Re: Let's have a vote!
On Mon, 29 Sep 2014 11:45:13 -0400
Stephen Allen <marathon.durandal@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 11:29:22AM -0400, Steve Litt wrote:
> > On Sun, 28 Sep 2014 23:50:45 +1300
> > Chris Bannister <cbannister@slingshot.co.nz> wrote:
> >
> > > On Sat, Sep 27, 2014 at 09:49:10PM -0400, Steve Litt wrote:
> > > > On Sat, 27 Sep 2014 18:32:38 -0400
> >
> > > > Yes. I'm a huge believer in wiping and reinstalling major
> > > > versions. It's like spring cleaning, and I eliminate ghosts of
> > > > operating systems past.
> > >
> > > And then there's the rest of us who run Debian precisely because
> > > you don't have to reinstall. It's great because you only ever
> > > need to install once.
> >
> > Hi Chris,
> >
> > I assume that implicit in your reply is that such a major version
> > upgrade works well, and that over the years you don't get all sorts
> > of accumulated software dust bunnies doing funny things to you.
> >
> > How many others here have experiences like Chris'? My opinions are
> > based on Windows, Mandrake and Mandriva. By the time I got to
> > Ubuntu in 2007 (and Debian in 2013), I was solidly in the habit of
> > reinstalls and never tried a major version upgrade on Ubuntu or
> > Debian.
> >
> > I just advised another poster to reinstall from scratch, so perhaps
> > it would be good to see how many succeeded, and how many failed, by
> > upgrading past major versions.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > SteveT
>
> I've one box that I've upgraded from Potato. My newer servers have
> been upgraded in place. No fresh installs - that's why I use Debian on
> servers. Quite frankly if you're used to Mandrake/Mandriva then you're
> excused I suppose for thinking one should do a clean install - that
> distro was never very solid, and they usually released each 6 months
> or so.
I hereby downgrade my advice of fresh-installing, from essential advice,
to a Steve Litt quirk. At least eight people on this list have had great
success upgrading through multiple major versions. My habit to fresh
install major versions was developed while using DOS, Win9x, and
Mandrake/Mandriva, and it made a lot of sense in all three of those.
But not in Debian.
Me, I'm personally going to continue fresh installing, because I enjoy
the spring-cleaning aspect of it, and the fact that I'm starting my
new version from a known state. But I'm now aware this is a Steve Litt
quirk, not solid advice for the masses. Thanks to everyone for the info.
SteveT
Steve Litt * http://www.troubleshooters.com/
Troubleshooting Training * Human Performance
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