I'm using Linux and have made a lot of mistakes that have led to a bloated system filled with unused packages. I'm considering starting fresh with a new install but I'm unsure about what I should keep before doing so. I know I need to save my .config folder and my zshrc file, but is there anything else important I should back up? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
Definitely a good reason to wipe your setup! Just be sure to back up everything you can't afford to lose, especially any crucial files in your home directory. It’s all about preserving what matters to you.
Personally, I back up my whole /home directory so I can pick and choose after the new install. I also snag a few important app directories from /etc like crontab and config files. Plus, if you're using BTRFS, the snapshots can be a lifesaver for anything you might miss later.
A simple trick is to avoid formatting your "/home" partition. This way, while your apps will disappear, your user data and settings will remain intact, as long as you keep the username and password the same. It's a safe method that works well with many Linux distros.
Make sure to back up your personal files first! Export your emails, save your bookmarks, and back up the contents of your Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders. Don't forget your Downloads folder too! If you have any code projects or Obsidian vaults, back those up as well before the reinstall.
If you’re unsure about what’s essential to keep, it’s usually best to back up everything. You can use a command like `tar ~/` to package everything into a backup and save it somewhere safe. Once you reinstall, you can selectively extract what you really need.
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