Basic question

[oldbiddie]

After moving from M1 to M2 too early with quite a few ( solved ) problems, I thought I would wait to try m3 . I have been sitting on the M3DVD for some time and tried today to upgrade. I got into troubles with errors messages and pages of 'explanations'. So I am back to 2. My question is: should I go to M4 or try to do a clean install of M3. I don't want to loose everything and this laptop is my only one and I only run Mageia.
You have guessed, I am just a user with little knowledge. I prefer to buy the DVDs for I have found it much simpler not having a very fast connection. (Osdisc).
I don't spend all my time behind my laptop either. Perhaps I should be using Windows but I don't like the idea.

[benmc]

good morning,

just a couple of things. Release timetable : https://www.mageia.org/en/support/
M3 has about 8 months support remaining, M4 about 18 months.
M4 comes with " non free " driver support as part of the package so if your laptop has wireless built in or Nvidia graphics there " should " be none of the usual post install issues.

IIRC upgrading from M1 to M2 was straight forward as they they use the same file structure.
M3 introduced a new file structure that sometimes could cause quite a few error messages and pages of 'explanations' when upgrading from M2 to M3.
You could try to rerun the upgrade you have just done 2 or 3 times and see if that improves things.
Or, if you have a separate /home partition, you should be able to do a " mostly " clean M3 or M4 install, just don't format your home partition.
you will of course have to do the post install housekeeping - repositories / updates / favourite programs / etc

Back up any important data before starting - but you already know this.

cheers

[oldbiddie]

OK, thanks. I'll try again and see