For various reasons I am forced to use an olde single core n455 atom netbook. Don’t ask.

I am using PCLinuxOS with the KDE desktop because it boots up and runs. The machine is a bit weird as it was built by students at a vocational school. My other laptops used as MM machines for my students are all running KDE Neon which allows me to run the APTIK backup utility which is a HUGE help when I try and do something ‘clever’ and break the OS. It happens with me...

Well, I did just that recently with PCLinuxOS -tried to change the colour depth and xorg got screwed up and there was NO way back! Dunno quite how I did that give PCLInuxOS provides a GUI for colour depth. Learnt not to try that again! So it was re-install. I figured it would take less time to re-install than poking around and posting questions here. I have data files on a separate partition, BTW.

Aptik is great for restoring settings, bookmarks, etc under Neon but it is not available for PCLinuxOS. Neither can I find an equivalent. There are back up tools a plenty but I cannot find anything geared towards just backing up system and app settings.

Does such a thing exist for PCLOS? If not, can I just grab folders and copy them out to external HD’s? But, then, which ones...?
I‘d rather not disk image the machine as I have only so much backup and I need a lot of it for data. Plus, I would have to re-install PCLOS to install the recovery app anyway! Besides, Installing PCLOS is easy. It’s the fine tuning, tweaking and app config that takes time...

Is there any way to backup by system and app settings without the whole OS and apps?

Many thanks in advance.

App settings. There may be some system-wide settings in /etc, but in general all app settings are set by user and stored in home directory. It could not be otherwise, user has no write access to system directories. So I have to say to reinstall OS just to purge some config files from users home directory seems more like Windows thinking and was a horrible overkill for a Linux installation.
System settings are in /etc and some info about installed packages is likely stored in some /var/ subdirectory. I'm not familiar with your distro, I'll leave it to you.

Yes, I get that and Aptik is a great help in backing up the essential files from ‘home.’ But the config is more than that. The fact Aptik exists suggests I’m not the only fool to want such. Really helpful in transfering app and system settings across multiple machines as well.

Okkkaaaayyyy…

Firstly, talking of “Windows thinking” - re-installing the OS is now much more Linux because you CAN’T re-install Windows any more. Well, you can but it’s really painful as you do not get the install media with your laptop any more and you have to download the ISO image (Ok,you have to do the same for your Linux distro but there was a day when you bought your tower PC and received the OS on CD) and then you have to deal with activation not only for the OS but apps as well.

At least with Linux I can do a clean install!

Next, I did boot to the command line and did everything data online said SHOULD have to worked to restore Xorg. Only it didn’t. After seven hours of trying and failing and with classes come FIRST THING in the morning I HAD to have the laptop running! I print worksheets every single class (I run a private tuition business) and I cannot plan ahead because the kids are dropped off and the mother’s tell me what the coming test is about and then I adapt. I live in the Far East where school = unit tests and exams. I operate as an ‘exam hospital’ where the kids tell me where they are weak for the upcoming test and I help prepare them.
So, in my business, I have to operate as a doctor in a clinic. So much so that I am expected to supply a 365 a year service and had to hire and write contracts accordingly!

[I’m gonna have to go clone the system drive here aren’t I? I don't have time for down time Okay... I’ll look up disk clone tools. I'll give up 40 or so GB on external HD for fast restore.]

Soooo… some of us only have limited time. And I can’t learn how to run up Linux from scratch or build up a techie’s OS such as Arch because work has been killing me. I have literally been working seven days a week. That’s only JUST stopped by my hiring extra staff. That’s why I thought I had time to try and play with the config. Amazed that GUI allowed for the utter destruction of Xorg!

Yeah. Thanks.
I’ll look up disk clone tools. Aptik is not available and I do not have the time...

Running synaptic now...

Back in the day, Fedora used to have a snippet in their install guide for backup prior to upgrade. Here's the relevant:Note that /etc and /home were expected to have all the important bits - but times have moved on, and may now be elsewhere.

For many years I have relied on snapshot - it keeps the differences, and allows (relatively) simple roll-back. LVM offers it, as does btrfs - but has to be planned and installed in advance of usage. Maybe something for you to think about for the future.

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Ah! Many thanks for that syg00!

That sounds a little more like it. I will into it when I get more time.

Not today or tomorrow, mind. It's crazy!

Thanks again!