My experience: Update of my machine at work was flawless Update of my machine at home was a nightmare (both 8.0 -> 8.1) You might backup your data, try the upgrade, and if it works fine then you're all set. If it doesn't work properly or seem stable after the upgrade, then go ahead and do a fresh install. It may be that in the long run, it's quicker to do a fresh install than it is to upgrade, and then have to spend a bunch of time fixing and/or reinstalling stuff. However, if you've done a whole lot of customizing in your current install, trying an upgrade might be worth it. If your current install is pretty much "default", then as long as you save your data, a fresh install may be best. Kinda wishy-washy I know.....:) Good luck! Mike ----------------------------------------------------- Cleary_Mike@emc.com ----------------------------------------------------- Yesterday it worked. Today it is not working. Windows is like that. -----Original Message----- From: Kevin McLauchlan [mailto:kmclauchlan@chrysalis-its.com] Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 1:25 PM To: Suse Subject: [SLE] 8.0 to 8.1 Update/upgrade or install-as-new? All, In the early weeks after 8.1 was released, there seemed to be a rough consensus that it was safer to just do a fresh install, rather than to install as an upgrade/update. Some people said "Oh, I had no problem", but many people did report problems and I got the impression that I'd have lots less trouble if I just backed up my data and then installed 8.1 from scratch. I did so, including partitioning and formatting. My question: several months later, is it still more reliable to do "install as new"? Or would it now be just as reliable to perform an upgrade from the CDs and then immediately run YOU? My office laptop is still at 8.0 and I'd like to update it. Also, if there were things that never worked or never worked well from my 8.0 (like printing) am I better off doing a fresh install and hoping that the installer will be more capable this time? /kevin -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com