New version of Linux install and old applications
 

I want to upgrade my Linux system to a newer version of the operating system. Can I backup my installed applications and copy them to the new version and have them work? If so, what folders/files need to be backedup? Or do I need to reinstall all applications and reconfigure them again? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

But if you upgrade your OS all the applications will be upgraded too. Why do you need to retain the older versions? also what OS is the one you are currently running?

You would install updated versions of the applications to go with the updated OS. You could make backups of the program configuration files though, which should make the setup process easy. Most programs store their configuration files in /etc/, but you'll find a lot of "user" customization settings (eg: thunderbird, emacs, etc.) stored in your home directory.

Old version number
 

At present I am running Zorin 8.1 and eventually I will upgrade to Zorin 9.
There are a number of changes they have made to the OS including a new theme style and changes in menu structures and options.

I dont know zorin, but if they provide a way to upgtade the OS without fresh installation all the apps will retain their settings.

It has never been a fully 100% easy way to update or upgrade. There are just too many variables to consider. A distro is simply not just a kernel and some fancy window manager. It has thousands of versions of files that tend to interact a lot. Linux could move to each application having all versions of files needed in a single package but it would make the file system huge.

Some partition schemes help to move to new distros'.

It is still best to create a new distro and add in apps. The package manager may tell you if you can or can't use the apps you need.

I just started using Zorin and started with the RC for 9. It is quite a change from 8.1 as Zorin runs off Ubuntu's LTS releases. Are these apps you want to save ones you installed from software center or on your own?

When you installed, did you set up a separate /home partition? If so, you could try upgrade/install (if you use the dvd, do not format /home if you set it up separate.

My recommendation as I find it easiest for me, is to back up the personal stuff from your home folder and install clean version 9.

Can tell you more once I have an idea what applications you mean....

Something like the following link plus backing up and restoring the hidden directories in your home ought to do something like what I think you want:
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/...ns_new_machine
I haven't got the above to work though, but that might just be due to using Sid and having made strange package selections.
Bear in mind also that any hidden configuration files in your home may be out of date for newer program versions so may cause problems. It doesn't happen all that often but it's something to be wary of.

There is always the distro's Zorin Forums to consult.

Problem Maybe Solved.
 

This sounds like the best way to go for restoring most of the applications I have installed on the old version. I will see if it works and report back. Might take a few days.
Linux seems like the right way to go to replace Windows XP/7 but it's a slow process ,to learn, at my age (70). Thanks for your help Guys.

Interesting suggestion but need more information.
 

I went to the above url and found it interesting but also found it full of errors when I tried to run it. I don't think I did anything wrong but I could have. There were too many errors when executed that I didn't know what to do, being a nooby to linux.

I did like the suggestion about the different partitions for root, swap and home. But I don't understand how you can install a distro to different partitions. Can someone explain how this is done?

My apologies, as the link was for Debian it assumes that you don't have sudo set up. In the case of Ubuntu most of the commands given should be preceded by "sudo" (without the quotes).
For creating a separate home partition you have to choose "something else" in the installer and ask it to create partitions to use as /, home and swap (if required). How easy or difficult this is depends upon whether or not you are dual booting with Windows and how many disks you are using.