So I’m reinstalling Manjaro - but there is an option to reuse a partition as home partition - does that keep what’s already there, or will it remove everything?
If you keep that partition and don’t re-format it, you will find that the configuration files for your previously-installed programs will be there and (usually, maybe except from a really old installation¹) working as previously set up and used.
¹ Note this can be an issue with old installations, due to subsequent changes in how configuration files are handled.
Okay, thanks.
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And once again, in case you missed it;
Do not format your old /home partition.
However, you still need to assign a mount point (usually /home) to the partition.
If I’m going to reinstall, I want the benefit of a clean install. So YES, I format my drive, including /home Of course I have a good backup before I do this.
I have backups - and the install worked fine.
/home is where many of my documents etc live and I’d restore from a backup anyways to get them back. Sounds to me like it would be a null operation if I wiped it and restored a backup.
This is also me finally performing a reinstall after having problems mentioned in another thread. I’ve been hobbling along on an older version of Manjaro. The good news is, reinstalling and upgrading worked without breaking KDE. It will take a bit of time to get everything back to how I want it, but I’m happy to be free of the issues I was having when I tried to upgrade.
The OP was specifically referring to a separate /home partition which is often recommended, as it makes reinstalling (using the manual partitioning method) relatively easy, while keeping your existing /home; this is done without the need to backup.
The benefit is that a clean install can be performed without sacrificing your previous User settings. This works best if the new installation uses the same Username and Password as before. Settings remain intact, and only the User’s choice of applications need be reinstalled.
In this instance, formatting the /home partition should be avoided, otherwise it would risk losing one’s data.
The solution given by @BG405 is accurate; including the warning about excessively old or unmaintained installations.
For other scenarios where a User does not have a separate partition, then sure, backup and format as much as you like.
Unnecessary effort, indeed.
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Ah, that’s why the confusion 
.
No worries, I already had /home in a separate partition.
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