Hi
New to forum and looking for help - have a new printer which doesnt seem to want to install. Know very little about linux and in past used Macles but this is now closed.
Am willing to switch from Linpus lite to Peppermint but want to know what i need to do to back up emails on Thunderbird (2) and bookmarks etc in Firefox (12) all the rest i can copy to a hard drive.
Use it for surfing and email , need to be able to print also currently have open office - would like to have retain current “features” e.g Skype etc
All advice & help greatly appreciated.
Nigel
Hi 16fairfield, and welcome to the forum 
Can you open a terminal, and run:
ls -a ~/
then post the output back here.
For clarity … that’s a lower case L, not a 1
[user@localhost ~]$ ls -a ~/
. .llk_linux
… .local
.ACS .macromedia
addon-3366-latest .Mahjong
.adobe .mailcap
adobereader.sh .mcop
.AME .mime.types
.anthy .mozilla
.appdata mozilla.ps
AST .doc .mplayer
.azureus Music
.bash_history OOO310_m19_native_packed-1_en-US.9420
.bash_logout OOO320_m12_native_packed-1_en-GB.9483
.bash_profile OOO320_m18_native_packed-1_en-GB.9502
.bashrc OOo_3.2.1_Linux_x86_install-rpm_en-GB
.BShooter .openoffice.org
.BSnooker .openoffice.org2.0
.ButterFlight .optsdksettings
.cache Pictures
.Checkers .PIMDS
.chewing Plot 3 Checklist SAP.pdf
.config Plot 3 OCEPC(869557).pdf
.cups Plot 3 Regs Analysis.pdf
DataCardGKU pottypaintbrush.pdf
.dbus .pulse
.DCOPserver_localhost__0 .pulse-cookie
.DCOPserver_localhost_:0 .purple
Desktop .pychess
Documents .pychessconf
donny.pdf pychess-read-only
Downloads .qt
.emerald .recently-used
.esd_auth .recently-used.xbel
.fbhighlevelshistory .scim
.fbrc .Skype
file: .subversion
firefox-4.0.tar.bz2 .supertux
flash-plugin-10.1.53.64-release.i386.rpm Templates
.fontconfig .themes
Footpath Objection.docx .thumbnails
.fullcircle .thunderbird
.galculator thunderbird-3.1.17.tar.bz2
.gcjwebplugin thunderbird-9.0.1.tar
.gconf thunderbird-9.0.1.tar.bz2
.gconfd thunderbird-9.0.1.tar.bz2.1
General - March 2011.docx thunderbird-logo.png
.gnome thunderbird-logo.png.1
.gnome2 thunderbird-logo.png.2
.gnome2_private .Trash
.gstreamer-0.10 .Trash-500
.gsynaptics .tuxpuckrc
.gtk-bookmarks .ucview
.gtkrc-2.0 .unicap
.helix .update-notifier
householdinventoryform.doc usr
hs_err_pid20306.log .VBalley
.ICEauthority .vidaim
.icons Videos
IMG00016-20110508-1140.jpg .viminfo
IMG00369-20110420-1002.jpg wget-log
Inventory_Form.doc wget-log.1
.kde .wh…wh.aufs
.lgames .wh…wh.plink
libstdc+±4.3.2-7.i386.rpm .XHkeys
Do you know how to navigate to your users home directory ?
(the directory that contain the Documents, and Downloads directories)
If so, go there and hit Ctrl+H (to display hidden files/folders) … does a bunch more files/directories get displayed that all start with a “.”, including .mozilla and .thunderbird ?
If not … open a terminal, and run:
thunar ~
did your /home/user directory open in the file manager ?
hi
i have an xfce desktop and can get to file manager with that and in “home” there are .thunderbird and .mozilla folders
what do i need to look for
Nothing … those contain the user settings and databases for Firefox (.mozilla) and Thunderbird (.thunderbird)
Here’s what I’d do …
Backup the .mozilla and .thunderbird directories, along with anything else you want/need.
Then before installing Peppermint to the HDD, create a Peppermint LiveUSB (you’ll need one anyway to install it) with persistence … then boot to it and select “Try Peppermint” … then copy the .mozilla and .thunderbird directories to the home directory of the LiveUSB … once you’ve done that, install Firefox and Thunderbird on the LiveUSB … then check it can see the mail, bookmarks etc.
If that works … THEN you can install Peppermint to the HDD, copy the .mozilla and thunderbird directories from the backup to the HDD … the install Firefox and Thunderbird.
Get what I mean ? … test it on the LiveUSB first.
but be SURE to keep the backup somewhere other than the LiveUSB too … just because you install something on the LiveUSB does NOT men it will be installed during the installation … so you NEED to keep a copy of those directories elsewhere too.
If you have any questions … ask them FIRST
[EDIT]
If you’d prefer to do this one step at a time, let me know.
many thanks it all seems pretty clear I have a large ext drive and a 4gb flash drive
can i create the usb on this netbook or do i need to use a PC?
I will wait until the kids have gone to bed before trying !
I know of no (easy) way of creating a LiveUSB with persistence in Linpus Lite (in Peppermint yes, but not Linpus) … so you really need a Windows PC, or a PC with a more recent Linux distribution.
Be sure to backup those 2 directories including contents (and anything else you may want) to your external drive.
(sorry if that’s stating the obvious, but better safe, and all that 
)
indeed, you can unhide everything in your home directory and back up it ALL for now if you have room … and if you wish … but be SURE to get the hidden directories too.
anything thats name starts with a “.” is hidden by default.
In response to your DM do i follow the how to install Peppermint 2 topic that is just down from this ? or is it PP 3 now? have not looked all way through the tutorial
Nope … Peppermint 3 isn’t out yet, it’s coming soon though (end of this month or early next) … so up to you if you want to wait.
Peppermint 2 wlll still be supported for a while yet though, so at the very least it will give you some installation practice … and me some time to test Peppermint 3 and to work out any little issues (if any) on the ZG5 when it is released.
If you decide to download it directly from the PeppermintOS website … be sure to get the 32bit version, NOT the 64bit version … the Intel Atom CPU in the AA1 is 32bit.
So yeh … just follow the instructions to create a Peppermint 2 LiveUSB as in the first posting here:
http://linuxforums.org.uk/index.php?topic=9782.0
at the moment, we’ll be making NO changes to the HDD … and just testing the email/bookmarks on the LiveUSB
Once the LiveUSB is created and you boot to it, be SURE not to select “Install Pepermint” yet … select “Try Peppermint” instead
hi
am now putting the copied files onto the usb do i install firefox and thunderbird on the usb and also how the software manager option does not seem to work ?
apologies if a stupid question
also there was no try option only start - which i went for
have now got on usb followed tutorial but neither will run although usb lights up but the pre- installed chrome does
help!
The following should be done whilst booted to Peppermint on the LiveUSB with persistence.
Copy (not move … ie. keep a copy on the backup drive) the .mozilla and .thunderbird directories from your backup to the home folder whilst booted to the LiveUSB. ← MUST be done BEFORE installing Firefox and Thunderbird.
Then as long as you’ve got an active internet connection whilst booted to the LiveUSB, open a terminal and run:
sudo apt-get update
then
sudo apt-get install firefox thunderbird
BTW, don’t draw any conclusions about the speed of Peppermint from a LiveUSB, it will be MUCH faster when installed properly to the HDD
Hi
Have done as above - the versions installed were the latest ones - and tried to run - nothing happens other than the flashdrive lights up when try to run - have left for 15 minutes nothing is running - Chrome runs in seconds
any thoughts
have just noticed that the .M & .T folders are in home/peppermint should they be in home/ ? if so is do i need to recreate the USB and start again?
No … they are in the right place (/home/peppermint) as the LiveUSB default username is peppermint … but it may be a permission or file ownership issue.
Can you send the output from:
ls -l ~/.thunderbird
and
ls -l ~/.mozilla
Hi
have been out all day - redid pendrive etc still same issue - when first started Thunderbird it checked for compat of add ons then stopped
total 16
-rw-r–r-- 1 peppermint peppermint 335 2009-04-06 11:04 appreg
drwxr-xr-x 4 peppermint peppermint 4096 2012-05-30 19:13 Crash Reports
drwxr-xr-x 11 peppermint peppermint 4096 2012-05-30 19:14 h0uqjvet.default
-rw-r–r-- 1 peppermint peppermint 94 2009-04-06 11:04 profiles.ini
total 20
-rw-r–r-- 1 peppermint peppermint 335 2009-04-06 11:04 appreg
drwxr-xr-x 4 peppermint peppermint 4096 2012-05-30 19:25 extensions
drwxr-xr-x 4 peppermint peppermint 4096 2012-05-30 19:25 firefox
-rw-r–r-- 1 peppermint peppermint 1271 2012-05-29 11:12 pluginreg.dat
drwxr-xr-x 2 peppermint peppermint 4096 2012-05-30 19:25 plugins
hope these help
OK, just in case it’s a plugin issue, try this … open a terminal and run:
thunderbird -safe-mode
when a dialog box opens, tick
Disable all add-ons
and
Reset toolbars and controls
Then click the “Continue in safe mode” button … does Tbird start now ?
if not, what is being displayed in the terminal ?
===========
Can I ask a question … did you install Thunderbird and Firefox and attempt to run them BEFORE copying those directories to the LiveUSB’s home directory ?
or did you copy the directories THEN install Thunderbird and Firefox ?
it works !!
and migration asst comes up - can see files behind - have not done anything
you can do the same with firefox
firefox -safe-mode
If I were you I’d try removing all the add-ons whilst in safe mode … then seeing if it will open normally
Once you’re happy, and you’re sure you can access the emails, bookmarks, etc. (so this procedure has proven itself to work)… make sure they are still on the backup drive (because they won’t get copied from the LiveUSB during an installation of Peppermint) … then maybe you’d like to consider a proper installation, overwriting Linpus Lite … then do this again from the backup to the proper installation.
But for now, you can just have a play with Peppermint if you wish.
be careful … any emails you download on the LiveUSB obviously wont be on the other backup
And don’t expect Peppermint to be as quick or as stable from a LiveUSB as a proper installation will be.
This was just a test after all
Hi
firefox also works in safe mode and bookmarks etc are all there
how do i remove addons? the manager is offering updates which seems pointless with the usb
i like the look of Peppermint and am happy to fully install - presumably i follow the tutorial
i do not understand this from below
. then maybe you’d like to consider a proper installation, overwriting Linpus Lite … then do this again from the backup to the proper installation.
You may not need to disable the broken add-ons … what happens if you now close Thunderbird and Firefox, and try opening them with:
thunderbird
and
firefox
it may have disabled the broken ones itself.
YES, you’d just follow the tutorial … EXCEPT … you’d copy those 2 directories from the backup to the home directory between stages 4 and 5 of the tutorial … or any time after installing Peppermint, but BEFORE stage 8 (where thunderbird and firefox get installed)
i do not understand this from below
. then maybe you’d like to consider a proper installation, overwriting Linpus Lite … then do this again from the backup to the proper installation.
I just meant that if you’re happy the method for transfering the emails and bookmarks works … you may want to consider installing Peppermint to the HDD now.
But I also was trying to make you aware that if you nw use this LiveUSB for installation … don’t expect the changes you’ve made on the LiveUSB to be transfered across … ie. if you use the Peppermint LiveUSB you have now as the installation medium, firefox and thunderbird will NOT be installed automaticlly, nor willl the contents of the home directory on the LiveUSB.
The LiveUSB will behave as though you hadn’t made any changes at all … do you understand what I mean ?
so make sure you STILL have those directories backed up on your external drive … you will need to copy them across AFTER the installation again.
I also wanted to be SURE you understand that installing Peppermint is going to wipe the HDD, so you’ll loose anything you haven’t backed up.
I tend to err on the side of caution