Upgrade or reinstall

[Scott (angrykeyboarder)]

Don Freeman spake thusly:
> I currently have Ubuntu 5.11 installed on a dual boot PC with win Xp. I'd
> like to upgrade to the newest ver 7.1. The Linux files can be blown away but
> the windows cannot. Last time I tried a reinstall I messed up the MBR and
> had to repartition and reformat. CAn someonetell me how to get to where I
> want to go without messing up my windows setup?

Assuming your setup is like mine and you've installed GRUB to your MBR
already, a new install of Ubuntu shouldn't change that. I've done this
many times with no trouble.

You will reformatting your old Ubuntu partition(s) during the install so
you will lose all data (the Windows partition(s) aren't' affected) so
you'll want to back up your home directories first.

I've done this with the live CD.

You might also want to just use GParted on the Live CD to erase your old
Ubuntu partitions first (I've done that too, in fact now that I think
about it, that's usually the route I take.).

I find the partitioner on the alternate CD a bear to deal with so I
don't use it.  In the past when it was the only option, I'd have the
partitions free already.

As far as upgrading is concerned, I'd advise against it. I advise
against it in any circumstances, but in this case your upgrade would be
unsupported. Ubuntu only supports upgrades from the previous version to
the current version (i.e. 7.06 to 7.10 in this case).

-- 
            Scott
http://angrykeyboarder.com
I've never used an OS I didn't (dis)like.
©2007 angrykeyboarder™ & Elmer Fudd. All Wites Wesewved