Ubuntu

Reformat hard drive and update to 9.10 questions...

Asked by Lachlan Summer

Hi,

I've been testing out Ubuntu 9.04 dual booting with XP for the past week or so. But I've done some things non-optimally, and now I'd like to wipe my hard drive and start afresh, reinstalling XP (first so it gets the C: drive), and then install 9.10 with ext4/ grub2 etc to dual boot with.

I've already downloaded a daily build of 9.10 and made a live CD from it.

I have two questions first:

1) Is there a terminal command or something that will wipe my hard drive, still allowing it to boot from the XP system recovery disc I got with my PC? (I have backed up all my important files etc externally).

2) Is there a way to save my settings (specifically Firefox favourites / bookmarks add ons etc, but also Ubuntu themes / installed programs if possible) so that I can automatically duplicate them in my new Ubuntu setup, instead of manually re-installing them all?

Any help / advice much appreciated.

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stlsaint
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Best stlsaint (stlsaint) said : 		#1

Question1:)there is a cmd that will erase all root/system folders but its ont recommended. You can simply boot into the livecd and use partition editor to delete/format your xp and ubuntu partitions to start fresh. Also yes you wil still be able to use xp recovery cds.

Question2:) In jaunty you can use the Simple Backup/Restore Config suite to backup your folders of your choosing, including but not limited to Mozilla profiles, all docs, pics, music etc etc. Also just in case make sure you backup your sources list if youve added and ppa's manualy through there. And for programs you can either use AptonCd out of the Synaptic Package manger or from within package manager you can go to File>Save markings as...
this will create a file that synap can use/read to install your programs back after a install.

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Lachlan Summer (lachlansummer) said : 		#2

Thanks stlsaint, that solved my question.