FC6 i386 to FC7 x86_64

[Karl Larsen]

David Timms wrote:
> Javier Perez wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> How do I go from a FC6 i386 system to a FC7 x86_64 system without
>> data loss?
> I don't know if that is a ~supported or even possible thing to do. {and
> I have never tried it}.
> see eg:
> http://www.google.com/search?q=linux+fedora+upgrade+%22from+i386+to+x86_64%22 
>
> http://www.unicom.com/chrome/a/000651.html
>
>> I had to change the motherboard of my MythTV system. Given the fact
>> that x86_4 support was poor at the time I built it, I went i386 on
>> the install. Now it looks like x86_64 is better supported and I want
>> to move to a x86_64-only system.
>>
>> I was able to upgrade from FC6 to FC7 in another system using yum
>> only (I think my DVDwriter is toast, The FC7DVD came out a coaster).
>> Therefore I'd rather use the yum/rpm way to upgrade. Nevertheless
>> when I downloaded the x86_64 kernel, rpm refused to install/upgrade
>> my current kernel to that version.
> {There is a file under /etc that indicates the architecture {i cant 
> remember what it is}.}
>
> You are going to need to do a full install.
> Now, in terms of your data you need to ensure:
> - that you have multiple partitions
> - user data, downloads, recordings are not on the / partition.
> - take a copy of /etc {config/settings}, /boot, /root, and 
> /var{default location of mysql database storage} onto this other 
> partition.
> - rpm -qa>rpm-qa.my_cf6_system.txt {to a location that isn't going to 
> be formatted.}
> - rpm -qa --queryformat="%{NAME} ">package-to-install.txt
> This makes a space separated list of packages on your previous system, 
> that you can copy/paste into a yum install command after you have 
> installed the x86_64 system {limit is about 5 lines per command from 
> memory}.
>
> Network or hard disk install can be your friend if you have a wonky 
> dvd writer/reader. For hard disk method, you need to have a partition 
> that you wont be formatting during the install, and you place the dvd 
> iso image at the root of that partition {easiest}, and note the 
> partition name {~ /dev/sda6}.
>
> Then you can boot a boot.iso or rescuecd.iso cd image {or a few other 
> ways directly of your hard disk} for the x86_64 architecture. And 
> choose "hard disk" as the install method.
>
>> Is there a minimum set of  programs that I have to update together to
>> make the switch to x86_64?
> Its ~ the packages that yum remove kernel {no} would have you remove = 
> ~ everything.
>
> DaveT.
>
    For what it is worth, I had a flaky DVD RW and decided to replace 
it. Wall Mart has one for $35.00 that works fine. Made in China where 
else? It works fine with the Gnome software. Had it two weeks now :-)

Karl