[QCLUG] APTonCD

[Robert Jones]

I found something that made reinstalling Ubuntu much easier. A lot of 
you probably already know about it but just in case someone may not I 
figured I would let you know.

I did something DUMB and I blew my Ubuntu 8.04 graphics and I couldn't 
get it back (it only had about a 600 x 400 resolution or something like 
that). Not nearly high enough to display correctly on my computer. What 
did I do that was so DUMB, you ask. I did something that I knew better 
because it had caused the same problem for me before. A couple of times 
in the past I tried to change the screen size in the “Administrator” 
mode. Each time it did the same thing. After I had installed and was 
using Crossover Linux I was having trouble getting my resolution to stay 
where I wanted it. It kept on resetting to the highest resolution when I 
started the computer.. So I thought, incorrectly so, that “Maybe This 
Time It Will Work From The Administrator Mode”. Ya, sure it will. DUMB. 
Anyway, I blew it and couldn't get it back.

The only part of reinstalling Ubuntu that is bad is going through the 
LONG list of programs and deciding which one to install. I thought I 
would give APTonCD a try. You can find APTonCD either using “Add/Remove 
Programs” or Synaptic. I found out that APTonCD is a really great program

When I ran it APTonCD gave me the options of putting the files on 4 CD's 
or 1 DVD. I chose the DVD. It then saved an .iso file with all the 
applications on it.After it completed building the file and saving it 
the next question was if I wanted to burn it now. Next it wanted to know 
which program to use to burn the DVD and I chose K3B which is the one I 
like best and then it jumped into K3B and away we went. Easy.

I transferred all the files that I didn't want to lose, just in case 
something went wrong, from /home to my “Data” disk and then I shut the 
computer down.

I did a new install from the Ubuntu disk without formatting my /home. 
When I restarted my computer I had it do all the updates to the original 
install. Next I ran the recover part of APTonCD. All it did was add the 
DVD to my sources for Synaptic. I launched Synaptic, turned off all the 
repositories except that DVD. Then I did a "Reload" which only loaded 
the files on the DVD.

As I was working my way though “selecting” all the files I found that by 
“selecting” “APTonCD-metapackage” it selected all the files that 
remained. So just scroll down to “APTonCD-metapackage” and double click 
it and save yourself some work. When I clicked on “Apply” it installed 
everything from the DVD. It worked great. In a very short time I had 
completely rebuilt my Ubuntu / Kubuntu system. Since I didn't format my 
/home folder, which was on a separate partition, I didn't even have to 
set things up again. Outstanding.

That's all there is to it. I am now a Very Happy Penguin :-)
Bob Jones

PS: The above was what I posted on my Blog, www.RM-Jones.com/adventure 
where I have been posting some "A Beginner Installing Ubuntu / Kubuntu 
8.04 Hardy Heron" articles telling about my learning cycle of trying to 
learn about Linux. It seems a lot of people are finding my Linux posts. 
Maybe some even like them, who knows :-)