this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Package up and transport a linux? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 year ago by UnRelatedBurner@sh.itjust.works to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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I have a simple wish, with a probably not so simple solution.

I recently started with linux (Arch kde), I'm loving it, I quickly realized that this OS and almost all apps, are highly customizable, I'm laving that as well. My problem is the unavoidable reinstalls and that I have a laptop.

Is there any way that I can save all my configs, apps and my apps' configs, and transfer them over to my laptop, while almost having a very quick back-up. I realize that I could turn it into an ISO somehow, but that wouldn't work (I think) because my laptop has vastly different hardware. I also realize the partitioning problem. So in my idealistic world, there should be a solution that requires a clean install (from scripts or manual) and some .sh file, that installs all my apps, pastes all my configs and reboots.

So is this possible? and if yes, how should I go about this? did someone make a tool for this already? Or(!) can I burn it to a flash and the drivers will correct themselves/I'll deal with them later?

For final words I'd like to say that I'm far from finished configurating, but I'd like to know the proccess, to not shoot myself in the foot somewhere along the way of configing, thanks!

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[–] UnRelatedBurner@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

tbh I bearly have experience in any distro, but Arch didn't pose that much of a challange. I might switch, but I really don't see the advantage I'd get. Maybe to Debian, I used it's terminal. But, great Idea to mess around in VMs first!

Can you explain this step:

and restore your OS settings by restoring it to a new install.

[–] tkn@startrek.website 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm utterly useless with base arch 🤣 If it works for you, who'm I to complain 👍

I guess I should have made that clear. Your /home directory is where everything user-related is stored in invisible folders. All your settings for the OS and applications are kept in there. So, if you copy that directory and restore it to a fresh install of the same distro, all of your settings will be restored. It's been years, but I've done it a few times.

The only thing you'll really need to do after that is re-install all of the apps you installed. Once you have, however, every apps settings are restored.

[–] UnRelatedBurner@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

wonderful, thank you for the info. I'll have to sleep on this tho.

[–] tkn@startrek.website 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Definitely take your time and soak up more info from other sources :) I hope all of this turns out to be at least marginally helpful :D

[–] UnRelatedBurner@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Thank you. You wrote so much that I checked out your profile, I just wanna say: Enjoy your time on Lemmy! And that I am honored to have more then half of your all time comments be answers to me.