Reset Script

[RedAppleNine]

I think it would be a cool feature if peppermint OS had a feature that would automatically reset messed up settings in GUI and login manager. Possibly even an option to remove any packages that were not part of the original installation.

Examples

A new user is using peppermint iOS and somehow makes the panel disappear.

A new user is using peppermint OS and from the commandline messes up the login manager.

A new user change some settings with the desktop environment and is unable to login.

In all of these cases it would be really cool if a user could just reset installation.


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[murraymint]

You can reset the panel in the context menu by right-clicking on the desktop.

Unfortunately the others are more specialised and unlikely to be made automatic.

[RedAppleNine]

Can somebody help me understand the technical reasons why such an idea wouldn’t be a possibility? I’m not really proficient in Linux And I’m just starting to learn. Is it really that difficult to automatically reset our user account to a pristine state? Maybe even wouldn’t need to be a script, possibly it could be some sort of restoration to an earlier image? I’m just playing with ideas here.


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[murraymint]

In my opinion there are too many ways you could potentially screw up a system and reinstalling it from scratch is often quicker and easier than trying to unpick it all.

[PCNetSpec]

It would be fairly easy to reset your account to defaults, but if the script deleted your home folder you'd loose everything in it.

And if it simply renamed your home folder then created a new one (and copied the contents of /etc/skel to it), then effectively it'd be the same as just creating a new account.

We'd never include this as a script because of the damage it could do if used inadvertently .. it'd basically be a bomb waiting to get triggered .. nuke and pave SHOULD be difficult.

Such a script is not going to help unless you can log in via a console and gain administrative privileges .. and if you can do that, it'd be easy enough to just create a new account.


If the issue is outside your home folder, again you'd still need to be able to gain admin privileges, and a script that reset the entire system would be downright dangerous if it could be run from within the currently booted OS. And if it required booting to another environment (ensuring it can only be done by someone with local access) technically that already exists .. it's called a LiveUSB


I can't help but think of one of those BIG red buttons with DON'T PRESS written on it

[untrusted user]

I have experienced such issues while theming, my solution was to create a second new user, and log out and into the new user so the default files for i.e. the panel were created, and then copy those files into the account with issues, it was my messy improvised method to get this fixed *blush*

just an idea, not foolproof 

[PCNetSpec]

Peppermint 8 and 9 already have a built in panel reset function .. but I also always create a second user account and make it an administrator, so that account can be used to fix the primary account if necessary.

[RedAppleNine]

Another idea...  Is there a way to image the installation? Save it to a USB stick and then reinstall if the installation gets messed up?  The advantage to this is that all of the user preferences and web apps would remain.


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[PCNetSpec]

Systemback can do this .. it's no longer under active development, but I hear it still works in Peppermint 9.

There should be tutorials for it on youtube.

[untrusted user]

Systemback can do this .. it's no longer under active development, but I hear it still works in Peppermint 9.

Nice to hear that, thank you, so i guess Systemback will work on peppermint 8 too?
I know that very helpful tool from http://www.iroos.net/ IRO LINUX a very good graphic oriented distro in alpha stage (no longer maintained) - there i see peppermint as a possible successor - with a bit of extra work...

... and would you say, it is some sort of a rule of thumb to make a secondary admin account on each linux installation? i mean as a recommendation for each other peppermint user.

Sorry that i've sounded like i wouldnt hear your sentence about the builtin panel reset function, it is nice to have that helpful thingy, i have messed up much more while theming, and through the summary of all things / fails i had done, i was unable to remember what all i have changed / messed up (beside the panel prefs) and how to fix it *blush*

anyway thank you for your hints and tips

[zebedeeboss]

Another idea...  Is there a way to image the installation? Save it to a USB stick and then reinstall if the installation gets messed up?  The advantage to this is that all of the user preferences and web apps would remain.


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you can also use the Gnome-Disk-Utility (Disks) to create a backup image of any partition. but this does not do any shrinkage or compression. EG 500gb partition you need 500gb to back it up

Regards Zeb...

[PCNetSpec]

so i guess Systemback will work on peppermint 8 too?

Yep .. in fact I can guarantee that as I've tried it in 16.04/Peppermint 7/8, I've only HEARD it still works on 18.04/Peppermint 9