Saving time: saving configuration files at reinstalling

[Bleim]

I recently move from knoppix to kanotix, but I think I have a good idea for both.
Ok, here is my request!

When we format and re-install our favourite O.S., we loose all information (so this is a request for HD installing script). I think it will be a good idea (and not a difficult idea I think) to add a way for user to save some configuration files before formatting. This files would be at memory, and after installing the O.S., the script will save original program files by renaming to xxxxx.SAVE and installing the user files (or something like that, like copy user files at a this home directory instead delete original programs files).

The configuration files could be:
fstab
smb.conf
kde configuration
firefox/mozilla/opera/konqueror/... bookmarks
etc

It's NOT easy because we have different programs, but the script could search the most common and add a option to save our favourite files.


Thanks a lot for doing knoppix (and kanotix :D )

Bye!

[Markus]

Well, with a separate /home partition all you need to do after reinstalling is point your /home in fstab to the partition and all user settings and files are restored.
Also you can just backup files in /etc and replace them after the install with old ones.
Or did I misunderstand the question?

[Bleim]

The idea is that the program make this work for u.
I put these files in another partition when I format my hard disk, but always forget something and remember after, when I need with the new OS. The idea is to make this some kind of automatic.

Ciao!

[mzilikazi]

I recently move from knoppix to kanotix, but I think I have a good idea for both.
Ok, here is my request!

When we format and re-install our favourite O.S., we loose all information (so this is a request for HD installing script). I think it will be a good idea (and not a difficult idea I think) to add a way for user to save some configuration files before formatting. This files would be at memory, and after installing the O.S., the script will save original program files by renaming to xxxxx.SAVE and installing the user files (or something like that, like copy user files at a this home directory instead delete original programs files).

The configuration files could be:
fstab
smb.conf
kde configuration
firefox/mozilla/opera/konqueror/... bookmarks
etc

Those are diretories and files. You only need to backup two directories as Markus has already mentioned. I don't think this requires a script but here you go.

#!/bin/sh
cp -R /home /mnt/backup
cp -R /etc /mnt/backup

Then just replace what you want. Or you can have both /home and /etc on their own partition and simply mount those partitions after an installation.