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I'm interested in fully re-installing my Ubuntu 22.04 operating system (specifically Kubuntu, but it shouldn't matter.) I would like to re-install without losing any data/files/configurations and was interested in how I should do that. Should I copy my /home directory to an external hard drive and then copy it back to the fresh reinstall? Or should I back up my entire / directory? Thanks.

karel
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AJ Wu
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  • The Backups app is installed in Ubuntu by default. It will back up your entire /home directory and should be used as part of your standard best practices methodology. – jones0610 Oct 20 '23 at 01:21
  • I suggest you read my answer in this post I just marked this as a duplicate of; I have some installs I ~weekly re-install on instead of applying patches in the conventional way as it both upgrades the packages (as I use a daily ISO which includes updated packages) at the same time as ensuring our ISOs work as expected (ie. an Quality Assurance test is performed). FYI: I find the flavors easier in this case; as universe is always enabled with flavors. Yes you should backup all data first as its easy to make a mistake. – guiverc Oct 20 '23 at 01:31
  • Another FYI: I'm on my current primary PC now, and had an issue that was irking me back in late-August.. As I wasn't fixing it fast enough; I resorted to a non-destructive re-install using the current daily (20230829) & just re-installed; meaning in <15 minutes the system was back functional (though I spent another ~30 mins checking it out*). Me; I only took a list of what packages I had installed (text list) & ensured my copy of my user directory (/home/$USER) was backed up, as from that I know I have everything needed for me to re-create my box. – guiverc Oct 20 '23 at 01:38
  • On my actual system, my fonts are system wide installed (so available for all users & not in my $HOME so weren't backed up), but that didn't worry me as I have some scripts that will re-install those for any new installs... ie. what you need to backup is specific with how you use your box (eg. I prefer system wide font installs to user-based installs, so my backup would have required some system directories if that data couldn't easily be re-created which I knew it could; I'm using fonts as example here as it applies elsewhere too). – guiverc Oct 20 '23 at 01:41
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    An implied premise of the question is that you don't know where all of your data/files/configurations are located. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to re-discover custom files in /etc and other places outside /home. As the human, it's your task to keep track of each customization you make, document them (you will forget!), and add them to your backup/restore method. Experienced users often rely upon standard locations and documentation (keeping notes) to keep track of their data and customizations. – user535733 Oct 20 '23 at 10:37

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