Can I use APT to install a list of applications
 

Hi,

Here is what happened: I had a hard disk failing with more and more bad sectors appearing and freezing the system. Still, I managed to backup my source list and I can still access the drive from another machine.

Here is what I would like to do:

I would like to copy the list of all the applications installed on the old drive to my new machine (which just has a basic Ubuntu install) and then tell apt "install all the applications I had on my old drive to new machine" thus avoiding reinstalling them one by one.

Is there a place where all the installed aps are listed and is there a way for me to use that list to have everything I had reinstalled?

Can I do that and, if yes, how?

Many thanks,

Mamadu

Synaptic has an option to save markings as a file and to read markings. It also can create a script to install a set of packages.

I'd choose the installed packages, mark for reinstallation and then try making a script to perform the installation.

If you try the markings route I expect you'll have to manually transfer your repos over.

YMMV, attempting to test this hung synaptic for me with 100% CPU use ...

ok, but how do I get my Synaptic to "read" from the packages on the old disk (which is connected via USB to my new system)? how do I "choose and mark" applications from my old disk?!


and will Synaptic not get confused between the applications I have already installed on my new system and those I would "choose and mark"?

Sorry, but I am really confused here..

See post #6 on this thread: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...debian-542460/

thanks, that answers my question!