Replace Ultimate Edition with a different distro without losing settings

[gftd]

I'm new to Linux (just a few days), but I have successfully installed Ultimate Edition on a dual-boot (Vista) HP laptop with separate partitions for swap and home.

At this point I think I'd like to replace Ultimate Edition with a more vanilla Linux version, probably regular Ubuntu. This is not a criticism of UE--I just think that it might be easier for me to learn on a system that has fewer choices. I didn't realize what Ultimate Edition was until after I installed it.

Since I have home in a separate partition, I believe that it's possible to change to a different distro without losing my settings. Assuming that this is correct, can somebody provide or point me to step-by-step directions for accomplishing this? Search results on this topic haven't provided me with enough information to proceed with confidence.

Thanks in advance...

[TexasMike]

I'm new to Linux (just a few days), but I have successfully installed Ultimate Edition on a dual-boot (Vista) HP laptop with separate partitions for swap and home.

At this point I think I'd like to replace Ultimate Edition with a more vanilla Linux version, probably regular Ubuntu. This is not a criticism of Ultimate Edition--I just think that it might be easier for me to learn on a system that has fewer choices. I didn't realize what Ultimate Edition was until after I installed it.

Since I have home in a separate partition, I believe that it's possible to change to a different distro without losing my settings. Assuming that this is correct, can somebody provide or point me to step-by-step directions for accomplishing this? Search results on this topic haven't provided me with enough information to proceed with confidence.

Thanks in advance...

gftd,
What settings are you interested in saving? It would help to know just what you're trying to "save" as not all "settings" for the OS are located in your /home directory/partition. I would also need some specific information about your current configuration - ie. Is the system set up as a "Multi-Boot" system; what alternative storage area would you have available for storing a backup of your current /home directory/partition...

It would be a good idea to give your system specs and general configuration in a signature file that can be created in the User Control Panel option on this forum. That would make it easier for us to answer your questions or provide assistance with problems you may have.

[gftd]

Texas Mike,

Thanks for your quick reply.

I guess I'm interested in saving as many settings that I can, assuming that this will save me time configuring the new distro.

Current configuration--
Dual-boot with Vista--partition info (from GParted) is as follows:
/dev/sda1 ntfs (Vista) 82GB total, 39GB unused
/dev/sda2 extended 2GB
----/dev/sda5 linux-swap 2GB
/dev/sda3 ext4 mount point / 11.5GB total 1.5GB unused
/dev/sda4 ext4 mount point /home 16.7GB total 10GB unused

Second drive w/one Vista partition:
/dev/sdb1 ntfs 187GB total 92GB unused

Additional alternative storage areas: two other computers (One XP, one Windows 7); various 4GB USB flash drives; Terastation NAS with lots of space available.

gftd

[DarkChild]

Since you've already created a home partition I am thinking that your more looking along the lines of keep your partition file system, swap and home directory intact. If such is the case then, you are all good to go ahead a proceed with your new os installation. All you need to do is to select the partition that you've installed Ultimate Edition into and overwrite it with the new one. If such is not the case you need to specify otherwise!!

[cgrimm9]

I say have all the power in what you want to to try out thats the best thing about linux. just to give you a little advice. I would install virtual box. and try different distros on that. I pretty sure if you where to stay on linux. ulatamate edition. is what I like the best. again its ubuntu. just better visuals. I do like ubuntu netbook remix theme.