I haven't done a fresh install since FC1, and I've learned a lot about how I want my system arranged since then. For FC4, I think I'll do the whole she-bang.

My question is, what's the best way to back up my /home directory, pretty much intact, so I can eventually restore all the hidden directories, etc that I want. I don't necessarily want to replace /home intact, I just want to have everything available so I can pick and choose what to restore.

I have an external drive I can move it to. What would be the cp format to archive it? cp -r /home /OtherDisk? Will it be a problem if I format the external disk as FAT, since the /home directory is ext3?

How about storing the directory in pieces on CDRs? That would be a little easier is I could count on the cd writing software. Looked at K3B, and wasn't convinced it would get all the hidden files and directories. Am I wrong about that?

http://www.partimage.org/ to save your partitions. I set up my system to my specs, and back up each partition so I can do a quick restore when the time comes and all my settings are already intact. Some back up software allows you to pick individual files from the archives like Partition Manager from Acronis, which can be run from a boot disc without needing Windows.

K3b can be used to select hidden files by right clicking on the file selection window, and checking "Show Hidden Files".

Here's a couple of backup options (su to root for each):

Would the rsync option also work to restore if I didn't use to backup in the first place ?

I've got the following situation:
I copied my complete home directory with K3b onto a DVD+RW, and have now installed my new hard drive. The original one I've kept in the system, and have used it solely for OS, with the new hard drive being my slave drive mounted as home. On it I now have two directories: /home/bunyip and /home/backup.

Could I use the rsync method to restore /home/bunyip the way it was before from /home/backup - including all my mail settings and browser settings ?