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We have installed Ubuntu 20.04 LTE on a laptop (single boot) around 6-10 months ago and now it failed to boot. We try to reinstall system only, that is keep all data on the laptop, but during re-install, we have option to install Ubuntu 20.04.2.0 LTS alongside Ubuntu 20.04.3 LT (see screenshot). Partly, because we would like to re-install Ubuntu, not to have two versions on the hard drive, partly because we have no space for two versions, any suggestions on how we can re-install Ubuntu would be appreciated. Thanks. Zoltan

Zoltan
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    First, boot from the installation media (USB/DVD) and use the Try Ubuntu option and copy all your important data to a second external USB drive before you try anything. Keeping a backup of all your data is essential. Then you can any other options you want. – user68186 Jul 21 '22 at 16:40
  • You're missing some details that I'd consider. You've not stated if you're asking about a Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Server system, or Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Desktop system. If it's the latter, you can re-install rather easily and have the re-install not lose any data and re-install the manually installed packages you'd added where from Ubuntu repositories. Do you use encryption? have a server or desktop system? any server apps? how tight with disk space were you (ie. have space available on your / partition) etc. I last did this yesterday as part of QA-testing for 22.04.1 to confirm it still works.. – guiverc Jul 21 '22 at 23:16
  • I'd explore why the system failed to boot first, so the re-install will not suffer the same fate.. but as I'm involved in QA-test (Quality Assurance) I perform the type of install I think of as "Upgrade via re-install" (Lubuntu call it "Install using existing partition") weekly on some systems instead of normal upgrades.. as it (1) upgrades packages, and (2) performs the QA-test install so we know that still works on future releases; ie. the 22.04.1 ISO I used hasn't been released yet, also done with kinetic (22.10) & 20.04.5 (next to be released for focal). It's great for desktops – guiverc Jul 21 '22 at 23:20
  • If what I describe is what you're after, I've written up a description at https://discourse.lubuntu.me/t/testing-checklist-understanding-the-testcases/2743 intended for QA-testers (not end-users). It's the lack of format that triggers this type of install, and works with any Ubuntu ISO using ubiquity or calamares as the installer (ie. desktop releases excluding older di I've not tested it with; it may actually work there too but I've never looked). I've also documented it on this site ~30 times too but I'd not want to find it.. (often only in comments). Works with Ubuntu and flavors – guiverc Jul 21 '22 at 23:30
  • Thanks for the replies. It is a desktop (Lenovo laptop) We tried to backup from Live (Try Ubuntu), but unfortunately that could not write USB, which can be is strange and probably a different problem. We normally backup data, so now we check if we missed anything, before re-install. Recovery, when there are two partitions (system and data), should work (line on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD7Rp8Jt1rE), but unfortunately we have everything on one partition – next time we will separate the two. – Zoltan Jul 22 '22 at 12:15
  • We also tried to find the reason and it seems it is a bug, quite similar to this: https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/bug-unable-to-handle-page-fault-4175696212/ – Zoltan Jul 22 '22 at 12:17
  • FYI: Re-install without being destructive is just as easy in my opinion with a single partition as two (with Ubuntu Desktop installs), the primary benefit of a /home being separate is to allow replacing Ubuntu with another OS that doesn't have the flexibility found in calamares or ubiquity for Ubuntu Desktop installs (technically it's not the installer; but Ubuntu scripts the installer uses) – guiverc Jul 22 '22 at 12:19
  • If it's a bug, it belongs on a Bug tracking site & not this support Q&A site. Please read https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs – guiverc Jul 22 '22 at 12:22
  • Although I have seen many reassurances of how easy to do it, I have not found any step-by-step instructions or preferably a YouTube video. To report a bug, I should create another account and as I am luckily not a regular Linux user, I rather do not waste time on that. – Zoltan Jul 26 '22 at 10:05
  • I've written answers on this site many times on this re-install so I know they exist (but as I've written >650 answers here I don't want to write yet another on a topic I've written about 3+ times in answers & ~30+ times in comments; have you looked for any?). I've provided a link already where I describe it for the purpose of QA-testers; that link provided as that was easier for me to find. This isn't a youtube site; so providing youtube links is off-topic for SE/Ubuntu anyway. The type of install, your packages esp. 3rd party involved impact results; FYI testing has no 3rd party packages. – guiverc Jul 26 '22 at 10:23

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