[colug-432] new ubuntu user question

[tom]

On 01/22/2015 08:37 PM, Steve Roggenkamp wrote:
> Hi Susan,
>
> Welcome to the group.
>
> Ubuntu 12.10 is beyond its end of life as it's over two years old and 
> I think Ubuntu normally only supports its normal (non-Long Term 
> Support) versions for only 18 months.  12.10 refers to the version 
> Ubuntu released in October of 2012.  Every two years in April Ubuntu 
> releases a version called it Long Term Support version that it 
> supports for five years and is the version I normally run.  
> Specifically, I'm writing this using a laptop running Ubuntu 
> 14.04(LTS).  It provides a stable environment for at least two  years.
>
> This is all nice background, but it doesn't solve your problem of 
> updating to a current version.
>
> The biggest question to answer, before you upgrade, is whether you 
> have files on your present system that you want to take with you after 
> the upgrade.  If so, buy a flash drive (or two) and make a copy of the 
> files you want to preserve.  If things go bump in the night, you'll 
> have a backup copy.
>
> I don't know if you found it, but here's the Ubuntu Wiki page 
> regarding upgrades:
>
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes
>
> It provides descriptions of how to upgrade various versions of Ubuntu.
>
> It sounds like you have two options.  You can either perform a series 
> of upgrades:
>
> 12.10 -> 13.04
> 13.04 -> 13.10
> 13.10 -> 14.04
> 14.04 -> 14.10
>
> Or you could "renew" your installation with a later one (14.04 LTS or 
> 14.10) and do not format the disk during the installation.  In this 
> case it will overwrite your old version of Ubuntu with the new one, 
> (hopefully) leaving your personal files intact.  You may have to 
> reconfigure the networking and/or printers depending on how things are 
> currently set up.  Hopefully, you will not and Things Will Just Work.
>
> The easiest way to make a backup is with a command terminal and a 
> program called tar.  Ubuntu changed the way it mounts flashdrives 
> sometime between 12.04 and 14.04, so I'll mention both.  After you 
> mount a flashdrive in 12.04 it will appear in the file system as 
> /media/FDVOLUME, or whatever name the flashdrive volume is set to, 
> while it will appear as /media/skr/FDVOLUME in 14.04.  Let's assume 
> your user name is 'susan' you should enter the following commands to 
> back up all of your files in your home directory:
>
> $ cd
> $ cd ..
> $ tar cvzf /media/susan/FDVOLUME/susanHome.tgz susan
>
>
> The first command puts you into your home directory.  The second one 
> moves you up one level above your home directory, and the third 
> command creates the backup, assuming you have sufficient space on your 
> flashdrive.  The 'cvzf' says to (c)reate the archive, list all of the 
> files being backed up (v), compress the archive as it saves it (z), 
> and write it to /media/susan/FDVOLUME/susanHome.tgz.  The directory 
> being backed up is 'susan'.  At this point, you should see a lot of 
> file names flying up the screen as it saves them to the archive.  If 
> you have a lot of files, it will take some time to archive them.  Make 
> yourself a cup of coffee or tea and relax until it's done.
>
> If you're paranoid at this point about whether it made a good backup, 
> you can enter the following command to list all of the files in the 
> backup:
>
> $ tar tvzf /media/susan/FDVOLUME/susanHome.tgz
>
> You should see a bunch of file name names and information flying up 
> the screen.  This command reads the entire archive and should print an 
> error message if there's a problem with it.
>
> You can now unmount the flashdrive and set it aside in case you need it.
>
> To recover the files you would use the following command:
>
> $ tar xvzf /media/susan/FDVOLUME/susanHome.tgz
>
> This will extract your original susan directory into the directory 
> you're in.
>
> This isn't a very sophisticated backup mechanism, but it works to 
> store or move a directory of data.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Steve
>
> On 01/22/2015 01:51 PM, Susan Sommerfeld wrote:
>> Hi!
>> I am a fairly new ubuntu user..not by my choice, it was installed on 
>> my laptop by my ex. I do like it though and would like to keep using 
>> it. But now I am dealing with having to upgrade several 
>> programs..things are starting to act squirrelly here...my mozilla 
>> version is very out of date and adobe just leaves a blank gray space 
>> where the video should be.
>>
>> I have ubuntu 12.10 now. I'm guessing that is why the package manager 
>> doesn't show any newer versions of mozilla or adobe..it claims I am 
>> up to date. So I tried to upgrade my ubuntu with the software updater 
>> and got an error message. (I didn't write it down but I'm sure I 
>> could get it again because this computer really really does not want 
>> to upgrade)
>>
>> I am looking for someone to hire to help me understand how to use 
>> this system. I am not completely incapable, but this is a bit over my 
>> head. I've figured out as much as I could with the help 
>> documentation. Googling my questions just gives me bunches of 
>> code..sigh. I could use help with backups..the best method..and with 
>> this upgrade.
>>
>> Is there someone out there who is willing to help me? Please... A bit 
>> of time with someone would help me much more than the hours I have 
>> spent trying to follow directions that I struggle with. Thanks so much!!
>>
>> Susan
>>
>>
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>
>
>
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If you are not a techie, I would strongly suggest finding someone to sit 
with you thru the process.

Tom
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