You can do this with the dd command. To prep:

Set up a live boot USB stick with your distro of choice.

Install another SSD/nvme/HDD at least the same size as your bookworm install into your bookworm machine. If that’s not an option connect a USB drive that’s at least the same size as the drive with your bookworm installation.

Boot into the live USB on the bookworm machine.

Make sure the partition(s) from your bookworm install are unmounted.

Quadruple check the drives/devices for the dd command. Here’s the basics of the command:

dd if=/device/where/bookworm/is/installed of=USB/or/second/drive/in/machine bs=8M status=progress

So, if your bookworm install is on /dev/sda, and the USB or secondary is /dev/sdb, then the Cmand would be:

dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb bs=8M status=progress

Heh. I haven’t started exploring other shells yet.

Perfect. I’m feeling comfortable enough with bash that next on my list is AWK. Gonna download this when I get home!

Used thinkpad is an easy choice. If you want new, I’ve been very happy with the framework 13

If it has to be a de, I’d pick gnome. Otherwise it’s hyprland.

That’s what pisses me off. I’d never give my data willing, but it’s unwillingly given through any relatives that did do this.