Upgrade FC3->FC5 x86_64 SMP

[avuncular]

I upgraded via the FC5 CDs from FC3. When the install got to the fifth and final disc, there some kind of fault. I rebooted, and things seemed fine. I'm on a dual opteron machine, BTW.

The problem is that I think the installation is all messed up. For example, following the directions in these forums for getting Nvidia working, I get all sorts of strange messages. I'm worried I have the wrong kernel, etc.

I post to this forum, because I think what I should probably do is basically wipe out what I've got and do a fresh install. The thing is, I'd like to keep my settings and my files in /home.

Any ideas on how do that...to basically remove all the packages I have installed, and install the correct ones without wiping out my basic configuration? I've got high speed internet access. I was thinking there might be an easy way with yum or something.

Thanks.

[avuncular]

I wanted to provide some more info about the strangeness.

In an effort to get the nvidia driver going, I followed the directions at this place: fedorafaq , the results of which I post here:

[root@maple ~]# cd /etc
[root@maple /etc]# mv -f yum.conf yum.conf.bak
[root@maple /etc]# wget http://www.fedorafaq.org/samples/yum.conf
--20:46:08--  http://www.fedorafaq.org/samples/yum.conf
           => `yum.conf'
Resolving www.fedorafaq.org... 70.84.209.18
Connecting to www.fedorafaq.org|70.84.209.18|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 578 [text/plain]

100%[====================================>] 578           --.--K/s             

20:46:08 (3.03 MB/s) - `yum.conf' saved [578/578]

[root@maple /etc]# rpm -Uvh http://www.fedorafaq.org/yum http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-5.rpm
Retrieving http://www.fedorafaq.org/yum
Retrieving http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-5.rpm
Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
        package livna-release-5-6 is already installed
[root@maple /etc]# yum install kmod-nvidia-smp
Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Setting up Install Process
Setting up repositories
livna                                                                [1/4]
livna                     100% |=========================|  951 B    00:00     
updates                                                              [2/4]
updates                   100% |=========================|  951 B    00:00     
core                                                                 [3/4]
ftp://fedora.bu.edu/fedora/core/5/x86_64/os/repodata/repomd.xml: [Errno 4] IOError: [Errno ftp error] timed out
Trying other mirror.
core                      100% |=========================| 1.1 kB    00:00     
extras                                                               [4/4]
extras                    100% |=========================| 1.1 kB    00:00     
Reading repository metadata in from local files
primary.xml.gz            100% |=========================| 411 kB    00:01     
updates   : ################################################## 1118/1118
Added 6 new packages, deleted 25 old in 1.16 seconds
primary.xml.gz            100% |=========================| 1.1 MB    00:00     
extras    : ################################################## 4137/4137
Added 2446 new packages, deleted 472 old in 11.81 seconds
Parsing package install arguments
No Match for argument: kmod-nvidia-smp
Nothing to do
[root@maple /etc]#

[avuncular]

Ok, no responses so far, but I now see that the Intel compilers are not compatible with FC5. Given all my problems, what I'd really like is to downgrade back to FC3. Any tips on how? Can I just stick in my FC3 disks, and do an "upgrade"? Or do I need to remove FC5 software?

How can I just wipe out the database of what's installed so that when I stick in the FC3 it won't complain?

Or alternatively, what will happen if I do an "install" of FC3...will it wipe out my /home?

Thanks,.