How to Migrate to a new PC

[Konstantin Svist]

Craig White wrote:
> On Wed, 2007-11-21 at 16:43 -0500, Gerry Doris wrote:
>   
>> I have a working FC6 system that is running on an old tired PC.  The FC6 
>> install has several non Fedora applications running on it and the 
>> standard applications have the normal modifications.  I now want to move 
>> to a new faster PC. 
>>
>> I loaded FC8 on the new PC and it worked without a problem so I know the 
>> new PC works with FC8.  I've configured the new PC hard drive with the 
>> same partitions as my FC6 PC.  However, the drives are much bigger on 
>> the new PC and are named differently.  For example, the old box has an 
>> hda and hdd but no hdb or hdc for some reason? 
>>     
> ----
> hda = primary ATA controller, master drive
> hdb = primary ATA controller, slave drive
> hdc = secondary ATA controller, master drive
> hdd = secondary ATA controller, slave drive
>
> new computer unlikely to have ATA drives...most are now SATA, new
> hardware, new designations.
>   

Actually, newer versions label all HDs as "sdX", no matter if they're 
PATA, SATA, USB, etc.


> F8 requires 'labels' on filesystems
> F8 uses sda/sdb/sdc, etc. even for ATA controller connected drives
> ----
>   
>> I really don't want to do a fresh install, load and then configure the 
>> applications from scratch.  Ideally, I'd like to copy the FC6 system to 
>> the new PC and then upgrade it to FC8.  I know it won't be clean but 
>> I've upgraded in the past and understand the process.  I'd also rather 
>> do the upgrade to FC8 on the new PC for a number of reasons.
>>     
> ----
> probably really complicating things...better to have a clean install,
> copy files that you need or even easier, create a new directory,
> i.e. /home/old-system and copy contents of old hard drives there and get
> what you need, when you need it
> ----
>   
>> What is the best way to do this?  Can I copy over the contents of the 
>> partitions and then try and modify the key files so it will boot?  I'd 
>> have to change grub.conf and fstab but what else would need to be 
>> modified.  If I can get the system to boot I'm confident I can make the 
>> other necessary changes .
>>     
> ----
> clean install suggestion is the best way to do this.
>
> Craig
>
>   


I'd also add that it's best to have a fresh install of the 
OS/applications and then copy over the old config files that you want to 
keep.
Copying the entire user's home directory is usually okay and should 
restore settings for all user-level programs. System-level programs 
usually keep their settings in /etc. Don't recommend copying old /etc 
over the new one, though.