Ubuntu SOS

Today I am going to go over a method of getting all your applications back before you go ahead and reinstall/format. It is not an application itself, its just a command entered into the terminal. Im sure everyone has reinstalled their Ubuntu desktop before and had to do some hard thinking to get everything back. Open a terminal by clicking on the Gnome menu > Accessories > Terminal. This command bellow creates an output file in the present working directory called installed software.

Enter this command in the Terminal as I have bellow.

dpkg --get-selections > installed-software


For me the file that was created will be located in my home directory. Put this file somewhere safe because you will need it to restore the packages on a new installation!



Restoring

Lets say you reinstalled your system and now want all your Applications back. Copy the installed-software file to your new system home folder VIA a USB key or external HD of some kind. Open a Terminal and type this command when the installed software file is in the present working directory (ie...Home). You can edit the list to add or remove selected packages too.

dpkg --set-selections < installed-software

When its done, follow it with;

apt-get dselect-upgrade