They are both 240Gb. When I click on my desktop "Computer" folder, they are both there.
I also know I compromised my 18.3 mint OS installation because of a blunder that is so stupid, I am just too embarrassed to even mention what I did (or what I believe I did). I really should just write over everything on that drive with a clean installation, but I have not figured out what OS to go with.

The second hard drive has 19.3 on it and everything seems to be working fine. The only issue I noticed is CLAMTK does not update signatures, but I am not alone with this problem. Much has been written up on this issue; so I just have to read up on the solutions published for correcting this. Understand, that since I am satisfied with 19.3, I have little use for staying with 18.3.

Back to my original post: the only thing I wished to do is get some of my desktop folders located on the 18.3 drive onto the 19.3 drive easily.

The more I have thought about what I wanted to do, another related underlining issue that has been nagging at me popped into my mind. A host of personal material that I have on my 18.3 "Desktop" may go back to MS-DOS for all I know. Rather than going through this mess of mostly worthless and obsolete files that I have been collecting for decades, I really have to do some housekeeping and clean things up! The original post happened because I was lazy and just did not wish to do what has to be done! I am not about to hold onto these junk files once again, nor do I wish waste anyone's time trying to figure out what is going on with a crippled operating system.

What I am going to do, is bite the bullet! I will save what is to be retained onto a flash drive, toss out the rest, then boot up 19.3 and copy the wanted files to the desktop.

Wish to change directions right now! I did notice there is a "Tutorials" section at the very top of this page. What I wish to know is the proper protocol for posting, for example, the use of code tags (I never knew what this meant until it was explained), or how to received or send emails, how to end a post, etc. The tutorials are in alphabetical order and seemed to more orientated to technical issues. Could someone suggest a tutorial for me so I can post in a meaningful way. I have been awed by the help provided, and some of the help came from so far away.

Scup,

For Code tags:
Tutorials > LinuxQuestions.org > How to Create/design a LinuxAnswer > Formatting.

Others include:
Tutorials > LinuxQuestions.org > How to Use LinuxQuestions.org

Just have a browse through the various links in Tutorials.

A good idea.

1 members found this post helpful.

I am very sorry that I wasted the time of so many who tried to help me. I did not realized how badly I had compromised my Mint 18.3 operating system. Did not wish to exposed myself as being a damn fool, but in not doing such, I hindered any possible hope that something positive could happen.

The following is what happened should any one be interested the host of errors I made:

1. Had two nearly identical hard drives on my computer with Mint 18.3 on Drive 1 and Mint 19.1 on Drive 2
2. Mint 18.3 started to become unstable over the years.
3. Used Timeshift to make snapshots of both operating systems. Bad move for Mint 18.3 since at best all one could do is restore a compromised OS.
4. Mint 18.3 became worse, so I tried to use a snapshot to, at least restore it back to where it had been.
5. Lost track of which OS was on which drive; somehow I mismatch snapshot storage locations with operating systems!
6. There was nothing of any value on Drive 2 (Mint 19.1) so I performed a complete overwrite of Mint 19.1 with Mint 19.3. Never even tried to correct the mess I had made on drive 2.
7. At first, I did not even realized what a mess I had made for drive 1. Using a snapshot from Mint 19.1 to restore the Mint 18.3 operating system (done by error) seemed to have worked?
8. Screwy things, however, started to happen. For example, I still had the Mint 18.3 OS, but with some aspects of Mint 19.1. When I would update, I noted that the updates did not have priorities assigned to them. This a characteristic of Mint 19.1 and not 18.3.
9. Somehow I got drive 1 squared away, at least this is what I thought. Really, cannot recall what I did, but I think it should obvious I was in quite a brain fog by this time. It is entirely possible I re-installed 18.3, or perhaps I tried timeshift again, just cannot remember!

I am the process of transferring anything of importance to hard drive 2 (Mint 19.3), and when I get the courage, will wipe out my old Mint 18.3. For what it is worth, I would do it all over again as I really liked Mint 18.3 and will miss it.

It was hard for me to explain how foolish I had been, but there is no way I would leave this post without thanking those who tried (and did in part) help me. This post should be marked as “solved”.
Will leave this post open for a while just in case there are some final comments.

Scup,

As long as you have saved whatever personal data you need, then don't worry about it.

A fresh installation solves most problems.

It's called a learning experience.

@scup said,

> It was hard for me to explain how foolish I had been, but there is no way I would leave this post without thanking those who > tried (and did in part) help me.

BAHAHAHAHA! I'm not laughing at you, my friend. I'm laughing with you. This situation you've been dealing with and banging your head against your desk in frustration is SO VERY FAMILIAR to each and every one of us here who have ever attempted anything for a "first time". I could write an extensive blog posting about some of the mistakes that I made in my early GNU/Linux daze that would be both educational and absolutely side-splittingly hilarious. So.... don't fret, pal. All will be well. No one here thinks less of you about this event. We've ALL been there and done crap like this. Anyone here who denies this is LYING.

Hope you get it all squared away. Do NOT hesitate to ask for assistance again. That's what we're here for.

Have a great weekend!

~Eric

1 members found this post helpful.

I am definitely very glad I went with Linux! Really awed when I looked at where my help came from: USA, Australia, UK, and it is definitely possible that help can come from the far corners of this planet.

Since you are laughing with me, I will give you some more fodder! Have a bachelors and masters degree in Electrical Engineering, top ten percent of my graduate class, more than enough credits to qualify for a PhD, but never prepared a thesis because I really was very happy being a “field type” for a Naval Research Laboratory (for 47 years). If I had attained a Doctorates degree, pressure would have been applied to force me into management, something for which I had little use for.

Apparently, I am very inept at most aspects of computer technology even though my career dealt with the evaluation of such. Understand, that the computer on my work desk was not mine, it belonged to the government. I could not load programs into it; configuration control must be maintained! If I needed say a mathematical procedure, a request would be submitted and if approved, like magic, the following morning the government’s computer would be updated with what was requested; by a paid contractor.

Likely, I became crippled because I never worried about any computer issue; there was always a "well paid” contracting team behind me for whatever support was required.

It now seems that there is another very well qualified team behind me, the only difference being, there is no payment requested other than perhaps a “Thank you”. Now you know why I am so awed at the support this Linux discussion panel has provided.

3 members found this post helpful.

I'm with you, brother. I have a degree in Electronics Engineering also. Spent my entire career in component level service of RF Communications and Audio (commercial and consumer).

When that career went to China, I re-educated myself and got all the necessary certs including the much-desired Cisco certs.

I've been running Slackware for 15 years as a Primary OS on my systems. Guess what?

I STILL make stupid mistakes occasionally. It happens to the best of us.

And about the GNU/Linux Community... it is AWESOME! There are some forums where they're not quite as understanding as here at LQ.org, but all-in-all the community is EXTREMELY helpful 99% of the time.

Have fun with it!


~Eric

1 members found this post helpful.