Transfer to New Computer

[Matt Graham]

From: Carlton Brooks <linux at carltonbrooks.net>
> I have just purchased a new hard drive and would like to transfer my 
> entire Ubuntu 7.1 setup and data, etc to the new drive.
> What presteps do I need to do to the new drive to prepare it, then how 
> do I copy the files?

0. plug new disk in to temporary new location.
1. partition new disk appropriately.
   1a.  Create LVM PVs, VGs, and LVs if using LVM.
2. mke2fs -j (or mkreiserfs or mkfs.xfs or ...) on partitions or LVs.
3. mount partitions/LVs somewhere like /mnt/other/ .
4. From / , /var , /usr , /home , and other partitions you had on 
   your initial setup, "cp -ax * /mnt/other/$WHATEVER" .  Don't forget
   to copy over /dev and make sure that /mnt/other/sys/ and /mnt/other/proc/
   get mkdir'ed.
5. Edit /mnt/other/etc/fstab if you're changing things.  If you're moving
   from an IDE disk to a SATA disk, you must change things.
6. Shutdown.  Unplug new disk, plug new disk into permanent new location.
7. Boot from rescue CD.
8. grub
grub> root(hdX,Y) # replace with numbers of your new /boot
grub> setup(hdX)  # X is probably 0
grub> quit        # done
   ...LILO is Your Problem if you're still using it for some reason.
9. reboot without rescue CD.  It should Just Work.  It did when I did this,
   but then I've been doing this for a long time.

> Then unlike windows, if I plug it in will it work as the same old drive?

What, precisely, did you mean here?  ("It" is a vague pronoun reference.)
Oh well, HTH anyway,