Moving a user from FC4 x86_64 to FC5 x86_32

[GreyWizzard]

I have come to a point where I need to move a user from 64-bit Fedora Core 4 to 32-bit Fedora Core 5 and I would like to get some input from the community to smooth this change.

I have a full copy of their /home directory on a separate file server. This includes all of their ‘dot’ files, user files and folders, EVERYTHING. I have been using a cron based rsync to keep the backup current and have recently had to back up this user due to an accidental deletion from user so I KNOW that it is a good and complete backup.

The person uses KDE as their desktop on FC4 and will want to use the same on FC5.

Based on previous experience with my own migration from FC4 x86_64 to FC5 x86_64 on my own system, I have learned that it is not a simple thing of just moving their /home directory from the file server to the new box. There are, apparently, some differences in the structure of FC4 and FC5 that caused me some headaches in my move. I would like to know how to get around these challenges so that the move will be as smooth and painless for both of us as possible.

I would also like to verify that there will be no issues moving a user /home directory from a 64-bit environment to a 32-bit environment as long as they have no 64-bit programs installed there that they count on (which is not the case here).

I have found countless articles on how FC4 and FC5 are different, but nothing that specifically addresses this kind of migration. All help is greatly appreciated!

[clearer]

I have done this kind of thing, I don't know, how many times. I never have experienced any problems by simply keeping the user's home as is. What I would do, to make sure everything was just right, is to leave the old user as is on the filesystem (I trust you have a partition for /home if not - just use your servers backup).

When you have installed fc5 do not create a new user using the wizard in firstboot. Instead use the user management tool and create a user in with the same name and home as your old user, only opt that the user should not have his home created. If this is not opted, the old home will be deleted.

If this doesn't work, you can create a dummy user and copy all the files in the users home to the old users home. change ownership on the files and you should be in buisness right away.

[GreyWizzard]

I have done this kind of thing, I don't know, how many times. I never have experienced any problems by simply keeping the user's home as is. What I would do, to make sure everything was just right, is to leave the old user as is on the filesystem (I trust you have a partition for /home if not - just use your servers backup).
Just to clarify a few things.

First off, you state that you have done this kind of thing more times than you can count. I want to make sure that we are speaking of moving a user from a 64-bit OS to a 32-bit OS, not just moving a user from one version of Fedora to another (upgrade).

Secondly, the moves you have performed, were they from FC4 to FC5 and if so what desktop software did the user choose both pre and post move? I know that the move for my own stuff from FC4 to FC5 was a challenge and that was a parallel move from one 64-bit OS to another. I find it hard to believe that there will be no issues at all in moving from a 64-bit to a 32-bit either. Would be nice, though...

[GreyWizzard]

No further input from anybody on this?

Could it be that I am the only one that has considered this move??

I would think not, but I could be wrong....