Last Update Deadly (SOLVED except for sound problem)

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Last Update Deadly

That is a great reference link. Thanks very much. I am thinking:

1. Backup her home folder
2. Continue efforts to rescue system

If that fails then.

1. Boot to Live CD and backup her existing home folder
2. Reinstall Kubuntu and create separate home partition.
3. Load her backed up CD into the new home partition
4. Mount the new home partition or whatever steps are required to make it active.

............................
for separate /home:
Partitioning—how to, Rog131:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3090704.0

[Qqmike]

Re: Last Update Deadly

Your plan is:
If that fails then.
1. Boot to Live CD and backup her existing home folder
2. Reinstall Kubuntu and create separate home partition.
3. Load her backed up CD into the new home partition
4. Mount the new home partition or whatever steps are required to make it active.


2: Many of us here think it's best before running the installer to do all your partitioning.
You'd do that in one of two ways:
(1) Use GParted Live CD from here:
GParted: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/
GParted how-to: http://www.howtoforge.com/partitioning_with_gparted
=> a real handy thing to have around.
or
(2) In your Live Kubuntu CD session, you can load gparted and use it in your Live session to do the partitioning, then back out of gparted to your Live Kubuntu Desktop where you have the Install icon and then install Kubuntu right then and there.
If you load gparted in the Live session, it will only exist in RAM, which is fine for this:
K > System > Adept Package Manager
type in the window
gparted
up it'll come
select Install
Apply
and let 'er rip.
Quit Adept
Come back to K > System and you should see "Partition editor" there somewhere.
Make sure it is GParted and not something else (not QtParted) -- just open it and have a look.
Then use GParted to make the partition(s) and format them (ext3 maybe?)

4.: /home recognized? Your home should be recognized after installation of Kubuntu is complete.
During installation of Kubuntu,
Step 4: Select the "Manual" partitioning method.
Step 5: You'll see all your partitions.
Select one for root (/) and one for /home and one for swap.
The menu there allows you to do this and to format -- the installer may insist that root and swap be re-formatted (even tho you formatted them in GParted), and that's OK.
Kubuntu will them set up your /home so it's usable when you first fire-up the installed Kubuntu.

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Last Update Deadly

Your plan is:
If that fails then.................

That is a really complete guide. Thanks very much for taking the time to put that together for me.

I am working on a dual boot WinXP/Kubuntu system. Will that still be ok after doing all of this?

I have used Qparted before. It ia a great tool to have around. I didn't know it could be invoked from the Live CD. That is realy great.

[Qqmike]

Re: Last Update Deadly

"I am working on a dual boot WinXP/Kubuntu system. Will that still be ok after doing all of this?"

Yes.

If I understand correctly, you will install Kubuntu into a partition on a hard drive that also contains XP. If so, then GRUB will by default go into the MBR of that hard drive and set itself up so it will boot both XP and Kubuntu and show you a proper boot menu on startup.
If not--but there will NOT be a problem, I'm sure--GRUB is always easily fixed after installation without having to reinstall the OS using my how-to (from either a Live CD or from Kubuntu if you can get into it):
How To GRUB Methods - Toolkit
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3081671.0

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Last Update Deadly

I am reinstalling from the Live CD after backing up the home folder.

When "Prepare disk space" comes up it shows the old Linux partition divided into halves with the new Kubuntu in one and the old in the other. The other options are, "Use entire disk," and "Manual."

If I use the entire disc option will it wipe out my existing XP installation or keep it?

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Last Update Deadly

Ok. I used the manual option and reformatted the ext3 Linux partition. I now have Kubuntu back up and running again. I decided that since my wife's installation is so generic that just backing up her files was enough. I am now updating so it should be interesting to see what happens after that. GRUB appears to be updated properly with both OS boot options. Let's hope the update doesn't kill it again. I must be becoming a Linux addict because I have actually enjoyed this process thanks to the support from this forum. Crossed fingers on the update.

[Qqmike]

Re: Last Update Deadly

Let us know on the update.

Sounds like you're cooking!

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Last Update Deadly

Everything is working great now except for one thing. XP runs fine. Kubuntu runs fine except there is no sound. I have tried everything I can think of to get it working now I am off chasing another rabbit. Getting frustrating. Almost there though.

[Snowhog]

Re: Last Update Deadly

Open alsamixer from a console. Check that you don't have your channels muted.

[Qqmike]

Re: Last Update Deadly

Glad you got the boot to go.

Sound is another common issue, it would seem.
Try what Snowhog says. Then search/post on it.

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Last Update Deadly

Open alsamixer from a console. Check that you don't have your channels muted.

Thanks. I have Alsamixer open. Read the alsamixer wiki and figured out the muting. Changing the channels to non muted did not make any difference. Guess I will spend a few more hours chasing this one. Well, at least it is running and appears to be really stable.

[Qqmike]

Re: Last Update Deadly

I had a sound thing like that a month ago (=> muted). And similar to what you guys are saying --
Click on the volume icon is system tray;
Click Mixer;
and from that control panel, select/de-select settings until the sound was right.
Hope you get that fixed, I know it's frustrating.
Lots of sound issues lately in the posts.


EDIT, added:
In addition to Mute settings, make sure the right volume controls are high enough.

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Last Update Deadly

I had a sound thing like that a month ago (=> muted). And similar to what you guys are saying --
Click on the volume icon is system tray;
Click Mixer;
and from that control panel, select/de-select settings until the sound was right.
Hope you get that fixed, I know it's frustrating.
Lots of sound issues lately in the posts.


EDIT, added:
In addition to Mute settings, make sure the right volume controls are high enough.

Checked everything. Driving me nuts. At least I know how to do a "silent" reinstall and upgrade on a dual boot system. I know little about sound system configuration. I know that it is important to know what kind of sound card is installed, make sure the onboard sound card is off or on appropriately in the bios, and a few other odd facts. My mixer is not even loading on startup and when I load it manually it does not help. I am trying all kinds of settings on Kmixer, switches etc. I also tried changing settings using Alsamixer. I am stumped. Perhaps I should start a new thread on this. I don't know the fourm etiquette well enough to know when to do that.

[Snowhog]

Re: Last Update Deadly

If you have not already visited:
SoundTroubleshooting - Basic Troubleshooting Steps

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Last Update Deadly

Thanks Snowhog. I am working on it now while my wife sleeps.