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I have been running Ubuntu for about a year, now I would like to switch to kubuntu. Is it possible that I can port all the configuration data from the home folder of Ubuntu to kubuntu? (Without causing some serious trouble) If I copy all them contents of the home folder (Including the hidden files and folders) will I be able to get the same application configurations ? I know that copying the Thunderbird folder copies the emails on the newer installation, will it work to other applications?

Aditya ultra
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  • The configuration of thunderbird will work on thunderbird and so on. – xangua Apr 24 '15 at 11:14
  • @xangua so if I copy config files of inkscape it will work for inkscape? Are there some files which might cause trouble if replaced with the Ubuntu variants – Aditya ultra Apr 24 '15 at 11:18
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    Do you have to do a fresh installation? You could just install the package kubuntu-desktop and have both Unity and KDE desktop environment and tools on one machine. You can chose which one to load at login. – Byte Commander Apr 24 '15 at 11:27
  • Will it install all the KDE components that come with kubuntu – Aditya ultra Apr 24 '15 at 11:28

3 Answers3

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If you are upgrading to Kubuntu then no need to copy anything, just install Kubuntu package.

Use one of these commands:

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get install kubuntu-full

kubuntu-full includes kubuntu-desktop and also has some additional packages.

You can see how to install Kubuntu here also.

gks
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Piyush Srivastava
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I switched from Ubuntu to Kubuntu. I did a clean install rathere than worrying about trying to save application data etc...

Before performing my clean install, I backed up the following:

SSH keys:

tar -czvf ssh.tar.gz ~/.ssh

GNU PGP keys:

tar -czvf gnupg.tar.gz ~/.gnupg

MySQL Workbench Connections:

tar -czvf mysqlworkbench.tar.gz ~/.mysql

Thunderbird:

tar -czvf thunderbird.tar.gz ~/.thunderbird

Keyring data (I cannot remember which directory this was in, something like ~/.local/share/keyring).

Sometimes I do the entire backup in one line, but sometimes I find it more convenient to have each backup in its own .tar.gz file.

I then copy the backup(s) to a Samba share and/or USB pen drive, and restore everything after installing Kubuntu (although the keychain/keyring application works differently on Kubuntu, I think).

I much prefer performing clean installs.

Vanessa Deagan
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You could do it by installing these packages:
kde-baseapps-bin
kde-baseapps-data
kde-icons-crystal
kde-runtime
kde-runtime-data
kde-style-oxygen
kde-window-manager
kde-window-manager-common
kde-workspace-bin
kde-workspace-data
kdebase-bin
kdelibs-bin
kdelibs5-data
kdelibs5-dbg
kdelibs5-plugins
kdepim-runtime
kdepimlibs-kio-plugins

You don't need to copy anything :)
Just choose you wish to run kde after a reboot or log out.

Pavol Polacko
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  • So I don't need to install the kubuntu package if I install these?? – Aditya ultra Apr 24 '15 at 11:35
  • It is basically the same, but if you want to run kubuntu, install the kubuntu package. You basically get the same result, even though i think that by installing kubuntu you'll get a kubuntu starting image. – Pavol Polacko Apr 24 '15 at 11:47
  • What about installing kde-full or kde-standard metapackages, and let apt install all required packages for you, instead of installing them manually, one by one? There's a nice official guide that explains everything. – funder7 Jun 21 '22 at 09:36