Copied system partitions to USB disk, how to proceed to make a clone?

[Bo Berglund]

This is a continuation of the earlier discussion with subject:
"Getting new hardware - can I just move the disk?"

I have a working Ubuntu 18.04 server system ready for dist-upgrade
The hardware is 11 years old and needs an update to new PC...


This is what I have done so far:
--------------------------------
- I created a GParted Live CD which I can boot from, then

- I restructured the disk so that it now contains 3 partitions:
  sda1:  30 GB (used: 14 GB)  system
  sda4: 170 Gb (used: 2 GB)   data
  sda3: 264 GB (used: 158 GB) home (I moved home so it uses this)
  sda2: extended 1.8 GB
    sda5 1.8 GB linux-swap

- I have used GParted to copy partitions sda1-4-3 to a new 1TB USB drive
  (So linux-swap is not copied)

- /etc/fstab uses UUID to set drive mounts and I believe that
  GParted does not alter the UUID of the copied partitions so
  they should mount the correct way if Ubuntu starts off these.

- I have bought a new PC to move the system to:
    Lenovo IdeaCentre 3 07ADA05 Model 90MV
    - 512 GB SSD NVM Express (NVMe) PCI Express
    - 16 GB RAM
    - CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U 4 cores 2.1 GHz
    - Graphics: AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (not useful for a server)
    - Windows 10 Home

- I have managed to switch off the secure boot so it allows booting
  from USB (even though it is a pretty awkward procedure).

- I have made a GParted live USB as well, which I will use to
  modify the hard drive of the PC, which lacks a CD/DVD drive.

Moving on:
----------
So now I would like to get expert advice as to how I should proceed to transfer
my Ubuntu 18.04 server system to the new hardware.

I believe I should start by booting off the GParted Live USB on the new PC and
connect the 1TB USB drive to the it so GParted sees both the internal 500GB
drive and the 1TB USB drive.

Then I am unsure what to do, and in what sequence...
I think I should start by getting rid of Windows 10 and then copy in the
partitions I copied from the original Ubuntu server, but will it boot then?

I know nothing about how to get Ubuntu to boot...

Or is it better to boot an Ubuntu 18 or 20 live USB and then use the shortcut
to install Ubuntu on the PC, just to make Ubuntu handle the initial steps of
erasing Windows and setting up boot properly.

And only when that works replace the partitions created by the install with the
ones from my source system?

Help appreciated.


-- 
Bo Berglund
Developer in Sweden