Core 3 upgrade problem

[ThatGuy8402]

Ready to upgrade to FC3, I boot install from CD, all goes well untill I press the "upgrade" option(as opposed to "New Install" option), then i get error message saying swap partion is not initialized(something to that effect) and i have to reboot from there... I really dont want to do new install, I'd like to keep most of my data, heh. Is there a way to upgrade after i've booted into FC2, everythings loaded then... Thanks in advance.

[james_in_denver]

Yes,
I did an upgrade withouth losing any data or configuration, though it really is not for the faint of heart!!!

If you don't understand what I am doing below, then DON"T DO IT!!!...(don't want anybody to lose their data ya' know!)

First off, you will need to create a partition or folder to keep all of the files you want to save, call it "/freespace".
PRE-INSTALL
then "cp -parv /etc anyotherfilesyouwanttosavehere /freespace"
print out the contents of your "/etc/fstab" file
If you have any custom installed software or configured files in any of the "/usr", "/etc", "/bin", "/lib", "/var", "/dev", "/boot", and "/sbin" directories and you want to keep them, make certain to copy these files to the "/freespace" directory. THE CONTENTS OF THESE DIRECTORIES WILL BE DELETED LATER IF YOU CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE!)

DELETE FEDORA CORE 2
reboot from the first "Fedora Core 3"
at the boot prompt enter "linux rescue"
When prompted DO NOT mount your existing install.
Manually create the directories in "/mnt" that you will need to mount your partitions on (this is where the "/etc/fstab" printout comes in handy"
Mount all of the partitions from your printed "/etc/fstab" file on directories that you created in "/mnt/sysimage"

POINT OF NO RETURN (IF you execute the following command, you MUST complete these instructions below!!!)
"rm -rvf /mnt/sysimage/boot /mnt/sysimage/usr /mnt/sysimage/bin /mnt/sysimage/lib /mnt/sysimage/var /mnt/sysimage/dev /mnt/sysimage/etc /mnt/sysimage/sbin" (This will remove the entire contents of your existing "/boot", "/usr", "/etc", "/bin", "/lib", "/var", "/dev", "/boot", and "/sbin" directories, if you have installed any custom software or configurations in these directories IT WILL BE DESTROYED!)

INSTALL FEDORA CORE 3
reboot the computer
continue with the normal "Fedora Core 3" install
DO NOT AUTOPARTITION YOUR HARD DRIVES!!!!!!!
at the prompt to use "Autopartition" or "Manually partition with Disk Druid" CHOOSE DISK DRUID.....(Otherwise ALL data on your disks may be lost!!!!!!!)
Use the printout of your old "/etc/fstab" to assign partitions to mountpoints
Check the box to leave filesystems intact!!! (DO NOT FORMAT ANY PARTITION OR YOU WILL LOSE ALL OF THE DATA ON THAT PARTITION)

Continue with the installation normally.
CLEAN-UP. now you can copy any files that you saved during the "PRE-INSTALL" process from the "freespace" directory to the appropirate location.
(I don't want to sound like I am yelling by using CAPS, but I definately want to get your attention, and anyone else who might be reading this thread. They are important points, failure to understand and follow this procedure WILL result in partial or complete loss of your data.)

I make no claims as to the suitability of using this install process. You have been warned!!!

[johnd]

I guess one of the "morals" here is always create a separate /home partition so you can leave your data intact and wipe the OS (the same as having a d: drive in Windows). This works very well - just remember to go and delete all the hidden configuration files for the desktop, etc before installing so everything is clean -- but don't delete things like .mozilla where all your email might be!

[ThatGuy8402]

I have 5 partitions(good ol 200GB HD )
SWAP
/
/boot
/home
/media

So I should just be able to format my / and /boot parition and be ok (home and media are where my personal files are.)

Does the "Upgrade" option in the Anaconda setup not work? Or would this method be alot cleaner. Another thing is that after I burned my first FC3 cd, the autorun popped up and asked if I wanted to update packages, But im a little leary of not doing an actual "upgrade" or "clean install"

[taylor65]

I tar /home, do a fresh install, then restore /home while not restoring .gnome, .gnome2, .kde, directories. If you tar the /home directory, it retains user permissions. With this method, you have to re-create user accounts, however. Make sure you give them the same UIDs as before.