Is there a way to reinstall Fedora without compromising data?

[tamar]

I am getting kernel panics multiple times per day. I want to reinstall Fedora but the only option is to "replace existing Linux system," "shrink current system," "use entire drive," "use free space," and "create custom layout." Which one will reinstall without compromising my data?

[jpollard]

What are the panics?

It sounds like it may be hardware related - have you checked your memory?

Doing an inplace install (depending on problem) can cause more problems if the
system panics during some updates - I have seen some significant filesystem
corruption caused by it.

[tamar]

It's not. I even replaced the mobo. I have posted several reports here and have been told to send them to Bugzilla: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=533311

Given that my machine dies 15 times a day now, there's nothing to lose for me. I already have backups.

What are my options?

[JN4OldSchool]

You have no options if you are going to reinstall. Back up your data. Next time you install create a separate /data partition. This way you can keep your data separate from the OS, the OS becomes expendable, and you can even share this partition between dual booted distros or Windows(NTFS partition).

[tamar]

My data is already on a separate partition, but the concern is those old programs, really. The hard drive that hosts the OS has tons of personalized files, etc etc. And there's a lot of critical info in /etc/ as well with settings and all that other stuff that I'll have to redo after a decade. See this thread: http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=233548

[JN4OldSchool]

I kind of agree with Stoggy in that thread. I am not an expert but I dont think there is much you can do, especially with installed programs. You might be looking at a bit of work after a decade of coasting on this.

Why are you looking at Fedora again? In your case why not look at debian or arch which are rolling releases? At the least I would consider CentOS which is 5 year support I believe.

[tamar]

Everything has worked well with Fedora, and I've been loyal to it since the RedHat days.

Here's what I really want to know -

I have had several different partitions for /home, /var, /boot, /usr, / (with /opt, which stores some important files), and /data. Can I reinstall Fedora over those partitions and keep my partition integrity with most of my data intact (at least perhaps as /home, /opt, and /data is concerned), or am I out of luck? (I know this might be a basic question.) I don't see which option should be utilized.

Bump: My real fear is just having all partitions wiped. What exactly gets wiped with the various options? Those partitions reside on one hard drive. Will I lose /opt, for example? Fedora doesn't need it, does it?

btw another reason why I have been loyal to Fedora is because well, until this recent issue which is probably due to me running a daily cron job for yum -y install, it has never failed me in 10 years.

[SlowJet]

Yes, custom partitioning option.

You can select each partition and click edit button, pick a /mount.
For /home, /opt, /data do nothing else, only mount.
For the others do everything except changing size, /mount, type, format=yes


Before you start copy any difficult conf data to /data, export the email and cp to data, export you browser links and cp to data, ...

You may need some boot options to get though some junk.
The /opt programs may need to be recovered from a backup depending on where it put files.

SJ

[tamar]

SlowJet, can you explain how to do this - am I using the LiveCD or anything else?

[SlowJet]

Bootup the liveCD and start the installation from the icon on the desktop with your mouse.
When you get to the screen that shows your disk drives, click off check box with the mouse any disks not used in the install.
Select the drop down list at the top with the mouse and scroll to the bottom with the mouse (#5 item, custom), select it with the mouse.
Click the next button with the mouse.
The next screen will be the disk druid showing the partitions.
You will see options at the top, New, Edit, Delete, LVM
Scroll down to the partitions, select 1 with the mouse, click on the edit button with the mouse.
Select the mount drop down box and find the mount name, select it with the mouse (or type one in), select other options as needed,(type, format).
When all partitions information looks good back on the disk druid window, click next with the mouse.
Accept partition update message by clicking OK with the mouse.
If it completes it will say Congratulations, you have installed Fedora, the most advanced Operation system on the planet, with your mouse or something like that.

SJ

[tamar]

Thanks. Let's see what happens. I also burned the DVD which I am playing with now.

Bump: Ah yes, I've done this. That's how I created partitions back in the day to begin with. But I fear I will still LOSE the data, which isn't going to help me much....

[giulix]

You won't lose the data unless you choose to format the partition. I do as SJ suggested (custom layout) at least 4 times a year and never lost any data... I don't even make backups any more (which is crazy, I know), but I have two computers with almost the same data on them (mostly code), one at home and one in the office...

P.S. To be extra safe, do not change the partitions either... first see whether you get your problem solved by reinstalling, then you can think about more radical changes later, if needed

[tamar]

Thanks giulix, that makes me feel better.