My best experience of this is since I installed a second HD and kept my /home on that all the time. So, whenever I have to re-install (due to a new version or the occasional crash after I've tried to something complicated under root) my /home is left intact with all my data files and settings (I use ISO settings for date, time and money formats, a left handed mouse and other such minor things which are an irritant during a re-install if one hasn't got them saved somewhere) unchanged from the previous install. With HD drives running so cheaply now (around $20 - $30 for a new one of at least 40 GBy) I think this is an ideal solution : it has proved so to me anyway. BUT REMEMBER : during a fresh install make sure that you tell the install NOT to format that partition!!!! Croombe F. Pensom
