Fresh install from alternate CD

[Donn]

> I know a fresh install from the Live CD will reformat my / partition, but
> is there a way to install the system from the alternate CD without messing
> up ~, /opt, and /usr/local which are on the same partition?
I know how you feel. I too dread upgrades. As of now, in 5 years of Linux, I 
have never managed to upgrade from X to Y once without a lot of pain. In the 
end I have decided to simply erase and rewind.

That said, perhaps rsync can be your friend. Keep home on another partition. 
Copy /opt there. Copy /usr/local there too. Wipe and install anew, then rsync 
those directories back. It *should* be able to insert only the files that are 
*not* there now (i.e. the new install's files). After that you can make spot 
changes to config files that did not copy across once you understand the new 
formats (if they have changed at all).

Perhaps this will create new problems, but on the whole it should work.

HTH
/d