Re: new installation from /var/cache/apt/archives

["Craig Sampson" <craig@psi-aus.com>]

>New installation from /var/cache/apt/archives
>
>> May I do that ?
>>
>huh, what do you mean?

I think what is meant here is that if you have a (fairly 
massive) bunch of .deb files in your apt cache could you do a 
completely fresh install of debian using this cache as the 
source?

My guess would be no, probably not.  I think the best way to 
preserve your hard gotten downloads (hard gotten for those of 
us with modems) would be to apt-move the cache first so that it 
at least resembles a partial mirror.

There would, I assume, be at least a few missing files that an 
initial install would be looking for using this method as well.

Perhaps the best way of attacking the problem would be to do 
the base install from local media like a CD, then do an 
immediate upgrade using the files you've stored via apt-move 
from /var/cache/apt


Cheers,
Craig