So. Using Linux for almost two years, has Changed many distributions eventually stopped at the Linux Mint Mate. The article was written for my favorite Linux Mint, but also the article can be used when reinstalling Ubuntu and similar to them.

But regardless of the distro was always the question how easier and quicker to reinstall preserving not only the program settings and configure the environment (KDE or cinnamon), startup etc.

Based on my bitter experience I have chosen to follow certain steps for a smooth installation of the system.I also want to say that this article exceptional, maybe more convenient ways, but so do I, actually, this way satisfied. In the future there will be such as utility https://wiki.ubuntu.com/OneConf but while it’s not now, I use in a way which will describe below.I’ve split this article into five main steps.

First of all make sure that Your system is actually in the state. Screen update.

Just in case I do this

Step One. You must make backups.

1. I have the backups stored in the cloud from Yandex , very useful advise. Can be stored inor. Or even on a flash drive, whatever you like.To save the List of installed programs, use the already installed in Mint utility. (actually, you can use thebut it is at your discretion)It’s simple, run utility, select the, specify any folder, and click

2. Next, we need the program Y PPA Manager.

Do the same, save in the same folder of the user.

Everything else is already in your user folder.

Step Two. Reinstalling.

Next, you need to know your options if your hard disk was not divided, then you will have somewhere to copy your user folder, it is very time consuming, perhaps there are a lot of movies and so on, what to do with them is your business. I always when installing, I split a partition on sections in the following order:

Swap – double the size of your RAM memory (to sleep mode to work properly and not only)

/root 15-25 Gb ext4

/home – rest (there are folder of our user) ext4

Many gurus make partitions such as /boot or something like that, but trust me, most importantly that there was /home partition then nothing will not need to copy, then everything is easy.

So, we presume that the /home partition into separate logical or physical disk.

1. Now boot from the LiveCD Linux.

Before we start to install a new Linux, we need to rename the folder the old user. Some advise to install into the same folder, but I don’t really agree with this. The thing is that if you set in the old folder of the user that there may be inconsistencies in the original UID of the user in the old system and the UID of the user in the new. Possible still some bugs, not sure, maybe they wouldn’t have. But I do as I see fit, if you want to experiment but then must leave feedback in the comments about what’s still you got))))

2. Now, rename the old user.

To do this, mount your partition where is your home directory.

Now open the directory on behalf of root administrator and go back to the root of the drive.

Now, rename the folder of the user, for example, add at the end of the “OLD”.

After this, be sure you unmount the disk.

3. Run on the desktop Install Linux Mint, Press Continue twice and see on the screen, where you must specify Something Else and click continue.

Here we see our partitions on the hard disk, on which I have spoken above. Where the inscription of Linux mint Petra is a root partition. Now we need to specify where to install the new system, Swap, we don’t touch. We need to specify Where to put the /root and /home partition. /root necessary to format, but /home NO IN ANY CASE!!! Check all visually and Click Install Now. Next indicate any region and language. Next, Specify the username, password, and enter whether automatically to the desktop without a password or not. I entered the same user that I had previously, in order to avoid possible problems. Click ‘ Continue‘. 4. Wait till the end of the installation and reboot into the new system, and This is not all! Step Three. Restore repositories and programs. 1. Making the system of up-to-date. Just in case the command execution sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade 2. Install the program Y PPA Manager. The restoring Repository from the old user folder Wait until popup notification that the restored repository 3. Run the command in terminal : sudo apt-get update 4. Install our software. Run Backup Tool And click Restore Software. Select a file to restore in the old user folder. And restore your programs, that can then be removed if you want Wait for the installation.

Step Four. Now restore the settings and files of our old user.

This tutorial is perfect if you reinstall the same version of the distribution. If you decide to install a newer version of the distribution, then, in STEP FOUR, you don’t have to copy all the contents of the folder of the old user!!! You should do this selectively, without affecting the system settings. Copy only the folders with the settings needed programs. 1. Boot from the LiveCD Linux.

2. Mounted your partition where is your home directory. I see there users l4l and l4lOLD. Go to the folder a new user as the administrator. Show hidden folders. then completely delete everything inside. not in the trash, but completely)))