alright!

i just updated to the latest and greatest mepis... only to figure out that i transposed my username and password so i'm logged into a dfferent account.

do i create a another with my old username in order to get my old desktop back?

uif i do that, how will i destroy my old desktop?

how should i proceed?

i'd appreciate a quick hint how to create another user, if that is the route i ought to take.

tia...

I would be inclined to add a user corresponding to your old username.

At the commandline (Konsole), su (to gain root priviliges). You will be prompted for the root password. Then adduser <oldusername>. You will be told that there is already a /home directory for <oldusername> and asked if you want to re-use this - answer 'yes'. One or two more routine questions and that's you done. Log out from your <newusername> id and login as <oldusername>. You can now remove <newusername> if you want.

i will give it a shot.

thanks.

i didn't get results consistent with your outline. here are my results...

gnew@1[~]$ su
Password:
root@1[gnew]# adduser ski23
Adding user `ski23'...
Adding new user `ski23' (1001) with group `users'.
The home directory `/home/ski23' already exists. Not copying from `/etc/skel'
adduser: Warning: that home directory does not belong to the user you are currently creating
Enter new UNIX password:

i stopped here w/o entering a password b/c i don't want to destroy ski23's home directory. i'm not sure what the reference to the directory not belonging to the owner means.

That is exactly what you should get. I can't explain the warning "that home directory does not belong to the user you are currently creating" and it looks a bit off-putting. But, believe me, I have carried out upgrades of Mepis on several occasions now, preserving /home and restoring users from the previous version .... this IS what to expect. I have just been through it again to satisfy myself --


root@1[mike]# adduser administrator
Adding user `administrator'...
Adding new user `administrator' (1004) with group `users'.
The home directory `/home/administrator' already exists. Not copyin
g from `/etc/skel'
adduser: Warning: that home directory does not belong to the user yo
u are currently creating
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: password updated successfully
Changing the user information for administrator
Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default
Full Name []: administrator
Room Number []:
Work Phone []:
Home Phone []:
Other []:
Is the information correct? [y/N] y
Processing configuration file /etc/adduser.local.conf
adduser.local: Directory /etc/skel.other does not exist
Processing service "cdrom"
Adding user "administrator" to group "cdrom"
Processing service "floppy"
Adding user "administrator" to group "floppy"
Processing service "audio"
Adding user "administrator" to group "audio"
Processing service "dip"
Adding user "administrator" to group "dip"
Processing service "camera"
Adding user "administrator" to group "camera"
Processing service "cdrecording"
Adding user "administrator" to group "cdrecording"
Processing service "dialout"
Adding user "administrator" to group "dialout"
Processing service "disk"
Adding user "administrator" to group "disk"
Processing service "fax"
Adding user "administrator" to group "fax"
Processing service "games"
Adding user "administrator" to group "games"
Processing service "lp"
Adding user "administrator" to group "lp"
Processing service "plugdev"
Adding user "administrator" to group "plugdev"
Processing service "scanner"
Adding user "administrator" to group "scanner"
Processing service "sudo"
Adding user "administrator" to group "sudo"
Processing service "tape"
Adding user "administrator" to group "tape"
Processing service "tty"
Adding user "administrator" to group "tty"
Processing service "usb"
Adding user "administrator" to group "usb"
Processing service "uucp"
Adding user "administrator" to group "uucp"
Processing service "video"
Adding user "administrator" to group "video"
Processing service "voice"
Adding user "administrator" to group "voice"
root@1[mike]#


Just make sure you retain the same password for user <ski23>. You won't destroy the /home directory.

thank you. i'm a little gun shy being new to linux. EOM.