how do i backup to reinstall on another pc [solved]

wolfdogg · 2011-10-11 08:06:04

I know im not the first one to ask this, i didnt see backup in any of the topics so point me in teh right direction if this has been covered in full somewhere else.

Whats the best way to backup arch and reinstall on another pc. is it as easy as just backing up my user files? The user files are mounted so that drive wont be touched, if anything possibly just the files moved. What system configuration files should i be thinking about backing up to minimize setup, or memory loss(mine) to help me easily setup what i probably already forgot about.

Last edited by wolfdogg (2012-06-23 21:19:26)

wolfdogg · 2011-10-12 07:45:40

i forgot to mention that im moving to new hardware, so i probably dont want to just copy files unless the hardware files are easily separated out. Im guessing the proper way to do it is just a complete reinstall, and copy the user files after completion, im not sure i want to get into a tedious process. its this im trying to avoid. i did find this and im debating if its still what i need https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sy … igurations
I also found this post which has some interesting points. https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=115064

Last edited by wolfdogg (2011-10-12 07:46:14)

mikesd · 2011-10-12 08:29:39

Unless you want to change architectures (i686 to amd64) I would just transfer the whole lot. Last weekend I updated my motherboard and graphics card (nVidia to ATI) without re-installing.

Boot your machine with a livecd, copy your filesystems using cp -a or rsync, etc.
Boot your new machine and create partitions and copy your files back. Re-install grub, recreate your initrd if required, fix /etc/fstab and boot.

There should be some better descriptions around here somewhere. Start with:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=11536

wolfdogg · 2011-10-14 01:37:32

Well it worked out in the end. Heres the steps i took mainly;

Pre Uninstall;
created a package list per https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sy … ckage_List
backed up all my confs in /etc and apache, php, mysql, Pear, Samba, ProFTP confs.
Moved hard drive to new pc with old system in tact. hoped to boot, but couldnt figure out how to properly mount the drive, so decided to reinstall.

Install;
upon hard drive preparation portion I did manual partition configuration, set the swap/root, and boot partitions for reformat, set the user partition for mounting (keep files intact),
installed arch fresh from latest core .iso
reinstalled packages from package list per https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sy … r_Packages
mounted the user partition, to make sure everything was on the machine i needed
rankmirrors
pacman -Syyu
sha512 the passwords
added user and sudo priveleges
chown -r my user directory
made sure sound was isntalled
reinitiated video settings with nvidia-xconfig
i ran through the KDE wiki to make sure all was intact
REBOOTED

and VIOLA, once KDE started, i had my desktop back, and when i open my browser it already had my old tabs open, and i was even logged into arch already from the cookie store apparently.

That was cool.

took only about an hour and half of configuration.

thanks all. If i missed anything obvious let me know and ill edit, so other users can have another quide to follow in case they run into this scenario.

Whats my next step??? Migrate to Gnome, lol.

Last edited by wolfdogg (2011-10-14 20:27:15)

fsckd · 2011-10-14 05:18:23

so solved? mark thread as such please

wolfdogg · 2011-10-14 20:19:37

give me just another day or two please :-), i just need to finish up the work over here pertaining to this thread. i will mark it solved for you as soon as i have a day or two to spend on the system. to work out the kinks.

Last edited by wolfdogg (2011-10-14 20:34:51)

fsckd · 2011-10-15 03:04:52

Don't worry about what I said. I guess I misunderstood your post.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-10-11 08:06:04

how do i backup to reinstall on another pc [solved]

#2 2011-10-12 07:45:40

Re: how do i backup to reinstall on another pc [solved]

#3 2011-10-12 08:29:39

Re: how do i backup to reinstall on another pc [solved]

#4 2011-10-14 01:37:32

Re: how do i backup to reinstall on another pc [solved]

#5 2011-10-14 05:18:23

Re: how do i backup to reinstall on another pc [solved]

#6 2011-10-14 20:19:37

Re: how do i backup to reinstall on another pc [solved]

#7 2011-10-15 03:04:52

Re: how do i backup to reinstall on another pc [solved]

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