Re-install Ubuntu without losing data in home folder

Ever since Hardy (Ubuntu 8.04) you can reinstall Ubuntu without losing data in /home even without a separate /home partition.

See

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HomeFolder

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuReinstallation

Preserving home when reinstalling Ubuntu

Since Hardy, Ubuntu can be reinstalled while preserving home even without separate /home: see UbuntuReinstallation.

Few people know it, but since Hardy it's possible to reinstall Ubuntu without losing the content of the /home folder (which contains program settings, internet bookmarks, emails... and all the documents, music, videos that you have put in it). Even if /home is not on a separate partition

Of course, you should always have a backup of your data.

If you have a dedicated partition for /home:

• launch the installer
• when it comes to the choice of disk and partitions, choose "other" and then, manually select the partition for / and /home; check that the installer will format only the / partition, and not the /home

If you have only one partition:

• launch the live cd, select "try Ubuntu"; if you have an old pc, you may try xubuntu instead of ubuntu
• once on the desktop, use the file manager to browse your home directory, display hidden files, select all and copy all on a usb key
• when the installation is finished, you can copy again the files in your /home before restarting