Listen Up Linux Mint 19: Major New Release

[Lazarus]

Mint 19 is available for public Beta testing from tomorrow, 4 June.

The intention is to release the finished version in about a month.

Those preferring to upgrade, rather than re-install, may have to wait a few weeks more if past performance is anything to go by.

 

[Lazarus]

Stable version now officially released.

Still awaiting 18.3 to 19 Upgrade path.

 

[Lazarus]

Upgrade path now available - Google is your friend.

Similar routine to previous in-situ Upgrades, but with a couple of extra checks and steps, most significant of which is installing and using "Timeshift" to create a system snapshot.

 

[Lazarus]

...... it's a long, long job.

Probably easier to do a fresh install, but then you'd still have to spend time adding back additional programmes, user data, user settings etc.

 

[Lazarus]

Hmm. Claimed to have correctly installed, but although it accepts the user id and password, it keeps cycling back to the log in screen.

Another upgrader has the same problem.

I've tried many potential workarounds, but without success.

I'll try a clean install in due course.

Currently restoring my Timeshift snapshot.

 

[Lazarus]

Timeshift snapshot also "worked" but now goes into the same login loop.

Downloaded fresh .iso now

Fortunately I am assiduous at backing up data, so no real problem here other than wasting some time.

My advice? Keep Mint 18 as it's supported for a good while yet but, if there is a perceived need to upgrade, do it with a clean install

 

[Lazarus]

Fresh .iso downloaded and Live USB created.

Will test and install tomorrow.

 

[Llew]

Timeshift snapshot also "worked" but now goes into the same login loop.

Downloaded fresh .iso now

Fortunately I am assiduous at backing up data, so no real problem here other than wasting some time.

My advice? Keep Mint 18 as it's supported for a good while yet but, if there is a perceived need to upgrade, do it with a clean install

Ta for the tip re the upgrade. 19 seems to be mostly cosmetic changes for the general user as far as I can tell.
I'll stay with Mint 18 for the time being, maybe try 19 in due course.

 

[Lazarus]

A fix has now been issued for the login loop, so Upgrade should now work.

 

[Lazarus]

Indeed, I'm giving it another go.

Nothing to lose, as I've got my Live USB stick as a backstop.

 

[Lazarus]

Issue still exists for me.

Now doing clean install.

 

[Lazarus]

Finished already!

Should have done this in the first instance

 

[Lazarus]

Crikey, it runs like greased lightning

 

[Lazarus]

Been using Mint 19 all day and I'm seriously impressed.

It's very fast, and very clean in appearance.

A joy to use.

 

[4wd]

Just had a go at mint 19, off a stick, first impression is fast, looks good, sharp fonts, good navigation etc. Everything worked fine off the usb. Just a comment about processor running a good notch hotter than on windows, but it's much, much better than on some of my earlier linux testings where fan noise and heat were a nuisance.

One quick question: downloaded some programs, did some user interface tweaks, imported bookmarks into FF etc etc, but all gone next time I booted from usb, probably normal but would have hoped that the whole setup could somehow got saved so as to continue using the usb for a while, did I miss a setting, or do one need a hd install ?

 

[4wd]

^^^ did some reading, so need to do an install from the boot usb stick to another usb stick. Any hints on how to do do that safely without interfering in any way with the laptop's internal hd's, did an aborted install test, could not see the new usb stick listed as possible target for install.

 

[Lazarus]

Can I ask why you don't want to make use of your Laptop's HDD? Dual-boot with your existing OS is easy to achieve.

Warranty, maybe?

 

[Lazarus]

I've found a couple of seemingly useful Topics

Full install to a USB flash drive [SOLVED] - Linux Mint Forums

and

Linux mint on USB for permanent use - Linux Mint Forums


Not read every word of them, but they look as if they'll point you in the right direction

 

[4wd]

Thanks for info, will read some more.

About dual boot, won't touch the setup on my main laptop as it's already a special setup + encryption, and needs to be 111% compatible and reliable with my disk imaging (backup) routines, not sure how that would react if there were even more partitions (+ linux) on the disks. I don't want to (nor need to) know :O)

Got several other machines I can use or experiments or fun, but the point here is to see how one particular laptop's hardware behaves vs linux, so usb stick install\boot is the goal for the reasons mentionned above.

 

[4wd]

Update, ditched the 'run from usb' plan, seemed like much work with uncertain results (may try again some rainy winter night), and went for dual boot on another laptop. All well.

Now, back to the samsung phone I swiftly turned into a paperweight by trying my 1st ever root experiment lol, will try to flash a stock rom and hopefully revive it (so I can destroy it again... :O)