[SOLVED] Copy packages from current Arch install to new Arch install

Question

Hello!
I'm new to Arch, so that's why I'm posting in the newbie corner. I've been looking everywhere for an answer to this: I want to do a fresh install of my system, but my internet connection is sort of messed up right now (unusually slow). I noticed that every package I have installed on my current Arch are saved in /var/cache/pacman/pkg. Could I make a backup of that directory onto another partition on my hard drive, reinstall Arch, and restore the backup to that same directory in the new install? Would pacman "think" it's already downloaded and skip the download step alltogether?
Thanks.
Last edited by magyckleo (2011-01-31 21:28:44)

Answer 1

karol wrote:
From the repo-add manpage: 'repo-add [-q] <path-to-db> <package1> [<package2>...]'
This should create the dbs you need.
Honestly, *I* think, that the manpage is enough and you don't need the wiki (in this case at least).
You know what, do a test, pick a couple packages, copy them somewhere and create a tiny local repo.
Awesome! I managed to make pacman read the package db I created using add-repo.
I added the repo to the pacman.conf. Had to do a little trial & error to figure out I had to put it like this:
[name of db file]
Server = file:///path/to/folder_of_db partition
I was trying to put the file.db.tar.gz complete rute. Of course, pacman let me know with an error that wasn't right.
I tried installing something simple, like wine. First, I did a sudo pacman -Scc to clear the cache. Then I did sudo pacman -S wine. It installed successfully! I'm gonna try with a fresh install this afternoon. I'll let you know of the result.
Thanks everyone!
Last edited by magyckleo (2010-09-27 15:46:05)