Migration

Here are the migration paths to the current version of MX Linux from earlier versions.*
After migration, the MX version recorded by the system will remain that of your original installation.


From MX-21 to MX-21.3

Run the usual updates via apt/mx-updater. In addition, some optional things:

Xfce

  • orage is now preinstalled. orage is available in the repos
  • AHS kernel is now 6.0, available in MX-PackageInstaller->Popular Apps->Kernels.
  • AHS now uses backported debian firmware. User’s can switch by installing mx-debian-firmware metapackage. “linux-firmware” (preinstalled on MX-21.2 and MX-21.2.1) will be removed when mx-debian-firmware is installed
  • A new conky theme, MX-CownTangram, can be copyied into your $HOME/.conky folder from /usr/share/mx-conky-data
  • mx-menu-editor is now deprecated. we are now shipping menulibre as the menu editor. Users will need to adjust the editor command to “menulibre” in the whiskermenu settings, if they wish mx-menu-editor will not be removed from existing installs.

KDE

  • Now uses the AHS available in MX-PackageInstaller->Popular Apps->Kernels.
  • A new conky theme, MX-CownTangram, can be copyied into your $HOME/.conky folder from /usr/share/mx-conky-data
  • mx-menu-editor is now deprecated. we are now shipping menulibre as the menu editor. mx-menu-editor will not be removed from existing installs.

Fluxbox

  • There are new themes available for rofi, which will be available at first run of mx-rofi-manager.
  • A new conky theme, MX-CownTangram, can be copyied into your $HOME/.conky folder from /usr/share/mx-conky-data
  • mx-menu-editor is now deprecated. we are now shipping menulibre as the menu editor. mx-menu-editor will not be removed from existing installs.

From MX-21 B1, B2 or RC1 to MX-21 Final

It is recommended, but not necessary, to make a clean installation of the Final version. If you prefer to avoid a clean installation, use the standard upgrade mechanism. Once that is finished, there are a few manual adjustments to make if you want to align exactly with the Final ISO.

Xfce

  • install mx-tour, xfce4-notes and xfce4-notes-plugin
  • remove gtk3-nocsd
  • remove virtualbox-guest-dkms (not needed)

KDE

  • install mx-tour and sddm-modified-init
  • remove virtualbox-guest-dkms (not needed)

Fluxbox

  • install mx-tour
  • remove gtk3-nocsd
  • remove virtualbox-guest-dkms
  • run mxflux_install.sh to update latest defaults if you wish.

From MX-19.x to MX-21

Because of the change in the base from Debian 10 (Buster) to Debian 11 (Bullseye), there is no official upgrade option. A clean install is highly recommended for most users–make sure to back up your Home files and any data or settings you want to preserve.

There is unofficial but thoroughly tested method for experienced users to migrate without re-installation: consult this Wiki page.  

From MX-19.3 to MX-19.4

The upgrade will take place automatically through the standard upgrade process.

Manual: ahs users might want the 5.10 kernel, which is in MX Package
Installer > Kernel

From MX-19.2 or MX-19.3 RC 1 to MX-19.3

The upgrade will take place automatically through the standard upgrade process. When the process is completed, the “RC1” in the version name will disappear.

Manual: ahs users might want the 5.8 kernel, which is in MX Package Installer-> Kernel

From MX-19.1 to MX-19.2

The upgrade will take place automatically through the standard upgrade process. 

There are a few optional manual changes

  • New conky configs are available in /usr/share/mx-conky-data.  These can be copied manually to your ~/.conky folder if you wish.  They will then be available via conky-manager.  
  • The mx-fluxbox system may be updated to the latest defaults via the mxflux_install.sh script, also in the menu as MX Fluxbox.
  • User’s of the standard MX19 (non-ahs) may update to the latest kernel with the Debian kernels options under MX-Packageinstaller→Popular Apps→ Kernels.
  • Users of the ahs repos may update to the latest 5.6 kernel via the ahs kernel option under MX-Packageinstaller→Popular Apps→ Kernels.
  • Users of the ahs repo may want to install the new linux-firmware package.  If your hardware is working there is no real reason to do this.  This package contains newer firmware than the Debian firmware packages installed on the standard MX isos.
  • We are now enabling the Debian kernel’s sandbox features by default.  This can be toggled for existing users of Debian kernels via MX-Tweak→Other tab.   The antiX, -trunk, and liquourix kernels already have the feature enabled.

From MX-19 Final to MX-19.1

The upgrade will take place automatically through the standard upgrade process. The new MX-Fluxbox version being incorporated can be installed through MX Package Installer. 

The art changes need to be installed manually:

  • new default wallpaper: MX-Blue
  • the Cowon conky used in MX-19 has been improved and has altered colors to match the default wallpaper; it can be copied from /usr/share/mx-conky-data/themes/
  • the new defaut login screen theme can be updated via the “Reset lightdm (login screen) to system default” in mx-tweak’s “Config Options” tab.

From MX-19 RC1 to MX-19 Final

The upgrade will take place automatically through the standard upgrade process. When the process is completed, the “RC1” in the version name will disappear.

From any beta version of MX-19 to MX-19 Final

There is no supported upgrade option because of the many changes have taken place during the testing period. You will need to make a clean install, but you can install aptik-gtk (Package Installer > MX Test Repo) which will make the transition much easier. See the Wiki entry for details about this tool.

From any version of MX-18 to MX-19

Because of the change in the base from Debian 9 (Stretch) to Debian 10 (Buster), and the switch to the new Xfce 4.14, there is no upgrade option. You will need to make a clean install.  

From MX-18 to MX-18.3

Update will be automatic through the normal update process. 

From MX-17 Final, MX-17.1 or MX-18 RC1 to MX-18

Update will be automatic through the normal update process. Optional steps:

  • The new 4.19 kernel will not be installed automatically. If you want the kernel, there is an entry under MX-Package Installer > Popular Apps > Kernels > MX 4.19
  • The new artwork will not be installed automatically. If you want the new artwork, install from the MX-Package Installer > Popular Apps > Wallpapers > MX 18 Wallpapers
  • There are new grub themes available on the MX 18 iso, although they are not used by default. If you want to try them, they are available under MX-Package Installer > Popular Apps > Themes > grub-themes-mx. The themes will be selectable in MX-Boot-Options
  • The Thunar custom actions have been redone for MX 18. If you want the new actions, use the “Reset Thunar Custom Actions ” tool on the Config Options tab of MX-Tweak.
  • The lightdm (login screen) has been updated. If you would like the new theme, use the “Reset Lightdm ” tool on the Config Options tab of MX-Tweak.
  • There are some new conkies and others have been revised; you can copy them from /usr/share/mx-conky-data/themes to ~/.conky/
  • The default backgrounds for grub and splash are new; use MX Boot Options to select those with the word “linen”

From MX-17 Final or MX-17.1 RC1 to MX-17.1 Final

Run dist-upgrade through MX Updater or in a terminal. Optional steps:

  • Use MX Package Installer to install new kernel MX 4.15
  • Select MX-Gold wallpaper in the usual way: right-click the desktop > Desktop Settings where you should be looking at the default /usr/share/backgrounds
  • Launch MX Conky, and note the popup that appears. Click on the link /usr/share/mx-conky-data/themes, open the Default folder and copy Hermoso_sys_mx171 to your hidden conky folder in Home

From MX-17 RC 1 to MX-17 Final

 Run full upgrade through MX Apt Notifer or in a terminal.

From MX-17 Betas to MX-17 Final

Running dist-upgrade through MX Apt Notifer or in a terminal will work, but not produce MX-17 Final as released.

From MX-16 or MX-16.1 (or earlier) to MX-17

Not supported because of base shift from Debian 8 to 9.

From MX-16 (or MX-16.1 b1 and rc1) to MX-16.1

 Run dist-upgrade through MX Apt Notifer or in a terminal. Details here.

From MX-16 RC 1 to MX-16 Final

 Running dist-upgrade either through MX Apt Notifer or in a terminal, and installing mx-apps and timeset-gui, will carry you through.

From MX-15 to MX-16 Final

Make sure that your MX15 install is fully upgraded and then search in MX Package Installer for Migration. Details here.

From MX-15 RC 1 to MX-15 Final

Running dist-upgrade either through MX Apt Notifer or in a terminal will carry you through.

From MX-15 Beta 2 to RC 1

Not recommended and not supported.

From MX-15 Beta 1 to Beta 2

  • ISO
    • Download the 386 or x64 delta for your architecture into the same folder where MX-15 Beta 1 is located
    • Open a terminal and issue the command below that corresponds to your architecture xdelta3 -d -s MX-15-b1_386-mx.iso b1-b2_386.delta MX-15-b2_386-mx.iso xdelta3 -d -s MX-15-b1_x64-mx.iso b1-b2_x64.delta MX-15-b2_x64-mx.iso
  • Installed Not recommended and not supported.
MX Linux