Reinstalling Xubuntu without losing data

Question

I need to reinstall Xubuntu on a new, bigger hard drive (I can't find a way to increase the partition size, but that's a separate question). How would I go about doing this without losing data, software installed, preferences, etc.

Thanks, djtravz

Answer 1

If you want the system software programs that you might've modified (eg: apt sources)

1. You could make a dd Image of your current HDD (not recommended) (Tutorial on how to create dd image)
2. You could use clonezilla (Tutorial on how to clonezilla)
3. And here is a similar question

Answer 2

If you're upgrading your xubuntu installation to a larger HDD, and wish to keep the same configuration and apps, use Clonezilla to clone the current small HDD to the larger HDD, then use gparted to resize your partitions to accommodate the extra unallocated space on the larger HDD.

https://clonezilla.org/

Here's a partial template that I use when instructing users how to use gparted to edit the partitions. A gparted screenshot of the current disk structure would be required to complete the individual steps...

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Make sure that you have a good backup of your important Ubuntu files, as this procedure can corrupt or loose data.

Keep these things in mind:

• always start the entire procedure with issuing a swapoff on any mounted swap partitions, and end the entire procedure with issuing a swapon on that same swap partition

• a move is done by pointing the mouse pointer at the center of a partition and dragging it left/right with the hand cursor

• a resize is done by dragging the left/right side of a partition to the left/right with the directional arrow cursor

• if any partition can't be moved/resized graphically, you may have to manually enter the specific required numeric data (don't do this unless I instruct you to)

• you begin any move/resize by right-clicking on the partition in the lower pane of the main window, and selecting the desired action from the popup menu, then finishing that action in the new move/resize window

Do the following...

Note: if the procedure doesn't work exactly as I outline, STOP immediately and DO NOT continue.

• boot to a Ubuntu Live DVD/USB
• start gparted
• more to come...