Linux Query about /home partition

krishnandu

krishnandu

Level F
Hey friends, Many people suggest to create / and /home parition differently, so that I can retain my settings and data after reinstall. But my query is say I did that...I mean I followed this method, and I've to re-install my OS. Now there is already /home paritition for previous installation....now if I choose only / and /swap, won't it create the /home parition inside / ?? So what's the use of creating /home parition differently..??
 
during installation u can choose existing partition (old /home) to mount as new /home ... without it u would have to do that later manually.
 
^ During the installation you can uncheck the format option so that its not formatted again.

Also only user files are stored in the /home folder so even after a new installation you can delete your new home folder mount /home to your previous home partition, no OS related files are stored so it won't cause any problem.
 
So if I uncheck format option won't it re-install the new files again..?? I mean then there will be both existing and new files...?? Isn't it..??

If that...then mounting deleting new /home and mounting existing /home seems better idea...
 
the only reason you should have a /home partition is that if your system that is 'root' partition where the linux install goes in gets screwed you can still have your personal data on your '/home' partition safe.
Besides that I don't think there is any other benefit of having a separate partition for /home :)
 
krishnandu said:
Hey friends, Many people suggest to create / and /home parition differently, so that I can retain my settings and data after reinstall. But my query is say I did that...I mean I followed this method, and I've to re-install my OS. Now there is already /home paritition for previous installation....now if I choose only / and /swap, won't it create the /home parition inside / ?? So what's the use of creating /home parition differently..??
Click to expand...

The installer will not create a home partition on the existing /home until and unless it is specified.
krishnandu said:
Ok...Thanks...That's what I wanted to know. So won't the existing data get erased na if I select it as /home partition...??
Click to expand...

By default ,I mean in most of the installer the format option is unchecked. So make sure it is cause if it is checked you will loose the data for sure.
krishnandu said:
So if I uncheck format option won't it re-install the new files again..?? I mean then there will be both existing and new files...?? Isn't it..??

If that...then mounting deleting new /home and mounting existing /home seems better idea...
Click to expand...

What ??

Just a word of advice. When you create a /home that is shared by different linux distros, it is always better to create different user name. Cause the config saved in the previous distro will conflict with the new one and the desktop and application settings will get haphazard. So its always better to save things under different user name .

Personally I don't like to have single home for many distro. I always create home under the / and don't use it to save data.
 
hmmm...looks like it's better to save data on an NTFS parition on multiple boot system...where I'll be using Windows, and 2 or 3 distros...but using a separate /home seems usefull on a linux box.

Thanks guys...I got the point..!! :D
 
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