Just a minute, you've misinterpreted the thread.
I've done a dist-upgrade on a debian OS to change from Wheezy to Jessie. However, this has caused problems which I need to sort out.

With this thread, I simply want to install a NEW Jessie OS onto a new partition. This should not result in having the same problems I'm experiencing with the dist-upgrade.

yes but as many have warned me from that same idea, is:
that the .x files may confict between two seperate OS's using the same /home with different window managers/desk tops. you could experiment with it, just keep back up files of all of your .x files denoting which os they belong to, so you can try and keep things stright, to help with this you also could keep a little bit of hard drive set aside to use for a home partition for one of the OS's then set that up later if things do not work out.

that is using a same user name senerio.

when you are partitioning out your hard drive split up like this

if it does not work out then you can use something as simple as Gparted to create a partition then mount it as a home partiton for one of your OS's within your fstab, of that OS then link it to that system, which will require another help post or google it first it is on the net how to do this....

a different senerio could be:
having the same /home partition. two or more OS's using that same /home partition but using a different user name for each OS that uses this same /home partition. that would keep things seperated, but if you need to go into a different user to get something you have to go su to get into that other users home directory to have read write permissions, then change it up owner and user permissions and such if you copy anything from that user into the current user home dir.

I have not tried this personally but in theory it can be done.

I have done this using two seperate /homes off the same hard drive of two seperate OS installs, (dual boot). going into the others user home directory to get stuff and copy it into my current user home directory.

If you can mount it, and you can get to it using root permissions then do can to it what you will.

Does the separate partition that you want to use already exist? If this is a yes then the answer to this
is yes

this depends on what partition that the files grub in the mbr uses are located on in relationship to the partition/new partition you are wanting to use for the new installation. Using the set command at the grub command prompt will tell what partition mbr grub is tied to.

partioning for two OS's one home directoy two seperate users (names) one different one for each (linux) OS. if you are dual booting Windows and one linux then this does not matter.

senerio 1
this way you can install two OS's and try it out if it does not work then complete partiton of /dev/sda6 and use it for a /home for one of your other OS's it doesn't matter which.

senerio 2 : would be the same thing only using the same user name for both OS's

completely expermental use at your own risk

I'd do it just to check it out, but you too can install VBox afterwards then just go crazy with it that way, first.

Whats is so great about void ??? do u recommend it ??

yes -- it is a os only, you get to install only what it is you want on your Linux, it is not that hard to maintain. installs rather fast, they have a good size repo, I've only found that I've had to install some items from source, which is fine, it's Linux.

they have quite a few different setups to pick from and you can customize your own if you want to. meaning just install Void without Xorg and go from there , this too is easly done.

VBox it without the desktop for an install or if you want to look at the desktop then use that, but I have not bothered to figure out how switch the client to a different tty to get into their install off the iso with a DeskTOp in VirtualBox..

because that is how you do it on a normal install of you want to install to your hard drive with a desktop already configured to the OS.

of course you can install a different WM / Desktop afterwards as well. they have a nice selection to pick from.


it has its own init system not sysV or sysD

completely orginal Linux Distro

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So a /home partition is really for the use of only one OS? With so many distros, and so many options to customise your setup, you'd think a partitioned /home directory should be more easily accessible. Just like grub is easily accessible to linux distros.

But maybe that's because a seperate /home partition is for people who change their root directory frequently and want the home directory unchanged. Normal users wouldn't be in that position.

I currently have 4 logical partitions where I store personal files. If the file is important, I simply move it from the home directory to one of these logical partitions.
So I suppose these 4 partitions can be called 'home directories'. On top of that, these partitions can be mounted by any linux distro.

So if an OS dies, I'll not have lost much cos my home directory should be pretty slim.
Your post has reminded me that I need to create a flexible partition layout for the whole hdd before I install a new OS. Also, I need a swap partition. Thank you.

I have not tried virtualisation software. That will be my next giant leap after I've got jessie installed via USB onto a partition.