The home partition, (or directory if it is set up by the operating
system), is for personal data files, not software. It does contain
software settings but I think the software files are under /usr. So to
keep on using your home directory you would have to choose a custom
installation and manually select the correct partitions for /home and
/boot.

Your personal files, settings, pictures, videos are still probably
safe there in the original partitions. You just can't access them from
the /home that was automatically set up by the installation. I'm not
sure how to make the new install access them, short of a new custom
installation as above.