How to upgrade from 2009 to 2010 on a dual boot system?

[AGove]

I have a dual boot system: PCLinuxOS 2009.2 and Windows XP Pro 64-bit. (If only there was a 64-bit PCLinuxOS!)

How best do I upgrade the PCLinuxOS to the latest 2010?

I don't need to preserve the configuration or files of my present PCLinuxOS, but I do need to keep the Windows OS exactly as it is.

[Old-Polack]

I have a dual boot system: PCLinuxOS 2009.2 and Windows XP Pro 64-bit. (If only there was a 64-bit PCLinuxOS!)

How best do I upgrade the PCLinuxOS to the latest 2010?

I don't need to preserve the configuration or files of my present PCLinuxOS, but I do need to keep the Windows OS exactly as it is.

The only way is to install 2010 from the .iso image, burned to a CD or from a USB pendrive as a liveUSB. There is no upgrading in the sense of just switching repos and upgrading through Synaptic.

It's also not a great idea reusing your /home/<you> from the old installation. You can back it up, then move some configs to the new /home/<you> as you need them, but the general layout of the new desktop is so different that conflicts are more problem than it's worth.

[AGove]

Okay, I ran 2010.1 as a live CD, and upgraded from that with no problems. Very good!

2 small points.

1) When I was asked whether to use the existing partitions, I would have been more reassured to have been asked whether to use the existing Linux partitions. The "existing partitions" option did in fact leave my Windows installation untouched.

2) I was told to remove the CD right away when that wasn't possible (running in live mode). I was told again later when it was appropriate, prior to first boot.

[Old-Polack]

Okay, I ran 2010.1 as a live CD, and upgraded from that with no problems. Very good!

2 small points.

1) When I was asked whether to use the existing partitions, I would have been more reassured to have been asked whether to use the existing Linux partitions. The "existing partitions" option did in fact leave my Windows installation untouched.

For future reference, I always use the Custom option, so I can select each individual partition, and also use the Advanced section, from that window, where format and partition labels can be individually selected; other options too.

2) I was told to remove the CD right away when that wasn't possible (running in live mode). I was told again later when it was appropriate, prior to first boot.

I don't recall seeing that one. Maybe you misread what was an instruction to reboot, and a reminder to remove the disk when asked. That one I see. The last step in a reboot, or shut down, is when the tray opens and a message appears, telling you to remove the disk, then press the Enter key, to close the tray and complete the cycle.

[Was_Just19]

I do hope you elected to FORMAT both partitions before the install ......  by default the /home partition is not ticked to be formatted, as I recall.

[AGove]

I do hope you elected to FORMAT both partitions before the install ......  by default the /home partition is not ticked to be formatted, as I recall.

I didn't tick anything. Why should I have done, at the time, in the absence of instructions?

[Was_Just19]

I do hope you elected to FORMAT both partitions before the install ......  by default the /home partition is not ticked to be formatted, as I recall.

I didn't tick anything. Why should I have done, at the time, in the absence of instructions?

To ensure there was nothing left over from a previous install to interfere with the new one.

[AGove]

I do hope you elected to FORMAT both partitions before the install ......  by default the /home partition is not ticked to be formatted, as I recall.

I didn't tick anything. Why should I have done, at the time, in the absence of instructions?

To ensure there was nothing left over from a previous install to interfere with the new one.

If it's important to format the partitions, why is the user asked simply whether to "use" the existing partitions?

[Old-Polack]

I do hope you elected to FORMAT both partitions before the install ......  by default the /home partition is not ticked to be formatted, as I recall.

I didn't tick anything. Why should I have done, at the time, in the absence of instructions?

To ensure there was nothing left over from a previous install to interfere with the new one.

If it's important to format the partitions, why is the user asked simply whether to "use" the existing partitions?

A partition and it's formatting are two separate items. You can keep a partition and either reformat it, or not. When reinstalling the same version of an OS it's acceptable and desirable to keep the /home partition and not format it. This is the norm, so also the default. When a different version of an OS is installed, where major changes have taken place, one normally backs up ones personal data, then formats the partition, to be sure there are no conflicting configuration files left from the older installation.

[Rudge]

It is a "courtesy" of Linux to ask that question. If you have a win partition, it will not format that part.

It is trying to be as courteous as is possible.