Score:0

Clean reinstall Ubuntu while recovering former account

in flag

While tinkering (too much) with my machine, I deleted some apparently key files from the Ubuntu kernel on v22.*. I then thought I could "clean" reinstall just the system from a USB (that contained Ubuntu 20.*) but I believe I just created a new partition and basically left all my user data and software in a separate partition in /media.

The first partition that's mounted ("tguillerme-LabTop" - 276GB) contains my current /home and the Ubuntu distribution. The second one is in /media and contains my former /home and the broken Ubuntu distribution.

Is there a clean way to:

  • remove the partition with the current version of Ubuntu installed (the 267GB one in the picture)
  • clean reinstall Ubuntu from my USB on the former partition (the 665GB one)

I looked around for solutions (like this trick) but non of them seem to solve the two points above.

oldfred avatar
cn flag
I like to keep system or / (root) separate from data, both for Windows & Linux. Most can just use separate partition for /home or use a large data partition and only have the mostly hidden in .dot files as user settings in / (root). Then separately backup /home and data files. You can do a "dirty" install where you do not format existing /. Just do not check the format box on /. Must use Something Else install option. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuReinstallation & http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1941872
Thomas Guillerme avatar
in flag
Unfortunately I don't see how to set the mount point as / (or anything) in the "Something Else" option, everything seems to be blurred out and I can just remove partitions (or change format manually).
oldfred avatar
cn flag
You need to know which partition was / and then click on it or change button. in manual partitioning. Then it should open screen to use as (/ ) and format (which you do not want to check). https://askubuntu.com/questions/343268/how-to-use-manual-partitioning-during-installation
guiverc avatar
cn flag
Please be clear/precise with details; 18.10 thru 20.04 were a two year development cycle; just as 20.10 thru 22.04 was the subsequent cycle; ie. two year development cycle ends with the LTS & starts just after release of the prior LTS, so 20.* makes no sense (given 20.04 & 20.10 are from different cycles; 20.10 being the first on road towards 22.04). I stopped reading at version confusion. You can re-install Ubuntu Desktop products (esp. *flavors*) without loss of user data, user configs etc. but problems in user configs will remain, global configs in systems directories will be new.
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