manual/source/D/upgrading.rst

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Appendix D Upgrading from previous releases
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With every release upgrade comes many changes across the entire landscape of packages. Naturally, an extremely large change like this can cause problems, so **we strongly recommend you back up your files**. Also, if your computer is one that runs on a battery (such as a laptop), please ensure that the power is connected, as it may take a while and unexpected power failures could be disastrous.

There are two methods of upgrading Lubuntu releases. The first is using the update manager a graphical user interface. The second involves the command line and is useful for server upgrades. Unfortunately with main Ubuntu dropping 32-bit upgrades, 32-bit upgrades after Lubuntu 18.04 are not supported.




Upgrading with GUI
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First, ensure your system is up-to-date by starting Software Updater and performing system updates:
    - This can be done by clicking the Menu (Alt + F1) :menuselection:`System Tools --> Software Updater`.
    - When prompted, click :guilabel:`Install Now`.
    - After the install is completed you may be prompted to reboot. If not, reboot manually.

.. image:: 02_up-to-date.png

If you're not on a LTS (Long Term Support) release, you may have to opt in for non LTS versions of Lubuntu.
    - Select the Updates -> Notify me of a new Ubuntu version -> For any new version, from Software and Updates.
    - Close the update manager, and you should be prompted to upgrade to the latest release.
    - Alternatively, you can start a terminal :kbd:`Ctrl + Alt + T` and type in the command
     
.. code::

   update-manager -d
   
   
The -d flag is referring to the fact that it's moving to an unsupported release (if you are on the LTS track, this is accurate).

.. image:: 03_development_release.png

Next, you will want to upgrade to the new release.
    - After rebooting, start the update manager.
    - This can be done by clicking the Menu (Alt + F1) -> Preferences -> Software and Updates.
    - You should be prompted to upgrade. Click upgrade.
    - Read the release notes. **This is important, in case there is information you need to know.**
    - Once the upgrade has completed, restart your machine.

.. image:: 04_release_available.png
.. image:: 05_release_notes.png


Upgrading with command line
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The first step will be to ensure your system is up to date. This can be done by entering the following command into the terminal. If prompted, enter your password.

.. code::

    sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y


Once the software upgrade has completed, you want to restart your pc. This can be done in a number of ways, however the following command is the simplest.

.. code::

    sudo reboot


The next thing you want to do is do the release upgrade. do-release-upgrade is the command line tool for upgrading Lubuntu installations. To run it, you need root privileges, which, from the command line means prefixing the command with sudo. Upgrades to a new operating system version can sometimes cause problems, so **always backup your files beforehand**. 

.. code::

    sudo do-release-upgrade

You may be prompted "No new release found", if so follow this step, else skip it. Go into software sources and change :guilabel:`Show new distrubtion releases` and select Normal releases.

After the installation, reboot into the newly upgraded system.