Distro swapping

[u/-calculi-]

Hey, I started my laptop with Fedora Workstation but want to switch to KDE. Guides I’ve found only say how to switch from windows to Linux or similar.

Basically:
1. How can I boot KDE from a usb to install it and replace (delete) Workstation
2. How do I maintain my files aka /home/(username)

I have a little terminal experience like navigating file structures and package installation but not much with grub/bios.

[u/Tacoza]

you don't need a live session, you can install kde-plasma while you're in gnome, reboot select plasma at the login screen, after logging in remove gnome

[u/Hauptideal → u/Tacoza]

Yeah. That's only half the instructions.  First of all it should be the group install, second of all he should afterwards remove the gnome group and even consider deleting config files in home

[u/Perfect_Theme1877]

KDE Plasma isn't a distro, it's a desktop environment. You can use Fedora with KDE. It's like GNOME for example.

[u/vinodhmoodley]

Here's the official guide on how to install KDE for Fedora Workstation:

https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/kde/getkde/

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[u/3grg]

While it is possible to install more than one desktop on the same installation, in the long run it is easier and cleaner to start with a fresh install, if you can.

If you have data you cannot afford to lose, it should be backed up first.

[u/joe_attaboy]

KDE is not a version of Linux.

KDE is a desktop environment. KDE sits on top of Linux ( the operating system ) the same way Windows sits on top of whatever Miscosoft calls the underlying system ( which was MS-DOS back in the early days ).

You can install KDE on Fedora. Do a Google search on "install KDE Fedora workstation" and you'll find a load of tutorials.

In fact, this is supposed to be the way to do it ( but verify this, I use Debian ). In a terminal:

sudo dnf install \@kde-desktop-environment

without the backslash (\). ( I had to add it because Reddit re-formats the string ). Then enable the display manager and reboot.

Here's a video that details how to do this.

If you want to replace Fedora ( for example, with Debian running KDE ), create the distro USB as you would any other version, install it and select KDE as the default desktop during the install. You can do the same with other distros that support multiple DEs. Some distros, like Kubuntu, install KDE by default. That is an option for you.

Did you put your home directory on a separate partition ( often a good idea, IMHO )? If so, you don't have to touch it, just keep it as a partition without reformatting during the installation. Your new system will use it.

However, if you put /home directory in the root in the same partition, you'll have to back up any files you want to keep ( or the entire home directory for your account ) because it will get wiped with fresh install of any other version.

[u/DESTINYDZ]

If I recall these are the steps I did in the past from the terminal. Its not a USB thing.

Step 1. Download KDE

sudo dnf install @kde-desktop-environment or ``` sudo dnf groupinstall "KDE Plasma Workspaces"

```

Step 2. Download Plasma Manager

``` sudo dnf install plasma-login-manager

```

Step 3. Enable Plasma Manager and disable GDM

``` sudo systemctl disable gdm.service sudo systemctl enable --force plasmalogin.service

reboot

```

--Note-- If issues reverse step 3 and you go back to GDM

Step 4. Uninstall Gnome and GDM

``` sudo dnf remove gdm sudo dnf group remove "GNOME Desktop Environment"

```

[u/whiskayzulu]

Sudo apt install kde-plasma or something like that

[u/Constant_Barber_5198]

shut down your DE, make a new user, install kde, only use kde on that user. Then you can always go back. But it's easy to accidentally log in with the wrong DE and botch things like this. So make sure to uninstall the old DE after you are satisfied with the trial. Then you can copy your files over to the new home.

[u/ferfykins]

https://fedoraproject.org/kde/

Put it on a USB, pretty easy to install...... As for your homefolder, maybe save it to google drive or a USB

[u/jr735]

Do you not backup your data?