LinuxQuestions.org
Help answer threads with 0 replies.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Slackware
User Name
Password
Slackware This Forum is for the discussion of Slackware Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 05-11-2006, 07:53 AM   #1
statguy
Member
 
Registered: Sep 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Distribution: Slackware 14.2, current
Posts: 416

Rep: Reputation: 36
Upgrade versus fresh install


I finally want to upgrade from 10.0 to 10.2. I am trying to decide between a fresh install and doing an upgrade. When I went from 9.? to 10.0, I did the upgrade route without much trouble as I recall.

I guess the piece of an upgrade I'm most wary about is the jump from KDE 3.3 to 3.4 since when I've looked at upgrading KDE on my SuSE box it looks like a bit of nightmare.

Suggestions? Advice?

Also, if I can slip another question in, I've never quite wrapped my head around getting current. I know how to download a package and install it, but how does one efficeintly determine which packages to make current? I hope what I'm asking makes sense, I'm only on my first cup of coffee.

Thanks
 
Old 05-11-2006, 08:23 AM   #2
arubin
Senior Member
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Middx UK
Distribution: Slackware64 15.0 (multilib)
Posts: 1,349

Rep: Reputation: 75
I would be wary about upgrading straight from 10.0 to 10.2 without going through 10.1. I have tried upgrading and skipping a release and ended up with a broken installation.
 
Old 05-11-2006, 02:57 PM   #3
cwwilson721
Senior Member
 
Registered: Dec 2004
Location: In my house.
Distribution: Ubuntu 10.10 64bit, Slackware 13.1 64-bit
Posts: 2,649
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 67
I kind of agree w/arubin. Also, a clean install lets you get rid of the old crap that's just laying around the hdd not doing anything. Just remember to back up your special config files you have slaved over, and any d/l'd stuff you can't live without.

You can TRY installing 10.2 over 10.0.....It may work. Just keep in mind that if you do, you may need to cfdisk the hdd afterwards and start from a blank slate.
 
Old 05-11-2006, 05:18 PM   #4
theoffset
Member
 
Registered: Aug 2005
Location: Guadalajara, Jal, Mexico
Distribution: Slackware Linux
Posts: 211

Rep: Reputation: 31
Well, I don't totally agree.
I jumped from 10.0 to 10.2 in a "single" jump (well, they were more like lots of mini-jumps). I ended with a workable installation, but with a few packages which had been removed still wandering around.
The basic is to run in single-user, upgrade glibcs first and then the pkgtools, then I went upgrading a/ l/ and ap/, and then everything else. Between every step I've made a few checks to make sure nothing was wrong (I can't remember if anything went wrong at somepoint... but I'd bet it did). I read the HOWTOs on upgrading Slackware before and after (to make sure I didn't missed a thing). And then started reading through the changelogs (both, 10.1 and 10.2) to remove stuff which should not be there and some special notes which Pat might have made.

Also: I didn't update kernel stuff (kernel nor alsa) when I did the jump (I was running a custom kernel anyway).

If you ask me, it is a BAD idea. It's much safer to make a different partition for /home (where you save your data) and /usr/local (to install custom software) and /, and just reinstall over / (AND make sure the installer DOESN'T format /home and /usr/local).

But if you are willing to the danger... go ahead, remember that even if you end up with an unbootable system your data should still be there... you will just need to boot from another media (like a LiveCD or a USB disk/pen or the Slack 10.0 CD2) and copy valuable data and either reinstall or try to fix the problem (I'd prefer the later, it's a rewarding experience when you just fix something screwed )

---
EDIT:
As for your Slackware -current question I just need 2 things:
-A web browser (or kslackcheck which could be found somewhere in the kde-look.org site) to look the Slackware-current change log (http://www.slackware.com/changelog/current.php?cpu=i386)
-I like to use Slackpkg to keep up with Slackware -current (it comes in the extra/ directory of your CDs or favorite mirror). But be aware that it could bring you back to a pasture/ version of a package if you're not careful enough.

Slackpkg could also help you to upgrade to 10.2. Look /etc/slackpkg/mirrors for info.

Last edited by theoffset; 05-11-2006 at 09:16 PM.
 
Old 05-11-2006, 09:11 PM   #5
alienmagic
Member
 
Registered: Feb 2006
Distribution: Slackware 10.2, (2.6.16.16), FC 5
Posts: 109

Rep: Reputation: 15
I haven't done a slack upgrade yet, but I've had mixed results with other distributions. I upgraded Mandrake 10 to Mandriva 2005, and that went really well, but it was the next release. I tried upgrading Fedora Core 1 to Fedora Core 5, and completely lost all X functionality, and had to do a fresh install anyway.

I say go for the upgrade. Just back everything up first. If it doesn't work, you get the opportunity to enjoy installing again
 
Old 05-11-2006, 09:26 PM   #6
hitest
Guru
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Distribution: Void, Slackware
Posts: 7,341

Rep: Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744Reputation: 3744
Upgrading will probably work, but, back-up your critical files. I'm running 10.2 on two boxes and am very happy with them.
I'll be doing clean installs of 11.0:-)
 
Old 05-12-2006, 10:03 AM   #7
syvy
Member
 
Registered: Sep 2005
Location: Germany
Distribution: slackware64
Posts: 113

Rep: Reputation: 17
Upgrading might work, but you keep all the old gnome stuff of 10.0 which 10.2 hasnīt anymore.
If your 10.0 installation contains any gnome packages and dependencies donīt forget this if you make a decision.
 
Old 05-13-2006, 07:20 PM   #8
statguy
Member
 
Registered: Sep 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Distribution: Slackware 14.2, current
Posts: 416

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 36
Thanks for all the great advice. I am leaning towards a clean install. My /home is on a separate partition, so as long as I don't do anything stupid, that will be fine and gives me a place to backup some important files.

With the KDE upgrade, should I nuke my ~/.kde directory?
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Upgrade or fresh install Atif_Khan Fedora 12 02-07-2005 12:16 PM
Upgrade or fresh install? im_an_elf SUSE / openSUSE 2 01-26-2005 09:08 AM
RH9 to Fedora: fresh install, or upgrade? vtbludgeon Fedora - Installation 3 04-03-2004 08:52 PM
Upgrading from redhat 9 to fedora - upgrade or fresh install Ross Clement Fedora 8 11-29-2003 03:10 PM
Redhat 6.2 to 7.0 -- Upgrade or Fresh Install? scoats Linux - Software 2 10-21-2001 12:17 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Slackware

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:44 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration