[gentoo-user] Re: Transferring an existing install to new disk

[Harry Putnam]

Neil Bothwick <neil@××××××××××.uk> writes:

> On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:51:12 -0600, Harry Putnam wrote:
>
>> > So boot your existing Gentoo setup as usual, then follow the handbook
>> > to install on the new disk. You do not have to boot from a live CD to
>> > install Gentoo, and suitable working Linux environment will do the
>> > job, and an existing Gentoo installation is more than suitable.
>>
>> There still seems to be some misunderstanding.
>>
>> I want to build up a fresh install somewhere besides my existing
>> desktop OS (gentoo).  Leave the existing setup alone for now.
>
> Which is what a chroot install does.
>
>> Get the fresh install up to speed so it is a fresh and new
>> approximation of my desktop OS.
>
> Ditto.
>
>> And finally overwrite the desktop OS with the newly built one.
>
> Overwrite? Where does the new disk come into it then?

New as in new to the built up install.  Perhaps a better choice would
have been `different disk'
>
>> It sounds like what you are describing is just a new install using an
>> exiting gentoo os instead of install disk.
>>
>> But the result would be a new install with nothing setup... on the
>> desktop which is not what I want.
>
> Obviously, you would set everything up, but it would be made easier by
> the fact you are running on the target machine, and everything is in
> place. There's no copying entire systems over, just change the bootloader
> config when it's ready.

Ok, I see where your going here.... remove the notion of `new' disk.  
I don't have room for a new disk on the target machine, hence the idea
of overwriting.

But just talking about this much seems to indicate I'd be better off
braving up and trying to clean up my existing install.

Note a different thread where I've started on that mission:
 Subject: How to fix a hefty (emerge) blocking problem

To be posted shortly