Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

[Anstrell]

Hi guys, let's see if you live up to your good reputation.

I installed Kubuntu and started to move backup files to the desktop. After a while I thought that it would be better to copy them not to loose them if something went wrong, so I stopped the process and started copying the rest. I thought that the files I moved wouldn't be deleted from the externat hdd until the process was completed but I was wrong. Now I can't access the files on the computer since I have to use the CD to start it. I was trying to find the hotkeys for opening the ordinary console and pressed ctrl+alt+F1 and ended up in the console without knowing how to get bakc so I turned the computer off. When I turn it on again it never reaches the GUI but displays>
/etc/init d/rc: 2: sed: permission denied

Before this happened I tried to install the driver for my wifi card, intel 4965AGN. If I'm not mistaken that requires the istallation of mac80211. I tried to do that following the instructiones on this page:
http://intellinuxwireless.org/?p=mac...howto-mac80211

It was over my head and this command seemed to work:
wget \
http://intellinuxwireless.org/mac802...211-10.0.4.tgz

While this did not work:
tar xvf mac80211-10.0.4.tgz
mac80211-10.0.4/origin/GIT
mac80211-10.0.4/origin/net/mac80211/Makefile
...

My question is of course; How do I access the files on my computer?

[monte48lowes]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

First things first. DON'T write anything to the external hard drive. These files can be recovered.

Second, if this was a recent install I recommend starting over.

I will start reviewing what you have posted here and try to help. Right now I am going to find some directions for recovering your files.

Mike

[Anstrell]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

Thanks for helping out.

I've been through a harddrive recovery before and I didn't like it so I haven't overwritten anything.

It is a recent install and I was planning to start over (again) but more than half of the backup from the externat harddrive is now on the laptop and I don't want to erase all that with a clean install.

[monte48lowes]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

The files on the hard drive, although deleted from view, still exist on the hard drive.


http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step

Photorec is available in the repositories. The link above shows step by step directions to recover files from your hard drive. You will need sufficient hard drive space to recover your files.

I think it would be best to get your system operating correctly with your files intact first. Then steps can be taken to get other things like wireless working.

Mike

[monte48lowes]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

Do you have a CD burner? I recommend burning the files that are currently on the laptop to CD. Then at a minimum you will have those files intact.

Mike

[Anstrell]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

"Do you have a CD burner? I recommend burning the files that are currently on the laptop to CD. Then at a minimum you will have those files intact."
The problem is accessing the files on the laptop. It won't even start without the Kubuntu CD and then I can't find the files on the laptop. Half of the files are still on the external harddrive.

[monte48lowes]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

Good point.

How many partitions did you create with your install?

Mike

[Anstrell]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

"How many partitions did you create with your install?"
Only one to keep things simple.

[monte48lowes]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

Do you have another computer to burn a CD to? If so download and burn the Gparted Live CD available here: http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...kage_id=173828.

This will allow you to boot into a live session to reduce the size of the partition you have just enough to allow the creation of a second partition. The second partition will provide a place to copy the files you have already copied from the external hard drive.

Mike

[Anstrell]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

"The second partition will provide a place to copy the files you have already copied from the external hard drive."
I can burn them on DVD:s if I find them. The problem is finding them on the laptop, since they don't show up where I put them. I'm now using the normal Kubuntu CD to start the computer, isn't that a live session?

[monte48lowes]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

Yes you are. You can install gparted and run it from the live CD.

Alt-F2 > 'konsole' > <Enter>

sudo apt-get install gparted

(The Gparted live CD has everything ready to go. Either way will work fine.)

Run gparted. Depending on the total size of all the files you need to save, resize the partition so that you have enough room to store those files plus a little extra room for formatting purposes.

Mike

[monte48lowes]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

I can burn them on DVD:s if I find them.

Do you have an external DVD burner?

Mike

[Anstrell]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

No, an internal DVD burner. I'm using the laptop to write right now so I should be able to burn that stuff, right?

[monte48lowes]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

I don't know if you can use the DVD burner while in a live session. Since the live session needs to load things from the CD.

In that case use the information I posted above regarding installing gparted in the live session and resizing the partition.

Mike

[Anstrell]

Re: Kubunto won't boot after entering the console

OK, I burned the gparted CD. I feel a bit lost. There are a myriad of options upon startup.

What do I do?