Hi, all.

I don't know if this is the best place to post this, but here goes.

I installed Mepis 6 on my desktop PC, and now I want to install Mepis on my laptop with exactly the same packages installed as on my PC.

Is this possible?

The 2 computers have different size hard drives, so I can't just copy the drive using the dd command, can I?

Thanks.

Depending on what you are trying to do, perhaps tar is the appropriate tool to use.

I have created an entire partition, then used tar to literally copy the contents, beginning wherever I wanted - including the partition point itself, for example, /dev/hda6, to another existing partition, for example, /dev/hda10, or maybe /dev/hdb5. No reason you couldn't put it on some transferable media. Tar does not care what it is written to. After all, it was once a TAPE archive tool, hence the name, but like dd, it is device independent.

dd, however, will literally copy everything in the path you specify. You might be able to use it, but you should do so with care, otherwise you will get more than you bargained for.

Are essentially trying to "clone" your HD? I use Acronis True Image. The only thing you have to do afterwards is reinstall GRUB using the live CD.

Hi, All.

I want to either install Mepis on my laptop, then run a script to install/uninstall packages that I want or don't want, or just copy the drive.

Not sure how to do either.

Thanks

As far as installing goes just use the live CD and click on the "Install MEPIS" icon. Once it's installed use Synaptic Package Manager to install or remove packages. Start Synaptic by clicking on the System icon (the computer with the screwdriver icon) and then selecting Synaptic. For multimedia packages enable the http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ repository.

I would do as Frank_v7 says and just use the MEPIS live cd to install. What type and size of laptop? You'll need a minimum of 256 Mb of ram to have any sort of decent speed. If the live cd can run ok then you have a new enough system to run MEPIS. Just use the live cd to install. You may need different graphics drivers etc and you have choices like that when you install fresh. Also a lot faster to just install with the live cd.

Probably the best way to go would be first to remove the hard drive from the old computer and put it into an external drive cage.

Then put the new drive in a cage. These should both be USB 2 if possible.

Plug both drives into a second computer running Linux and mount both drives while running as root. The new hard drive should be formated with Reiser or Ext2 or Ext 3, whatever is on your old hard drive.

After that, click on the old partition for Linux and highlight it. Then press <control> c.

Click on and open the new Linux partition. There should be nothing there. Then press <control> v.

Wait forever while they copy over. This could take hours, but it will work.

Partition Commander by Vcom might be a good alternative as well, with a slightly elaveted risk of losing data. This is best if there is no second computer available.