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Messed up fstab, now / is in read only mode [Solved]

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    #1

    Messed up fstab, now / is in read only mode [Solved]

    Hi,
    I was adding some text "noatime,data=writeback", that I saw in a Linux mag to fstab and have somehow got it wrong. After a reboot it drops me to the command line with the / partition in read only mode (as dictated in fstab) Howver, I am now unable to edit the fstab file, even as root, because it's in read only mode.

    Some searching led me to this to try:

    mount -o remount,rw /

    The result from entering this command is:

    EXT3-fs cannot change data mode on remount
    mount: / not mounted already or bad option

    I've tried some variations on the above that I've found but as yet I cannot get / out of read only mode in order to edit the fstab file back to what it was. I do have a copy of the original file but cannot move that one either.

    From what I've read of Linux I can't believe that it has to be a reinstall so any further suggestions will be most welcome.

    Thanks,
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    #2
    Re: Messed up fstab, now / is in read only mode

    I've now solved this thanks to a post by "disturbedite" on the ubuntu forums. To paraphrase:

    Unmount the / partition
    Edit the live CDs fstab to make it rw
    Edit the fstab, to take out the bad text, from the / partition and reboot.

    I'm now back in business.
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      #3
      Re: Messed up fstab, now / is in read only mode [Solved]

      In real estate it's location, location, location, so in Linux it's backup, backup, backup!

      Before working with files that affect how your system works, make backup copies. If you end up borking your system, you can boot to a CLI and delete and then rename the backup files.
      Windows no longer obstructs my view.
      Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
      "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes​
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        #4
        Re: Messed up fstab, now / is in read only mode [Solved]

        Before working with files that affect how your system works, make backup copies. If you end up borking your system, you can boot to a CLI and delete and then rename the backup files.
        That was my problem. I had a backup copy but I couldn't rename it. The file system being read only wouldn't let me alter any file. If I tried it I would get the message that the file system was read only. That said, your comments are very good advice.
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