Kubuntu 9.10 boots only a command terminal

CT_0000 · 11-06-2009, 12:34 PM

Well I'm new to linux and sure did mess something up.

In a couple days I plan on changing to opensuse from kubuntu. Anyway in the Kpackagemanager I removed the pulseaudio client (and its dependencies) and it messed up my system a bit. I don't really mind but all I need is to get my files from my home folder off my hdd to an external through usb 2.0. When Kubuntu 9.10 boots now all it is is a command terminal basically and I don't know the specific commands to get the files. Or if I need to reinstall something so that it boots up with a graphical looking UI again.

Any help would be awesome :-)

camorri · 11-06-2009, 01:26 PM

When you un-installed pulseaudio, you removed a lot of applications, and KDE. You don't have it installed any more. I know from the same experience. If you want to see what got removed, have a look in /var/log/messages There will be an entry for each package removed.

You have two choices, install KDE and all the applications removed, or just re-install. If you want to install the packages removed, you will have to do it via the command line, unless you had more than one desktop installed.

I run Mandriva, so I can not tell you the commands to use. Possibly someone that runs buntu can chime in and give you some direction on command line install.

CT_0000 · 11-06-2009, 01:57 PM

Ahh I'm glad I'm not the only one whose done this :-p

In any case I don't really want to do a re-install, unless its possible to do it and not lose my files (school docs,music, and movies mostly)

If its possible to transfer them from the command line that'd be great, or reinstall the programs to get it to work.

smeezekitty · 11-06-2009, 02:00 PM

in other words kubuntu boots into useful mode!
its common knolage you cannot do anything productive with a GUI.

smeezekitty · 11-06-2009, 02:03 PM

try

Code:

sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install KDE

jamwaffles · 11-06-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeezekitty

try

Code:

sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install KDE

KDE is lowercase (or it might not matter i dont know. It probably does on second thoughts)

James

camorri · 11-06-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

In any case I don't really want to do a re-install, unless its possible to do it and not lose my files (school docs,music, and movies mostly

There are lots of ways to move your files to a safe palce, in fact sine the system runs, command line, it is quite easy. USB memory sticks are cheap. I have a 8 gig stick I bought at Wal-mart. ( $20.00 ). You probably have to run a mount command. Then copy the files and folders to saftey.

Another way, if you need a GUI is to boot from a live CD. There are lots to choose from. I use Knoppix usually for this kind of rescue. From the gui you can mount an external USB, drag and drop the folders.

If you need help with the commands, let us know...

CT_0000 · 11-06-2009, 08:41 PM

I have a usb drive and a portable hdd I can use. I don't know how to mount a usb device from the command line though as well as transfer the files to the device from it. If you could help with that I'd appreciate it so much.

Thanks

camorri · 11-06-2009, 09:22 PM

First of all, try plugging it in, it may automount, depending on your system configuration. If it automounts, the files on it will probably show up in a directory called /media. You can try a 'ls' command in /media before and after plugging the stick. If it shows up, you are away to the races. If not, try the next things.

Before you plug it in, on the command line go to /dev directory. Try a few ls commands to see what it there before you plug it in. ie 'ls /dev/sda' and 'ls /dev/sdb' If your hard drives are sata, there will be a sda device before you plug the memory stick. The stick should show up as the next device.

Plug the stick, and do the ls commands again. You should find a new device created. You need to know for the mount command what the stick is. Most of them are formatted for fat, ( vfat as linux calls it ).

If the stick shows up as /dev/sdb, you now need a mount point. You can use /media for this. CD to /media. make a directory for the stick. 'mkdir stick' ( you can call it anything you want ). Now try a mount.

'mount -t auto /dev/sdb /media/stick' hit enter, pray, if there are no errors it was a success. Do an 'ls' in /media/stick directory and you should see what is on the stick.

If it fails, post how far you got...

CT_0000 · 11-06-2009, 09:29 PM

Thanks so much for the easy to follow directions! I'll let you know how far I get when I get to my laptop.

-chris

CT_0000 · 11-07-2009, 07:11 PM

So I plugged in the flash drive and it showed up as /dev/sdb . I tried making a directory in /media by entering

Code:

cd /media

and then

Code:

mkdir stick

(naming it stick to keep it easy) but it replies with permission denied.

When I attached the usb stick it came up with two lines of text so I do know if that means it recognized it and automounted it or not. I tried figuring out how to few the files on there but I could not as I do not even think it is mounted.

AuroraZero · 11-07-2009, 07:19 PM

Most likely it is because you are not root. I believe if you type su it will them ask for root password. I use Slackware myself so I am not for sure on this one. I think you could also type sudo mkdir stick and this would work also.I am almost positive the second one will work. Seems like I remember this from my Ubuntu days.

smeezekitty · 11-07-2009, 07:28 PM

on ubuntu you type sudo bash to get into root.

AuroraZero · 11-07-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeezekitty

on ubuntu you type sudo bash to get into root.

Thanks for the heads up man it has been years since I used Ubuntu. 5.04 was the last version I used.

CT_0000 · 11-07-2009, 08:44 PM

Alright I got it, that makes sense. When I do have it mounted what is the command to copy files to it?