How should I back up my files and game saves before switching Linux distributions?
Asked by
MapleViolet42
I've been using Mint for a few months and would like to try a different Linux distribution. I'm not very experienced with backups, so I'm looking for a reliable way to preserve my personal files and restore them after reinstalling. I'm especially concerned about non-Steam game saves and want to know where they're usually stored and whether copying my home folder is enough. I'd also appreciate advice on saving important system settings and configuration files.
Answers
Start by backing up your entire home directory to an external drive. Most personal files, application settings, and many game saves are stored there. Non-Steam games can save data in different locations, such as hidden folders under your home directory, Documents, Saved Games, or a game-specific directory, so check each game’s documentation if you’re unsure. Some applications may also keep data outside your home directory, so look into those individually. Borg Backup is a good option for versioned backups, and Pika Backup provides a more beginner-friendly graphical interface.
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A home-directory backup will cover most user data, but it won’t necessarily include everything needed to reproduce the old installation. System-wide settings such as mount points, network configuration, Samba shares, and files under /etc may need to be saved separately. Creating a full image of the current system partition on an external disk is useful because you can inspect or recover forgotten files later. Don’t rely on a distribution-specific snapshot tool to restore an installation across unrelated distributions; use it as a reference or recovery image instead.
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Another option is to keep /home on its own partition when installing the new system. That can make future reinstalls easier because your personal files remain separate from the operating system. It still isn’t a complete backup, though: a disk failure would affect both partitions, so keep an additional copy on an external drive.
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If you mainly need a straightforward copy of your files, rsync works well and can preserve directory structure and permissions. There are graphical front ends if you’d rather avoid the command line. Back In Time can keep versioned copies, while LuckyBackup is a simpler choice for making and restoring a single copy. Whichever tool you use, make sure the backup is on a separate drive and verify that you can actually open a few files from it.
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MapleViolet42: Thanks, that helps. I’ll check each game separately instead of assuming every save is in the same place.