How to... make old system still fully available when you do a fresh installation

[alexjack]

I recently did a fresh installation of MX19.4AHS, but before I did I wanted to be double sure that I wouldn't leave some config file or setting behind. So, as well as my usual backups, I used MX live USB maker to create an ISO of my current system (including user data, but not big data files which I have on a separate partition). Then, when the new system was installed, I created a new virtual machine in Virt Manager/QEMU (would also work in Virtualbox). Now, I can just open up my old machine just as it was whenever I want to check some detail like, whether I had such and such package installed or other configuration. Very useful in my opinion. Took some stress out of transferring to the new setup.

[Pierre]

that was an smart move too,
in using the MX ISO maker to make an system backup.

it would solve some folks, an headache, if they did the same move.

[Vektor]

I use the Live-usb as my only system and keep 2 previous snapshots as backup. I only replace the antix folder whenever I do any mods. I really like the read only aspect.

Using Vbox to compare old and new is very clever, sort of like a manual checksum with a twist. Thanks.

Vektor