Select all
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --reinstall gparted
gparted
From Gparted, select the SDD, unmount the partitions from the last one to the first one, create a new mbr partition, and in the unpartitioned space create:
Code: Select all
An 80gb ext4 system partition
A 4gb swap system partition
A remaining ext4 system partition
Apply the changes.
Close Gparted.
Close the terminal.
Start the installation and when you get to partitioning, choose manual.
Code: Select all
Mount the 80gb ext4 partition in /
The default 4gb partition is swap
Mount the ext4 partition of the rest of the gigas in /home
The default Grub in the MBR of the SDD
Once the installation is finished and the system is started, you can restore by copying the files from your old /home, which will include the Firefox and Thunderbird configurations.
After updating the system with
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sudo apt update
sudo apt dist-upgrade
Next, run the installed_packages file in the directory where it should be copied
Now we type in the directory where we have the file with the list of packages
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sudo dpkg --set-selections < installed_packages
sudo dselect install
The applications existing in the previous installation can be installed, as long as they are available in the new version.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:35 pm
by MXRobo
You may want to consider changing to GPT and UEFI in Gparted.
UEFI may need to be enabled/selected in your bios too.
Also, if you have a few thumb drives, you may want to create an MX-Snapshot 19 just in case.
Obviously, backup data and probably home, at least .thunderbird.
Websearch some of this.
Regarding:
2 Possibly consider creating a separate DATA partition with Gparted before installation, obviously select something else, customize, manual, or whatever the MX says that is similar when installing.
(If installing with GPT/UEFI, set ESP/UEFI boot flags to esp and boot.)
3 With symbolic links (linking to your DATA partition directories) in your home folder, you won't need them later as the symbolic links will ONLY point to the DATA directories that you created with mkdir whateverstuff.
4 It might be /home/USER/.thunderbird/
5 Probably everything, but that might not be an actual "Clean Install" then.
Install "User Installed Packages", create that list of most of your installed packages, save it, and then use it on the new installation, obviously with UIP installed.
It's time to jump in and get your hands dirty!
If interested in a separate data partition:
viewtopic.php?p=737475#p737475
viewtopic.php?p=807229#p807229
viewtopic.php?p=709022#p709022
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=320932
Good Luck!
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 9:07 pm
by DukeComposed
Seeker wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:35 pm
(2) As you both note, I have a default install, I did not set up my Home or Data in a separate partition. Data is just a folder that I created after my first clean install of MX19. Right now, looking in File Manager, I have this setup: /home/[name I chose]/
In 1645 legendary swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi wrote
The Book of Five Rings, his magnum opus on life, martial arts, and philosophy. A statement he makes repeatedly throughout the book after making an important point is "You should investigate this thoroughly." It's a short, simple sentence, but it underlines that something significant has been said and it requires that a good deal of attention be paid to it.
Everyone has a /home. I think it's time for you to learn the difference between a disk partition and a directory. You should investigate this thoroughly.
Knowing how to partition a disk properly, and precisely how you want it, will be an important step in installing new operating systems.
Seeker wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:35 pm
(4) My concerns are for all my inbox and sent mail folders in Thunderbird. How do I back them up and how do I put them into the new Thunderbird that, I assume, comes with the new MX version?
Backing up data in any program is a matter of reading, understanding, and following the documentation of that program. In this case, there are probably a thousand different sites and pages that can walk you through
migrating a Thunderbird profile. The most important skill you can develop here is testing your backups to ensure that you've made them correctly. This builds confidence in your backup strategy and lets you know you can restore data whenever you need to recover something. You should investigate this thoroughly.
Seeker wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:35 pm
(5) What will I have to reconfigure if the clean install of MX23 does not preserve Home?
Is there anything else I should pay attention to (besides first backing up!) when I do the MX23 clean install? I always get nervous and ready to freak out whenever I do this kind of thing.
thanks!
Imagine installing Linux on a totally different machine. What would you have to do in order to make that second machine look like the one you already have? You'd have to think about your files, sure. What about your wallpaper? Desktop shortcuts? All the tools you've installed? Bookmarks? Custom themes? Shells? It's time to make a comprehensive list of everything on your machine that makes it uniquely yours. Evaluate how to backup or export each of those things. Find steps for exporting your bookmarks. Test them. Make sure you know you can do it successfully. You should investigate this thoroughly.
Having a little bit of nerves before a major system modification is normal. They'll never go away entirely. Once you've gotten some experience backing up and restoring data you'll be better prepared, not just for handling new installs, but for any snafu that may occur down the road.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 9:50 pm
by asqwerth
I agree the safest precaution before your fresh install is to backup the whole /home partition or directory somewhere else.
Then start learning about the hidden dot files that reside in /home as this is where app configs are stored.
Assuming there is no drastic change in an app, your. old dot file for that app can be pasted into the same place in your new install to import back your setup for that app.
However, no guarantees because mx19 versions of apps are way older than mx23's. And don't try with xfce dot files! Xfce has changed a fair bit. For thunderbird, which I don't use, please follow the advice in the posts abive mine.
For other apps, for any imported dot files, just try them out.
if the app is wonky, then just delete the dot file. Reopening the said app without the dot file will bring the app back to the clean default setup.
@Gabriel_M 's dpkg.... command in his post just above has been mx-toolified by User-installed-packages tool.
You can install this in mx19.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:00 pm
by Seeker
wow, thank you everyone. just gave your new posts a first read. my head is spinning. if I do this like I did when I first installed MX, then I just went with all the defaults of the installation. of course, I did not then think of trying to preserve my browser history, email history from Windows 7. Just started de novo, and copied my backup data into the folders in MX and away I went. I am embarrassed to admit that I have a v hard time understanding all the advice above. got to think this over. meanwhile, I've found that my audio is not working since I updated to the 32 bit firefox 135. My system is 64bit but I screwed up in choosing the firefox version. Don't know where to post query about this.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:39 pm
by Seeker
Hi all. I am hoping for further help here. Basically, I want to do a fresh install of MX 23, use the default of all (except swap?) on one partition. I do not have a fancy customized set up. Maybe I'm crazy but I'm willing to configure the new apps that come with the new MX version. The things that concern me are my thunderbird contacts, the in- and out-boxes; my FF history and the saved passwords (though I can put passwords in as I go to the websites where I need them). I am just willing to do this as simply as possible.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:42 pm
by CharlesV
I would:
1) take a snapshot of your current system, and save that on a pocket drive.
2) Save your data: desktop, documents, pictures, music, videos etc to a removable drive
3) Save ~/.thunderbird and ~/mozilla folders (which may be large!) to a removable drive.
4) Export your thunderbird address to a removable drive.
5) Export your mozilla data to a removable drive .
If you want to be REALLY safe... then back up your entire ~/ home folder
Install MX23 onto your system, overwriting your current install. (Personally... I would just default everything - one partition.
Then once your back up and have installed what ever you want...
a) start thunderbird and exit, without doing anything else.
b) copy your saved thunderbird and mozilla folders that you did above in step #3 to your new home folder ~/
adjust your new install, but thunderbird and firefox should be all good to go.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:57 pm
by j2mcgreg
For Thunderbird:
In MX 19, launch Thunar and configure it to show hidden files (under View) --> locate and open .thunderbird --> copy <insert filename>.default and profiles.ini to an external location
In MX 23, launch Thunderbird, configure it and then close it. Access Thunar --> show hidden files --> open .thunderbird --> rename the default to <insert filename>.bak and rename profiles.ini to profiles.bak. Now copy over your backed up profile and profiles.ini
Close Thunar and when you next launch Thunderbird all your saved emails and address books will be present.
NOTE: In the new version of .thunderbird, you will see a second file called <insert filename>.default-default. Don't touch it.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2025 2:05 pm
by Seeker
hi j2mcreg: tnx for the instructions. Just to be clear, some questions.
1. the <insertfilename.default is a "Today" file. So this is something that updates every day?
2. by "saved emails" in TB are you referring to the in- and outboxes or something else?
3. once I have saved the <insertfilename>.default and profiles.ini files from .thunderbird to my backup external device, how do I get them into the new TB that will come with MX23?
re backing up: why use a partition for the data, etc I want to back up. why not just back up /home? Then, if I have to reinstall MX23 due to a crash or whatever, how would that work?
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2025 2:51 pm
by j2mcgreg
Seeker wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2025 2:05 pm
hi j2mcreg: tnx for the instructions. Just to be clear, some questions.
1. the <insertfilename.default is a "Today" file. So this is something that updates every day?
2. by "saved emails" in TB are you referring to the in- and outboxes or something else?
3. once I have saved the <insertfilename>.default and profiles.ini files from .thunderbird to my backup external device, how do I get them into the new TB that will come with MX23?
re backing up: why use a partition for the data, etc I want to back up. why not just back up /home? Then, if I have to reinstall MX23 due to a crash or whatever, how would that work?
1. see the screenshot I've attached of my .thunderbird folder where the existing file is called 34n4tykg.default. I would change that to 34n4tykg.bak so that it won't be utilized when I relaunch Thunderbird after I have pasted in the default file from the previous install. I will also perform the same edit on the existing profiles.ini file. You rename these original files so that they are preserved in case you need to revert and start over.
2. It's everything. Once you are done with his procedure Thunderbird in MX 23 will look and perform exactly as it did in MX 19
3. copy / paste
Edited to add: You don't just copy /home because the MX 19 version will contain multiple hidden config files that can mess with the newer applications' configurations in MX 23.

Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2025 1:10 pm
by Seeker
thanks j2mcreg for the clarifications. So now my question is, once I've saved those 2 TB files to my external devices, and I've installed MX23 clean, my ssd has been reformatted and is "clean". so how do I get those saved, backed up TB files into my new TB under MX 23? do I have to change the suffix to .bk when I save them? also, could I copy those two TB files (working here still in MX 19, for backing up my system) into my /Data, so that when I back that up I will also be backing up the two TB files? Again, after I install MX 23, with its new TB, how do I get those backed up files into the new TB so that I go forward with all my old in- and out-boxes and TB configurations?
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2025 2:19 pm
by j2mcgreg
Here's what I do. It may not be elegant, but it works for me:
1) on my existing system, I launch Thunar and then copy each of Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos folders to my external device
2) Still in Thunar, I click on View --> Show hidden files
3) I copy the ,thunderbird (in its entirety) to the external device
4) I open my preferred browser and export the Bookmark files to the external drive
5) I use User Installed Packages in MX Tools to generate a text file which I save to the external drive
6) Having performed a clean install of the new MX version, I immediately run User Installed Packages and feed it the list I generated in Step #5
7) I launch Thunderbird and configure it minimally so that the new, hidden .thunderbird folder is created
8.) I launch Thunar --> show hidden files --> access .thunderbird and rename the default profile and profiles.ini folders
9) copy / paste the backed up default profile and profiles.ini folders.
10) copy / paste the backed up Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos into their appropriate folders. I know that this means you will have a Documents folder inside a Documents folder and a Music folder inside a Music folder etc but it's quick dirty and it works.
11) launch your preferred browser and import your bookmarks from the backup
12) close your browser, close Thunar and you are done.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2025 5:15 pm
by Seeker
tnks, j2mcreg. so you do copy and paste to backup device. i've been backing up using LuckyBackup.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2025 6:13 pm
by j2mcgreg
Seeker wrote: Thu Mar 06, 2025 5:15 pm
tnks, j2mcreg. so you do copy and paste to backup device. i've been backing up using LuckyBackup.
Yes, I do it all manually (with the exception of UIP), As I said above: it's not elegant but it works.
Re: need help upgrading from 19.4 by fresh install
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2025 12:29 pm
by Seeker
thanks j2mcreg. I will do fresh install with reformatting of the ssd. but have to reread all the comments here and figure out how to keep my TB mailboxes and config, my FF history and all the saved passwords.