Anyway to do a refresh install instead of a complete wipe

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Hi. Previously I recall the ability to do a refresh install on Ubuntu everytime I attempt to restore myoperating system on my laptop. However I recently fired up the installation process only for the referesh install being nowhere in sight.

I’m trying to go down this route since lately I can’t get the snap store to recognize my yubikey despite my yubikey working with the terminal. It’s been an issue made worse that currently I have a few programs I need to install.

I opened a topic on this, but lately haven’t been getting the feedback on what to do for a couple days. I submitted a bug report, but got no reply lately so i’m trying to go down the installation route if need be.

Ubuntu snap store won't update(2 factor authentication won't work) - #15 by ogra

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I’m not sure what you mean by ‘refresh’ install as I have never seen that option in any Linux installer. Are you trying to do a new install or restore from a backup and if the latter, what software did you use for the backup?

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I’m merely trying to reinstall Ubuntu without removing the programs and data already on the drive.

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Starting point is what product & release you’re using, as if you provided it, I don’t see it.

I’ve written about the method I use here on another site; it’s on an old question, because I was asked by a moderator of that site to write what I do, and I felt that question fits.

It works with calamares & ubiquity installers all releases; and ubuntu-desktop-installer only up to 23.10 so it’s of no use to anyone there now anyway (a problem appeared late in the noble cycle with ubuntu-desktop-provision and a format was the chosen fix; thus why its not possible with 24.04 & later).

The normal approach in recent times is just to backup data, and then clean install (format & everything is perfectly clean!), then restore of data, as this has the benefit of no ‘crud’ being left behind.

I’ve also noted that since ‘format’ is now assumed; more ‘crud’ is left behind on my recent installs using calamares (which includes releases up to resolute or 26.04; I’ve not yet used it with stonking); but its still an option I personally value; having used it here on my primary desktop last year, and have used it on other installs this year.

FYI: I’m a desktop user, I wouldn’t use it for server installs though; as many server apps store configs in system directories.

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Bummer. I guess i’m stuck with a reinstall after all. My Ubuntu version is 26.04 LTS, though the reason why i’ve taken interest in reinstalling lies in me not being able to get the App Center working. It’s been a pain and i’n not sure where to go from here to fix it. As i’ve mentioned in another topic the App Center doesn’t recognize my Yubikey for some reason.

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Please bear in mind we are all volunteers here. Some may have more time to give than others.

How quickly a topic is answered also very much depends on the subject matter and whether or not anyone has direct experience/knowledge of the issue.

By the way, you are allowed to bump your topic once every 24 hours if nobody seems to be responding rather than opening a new topic.

If you are ever in doubt, please reach out to the moderators for guidance.

Thanks

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A refresh install may not be available with newer installers. Since your YubiKey works in the terminal, it sounds more like a Snap Store authentication issue than a broken system. I’d troubleshoot that first and only reinstall as a last resort after backing up your data.

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6 posts were split to a new topic: Reporting Snap Store problems