[Wylug-help] Backing up files...

[Jim Jackson]

On Tue, 12 Nov 2002, Dawn iverson wrote:

> Hi, probably a really stupid question but:
>
> I've just bought a new computer and want to install
> mandrake 9 on it. I have an older version on this
> computer. Before i do this, I want to back up all my
> files though. Last time I did this, I just copied
> files to a floppy and thought it would be ok. When i
> tried to put the floppy in again with the fresh
> installation, it said I didn't have permissions to
> access the files and I couldn't get at them!

With the new setup your UID has probably changed - the number used to
identify your username, it's in the  /etc/passwd file. It is always
sensible to keep the same UID's for your accounts across systems and
across installs - not sure how the wysiwyg/smart config tools help or
hinder this. I tend to edit the passwd file ! naughty though this is :-)

If you access the floppy as root you can get the files copy them and put
them back - they may not look as if they belong to you, use chown to
change ownership.

I just tar up and compress what I want to save and copy the file to some
other media, floppy/CD-RW/other comp on the network.

i.e. to save my home directory .......

   % cd ~
   % tar cfz . /tmp/home.tar.gz
   % mcopy /tmp/home.tar.gz a:
or % scp /tmp/home.tar.gz othercomp:/tmp/home.tar.gz

I usually extract the files into the tmp directory and copy across what I
want....

   % cd /tmp
   % mkdir me
   % cd me
   % tar xfz ../home.tar.gz

and then just copy across what is needed. AnOther option is to create a
sub directory in your new hoem directory.....

   % cd ~
   % mkdir from_old_computer
   % cd from_old_computer
   % tar xfz /tmp/home.tar.gz

hope that gives you some pointers.



>
> How can I backup essential stuff without this problem?
> I can network the two computers together if that's
> easier, as i have a spare hard drive on the new one..
>
> Any ideas anyone?
>
> Thanks
> dawn
>
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