Transfer to new computer

fitzov · 05-15-2007, 08:38 AM

Let's say I have Debian all setup with updated packages, new packages, etc, and I want to transfer this to a new computer. Is there a relatively seamless way to do this, or do I need to reinstall Debian and start over again?

pwc101 · 05-15-2007, 08:57 AM

Well, dd would be the easiest way to image the source hard drive and then transfer that to the new PC over a network/DVD/external hard drive etc.

I'm not sure, but I would imagine that the PC to which you are transferring to would have to be identical to the source one, hardware-wise. I may be wrong on that last bit though...

nx5000 · 05-15-2007, 09:02 AM

I would install the minimal system on the new computer and then copy the _list_ of installed package on box1 to box2.
As soon as you have the list, you ask box2 to reinstall them (probably it will redownload them)
On box1

Code:

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
dpkg --get-selections > /tmp/box1_list

On box2
Install a base debian system

Code:

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
cat box1_list | dpkg --get-selections -
apt-get dselect-upgrade