[QCLUG] Ubuntu fresh install without loosing packages

[Chris Cooper]

During the meeting this week there was some discussion about backing
up all your Ubuntu packages so you could do a fresh install without
loosing anything.

Here is a good set of instructions I found:
http://hehe2.net/linuxhowto/howto-fresh-ubuntu-install-without-losing-your-=
current-settings/

sudo dpkg –get-selections > /home/user/package.selections

back up your entire home folder (make sure to include all hidden files)
If you use a separate home partition, you may want to rename your user
folder temporarily to make sure nothing overwrites the configs with
defaults
packages are *supposed* to acknowledge existing files, but this isn't
always the case.
Additionally, it would probably be wise to grab a copy of /etc while
you are at it.

Reinstall Ubuntu
Add any additional apt sources (Google repositories, etc) to
/etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo dpkg –set-selections < /backedupdatahere/package.selections &&
apt-get dselect-upgrade

Restore home directory
logout and back in

Happy 8.10 installing.