[ale] how do I properly move my home folder from ubuntu to mint

[Ted Wood]

I keep a spare ext4 formatted USB hard drive around just for this
purpose. Before re-imaging a machine I use "rsync -a" to make sure I
grab everything, including dot files. If you're migrating to a newer
version of the OS or a different flavor, you may also consider including
"--exclude .gvfs .ICEauthority .thumbnails .config" (to name a few).
This makes the restoration a little more efficient since excluding
certain dot directories /should/ allow you to just "rsync -a -u"
everything back into the new system's home directory.

On 05/28/2013 09:02 AM, Bugs wrote:
> Ron,
> 
> Read up on rsync and don't use NTFS.
> If you have no other place to put it, use tar to make a single file that
> preserves UNIX modes and owner info.
> 
> Examples:
> rsync -x -H -a -v --stats -P /home/myuser/
> /path/to/my/Linux/formatted/drive/homedir/
> #reinstall your dist
> rsync -x -H -a -v --stats -P /path/to/my/Linux/formatted/drive/homedir/
> /home/myuser/
> 
> tar -c -v -j -f /path/to/my/windows/drive/home.tar /home/myuser/
> #reinstall your dist
> cd / ; tar -jxvf /path/to/my/windows/drive/home.tar
> 
> On 05/26/2013 10:19 AM, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I just had a frustrating experience and want to learn how to avoid it
>> next time.
>>
>> Previously, I had set up all my machines to dual boot with ubuntu and
>> windows.  I've now decided to move to Mint since I'm disenchanted with
>> ubuntu.  Yes, I know they share the same core.
>>
>> The hdd in question had an ext4 partition which was ubuntu and an ntfs
>> partition which I use for data.  I booted a mint live cd, mounted the
>> ubuntu file system by clicking it within the file browser, and copied
>> my ron folder to the ntfs partition.  It complained about some files
>> being inaccessible, but still copied about 43 MB of data, which looked
>> like the right number.
>>
>> I then proceeded to install mint in the ext4 partition.  When I
>> started the installer, I selected the option to erase ubuntu and
>> install mint.  I eventually got mint booting and working the way I
>> wanted.  Then, I went back into the file browser and told it to copy
>> the files back from the ntfs partition to the new mint home directory
>> and merge any duplicate folders.  I made the mistake of using a move
>> command rather than a copy command.  At some point, it generated
>> another error saying it couldn't copy some files.  I cannot remember
>> the exact message.  I clicked skip all.  The net result is that about
>> 43 MB of data was copied to my new home folder and about 387 MB of
>> data wasn't copied.  Unfortunately, the files were removed from the
>> ntfs folder even though they were skipped, which I think is a design
>> flaw.
>>
>> The net result is that I lost about 9/10 of what was in my original
>> ubuntu home folder unless I can find a backup somewhere.  I don't
>> think there was anything too critical, but who knows.
>>
>> So, can anyone please tell me the proper procedure to move the
>> contents of my home folder from a ubuntu install to a mint install so
>> this doesn't happen next time I install mint on another computer?
>>
>> Any help is appreciated and thanks in advance.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Ron
>>
> 
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-- 
Ted Wood <wood at gatech.edu>

-- 
Ted Wood <wood at gatech.edu>