Migrate current wheezy system to new release

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Preparations

  1. Create folder with applicable sub-folders on server to store all current system information done
  2. Run 
    $ dpkg -l > packages

    to record all packages currently installed & copy to server. done

    3. dpkg command will be run again following new install. sdiff command against the two package list files will be used to separate out only the extra packages installed after the current initial install.

  3. Backup evolution & copy to server done
    • Backup Contacts
    • Backup Saved emails
    • Backup Connection information
  4. Backup GNUCash & copy to server done
  5. Copy linux-image 3.5.7.deb to server done
  6. Copy all .filename configuration files from home to server done
  7. Copy any personal files to server done
  8. Copy /etc/fstab to server done
  9. Copy /etc/network/interfaces to server done
  10. Copy /etc/apt/sources.list to serverdone

Bookmarks for both Iceweasel and Chrome Browser are stored in the cloud so no backup will be necessary

Installing New System

  1. Boot to Sid done
  2. In Gparted delete Wheezy partition and swap partition done
  3. Install new Wheezy from Disk done
  4. At grub menu, edit command line 
    i915.modeset=0

    then add line to \etc\default\grub & update-grub done

  5. Download and complile 3.7.0 kernel done
  6. Remove modeset command from grub and update-grub done
  7. Copy \etc\fstab from server & reboot done
  8. Copy \etc\network\interfaces from server done
  9. Configure Network-manager.conf for wired = unmanaged done
  10. Reboot done
  11. After install be sure to backup any files that will be replaced by the files stored on the server
  12. Run 
    $ dpkg -l > new_packages
  13. Run 
    $ sdiff -s -o extra_packages packages new_packages

    14. Prepare file extra_packages to us as an input file for the command 

    # cat extra-package | xargs apt-get install

    This should be a lengthy list