On Mon, 5 Mar 2007, Tim wrote:
>
> I am going to change distro, so I want to make sure that I have everything on
> my list of things to save before I wipe the disk.
>
> My list so far:
>
> home folder (email\video\pictures\mp30\docs etc.)
> smb.conf
> xorg.conf (for ref.)
> bookmarks
>
> I intend to save everything to a usb external drive, then wipe the PC disk and
> install afresh, then pull what I need, back off the usb drive.
>
> I have already booted the PC from the live disk version, and everything seems
> to work ok
>
> Anything you think I missed?
I'm probably paranoid. I try to save nearly everything except /dev and
/proc. There are all sorts of things one forgets that it's good to be
able later to refer to or recover. For example in the past I've
forgotten to save /var/spool/mail, which is often used for all non
auto-filed mail. Maybe /var/spool/cups* or similar; There are lots of
bits in /etc that may be important, a number of bits in /usr/local. For
me, stuff in the texmf tree, cross-compiler tool chains and so on. I've
so often had to search again for some tool or application that I know
the name of isn't in the apt/rpm archives. Old versions of things that
still work whilst the new ones are broken. MTA config, firewall config,
etc.
A few DVDs now can save a lot of later hunting, fixing and cursing
later.
G.
--
Gordon Scott http://www.gscott.co.uk
Linux ... Because I like to *get* there today.
