Alright, I’ve switched from debian to linux mint (please don’t ask why). I downloaded the latest 21.3 Virginia ISO, installed it and everything worked just fine, but then I did “sudo apt update -y && sudo apt upgrade -y” and rebooted, it broke itself to the point the grub menu wasn’t even showing up on boot. I did a reinstall and this time, I upgraded using the inbuilt update manager, same thing. What can I do?
#Upgrade completely breakes system
still tendon
tranquil musk
never do -y
it is important that that flag ISN'T set so that you DO read and study exactly what packages it is attempting to install or remove.
same goes for update manager, u read and study each and every thing it lists out before hitting OK or PROCEED.
probably some dumb kernel upgrade or videodriver messed u up.
in which case, u may uncheck those from the list so they DONT upgrade. I guess for now reinstall it.
still tendon
ok thanks I'll try soon and I'll reach back to you as soon as I can, if my mint installation doesn't incinerate itself I'll try. I'll do a backup just in case
tranquil musk
yeah if u have any personal files, pics, notes export them to other media before reinstalling.
still tendon
Thank god this is not my main machine
tranquil musk
clean reinstall is recommended. Once it's up and running fine, and you've added a program or two, then you can do a Timeshift save. If things get super messed ever, u can boot back with the live USB ISO, and restore the timeshift save.
still tendon
alright it's asking me to update the Update Manager app, this shouldn't be breaking anything right? It's just a better frontend for Synaptic
tranquil musk
yep
still tendon
Is there a way to quickly make a list of all the packages i need to update?
tranquil musk
critical system upgrades that have the potential to really mess up are things like:
kernel (linux image) , Ubuntu core, Kernel headers, audio stuff like Pipewire or Pulse, video stuff like nvidia or other.
still tendon
Alright I've found an Xserver update, but that wouldn't explain grub not showing up on boot
tranquil musk
Is there a way to quickly make a list of all the packages i need to update?
im not sure tbh
still tendon
There's also Linux Firmware, maybe it's a driver issue? I'm on a Ryzen laptop (3700U) with Vega 10 graphics
tranquil musk
grub eh.. well do u have just one operating system? cuz if so, grub menu doesnt show up.
still tendon
just mint
tranquil musk
yeah it wont show typically.
still tendon
There's a kernel update
still tendon
yeah it wont show typically.
Sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn't, it happened with every distro, Ubuntu, Debian, Endeavour
tranquil musk
There's a kernel update
is this now on a fresh reinstall?
still tendon
is this now on a fresh reinstall?
Fresh, from yesterday
with some utilities and programs installed
And some steam games
tranquil musk
yeah set up Timeshift, if u haven't already. dont do anymore updating of anything until you do.
still tendon
Alright, I'll search up some sort of wiki and do that
tranquil musk
it's included.. just type Timeshift in the main menu. it does have a help menu i think
you can also type 'welcome' to see Mint welcome again, and it explains timeshift
still tendon
Ok!
I'm formatting a usb to put the backup on it
I'm using about 61 gigs and the usb thingy is 64 so I should be fine
tranquil musk
yep
if u have a very large hard drive, u can also make the Timeshift save to a folder there.
still tendon
Network Drives are fine?
tranquil musk
should be as well. if linux mint can easily get to them
still tendon
I even have a direct connection to a 2 tb nas via ethernet
Well,it should, it's a beginners distro after all
tranquil musk
yeah as long as the NAS appears in the Netowrk section of the file manager under Devices
still tendon
Um, It's not showing up in Timeshift, only physical drives
Well, it's not my main machine so losing data should be fine, it's just steam games and a funny wallpaper
still tendon
/home/usename/.steam
tranquil musk
Timeshift has option to EXCLUDE the home folder. This just keeps your main programs, and operating system health backed up.
still tendon
Yeah i know, but my NAS is not showing up