initscripts gone, can't boot!

merrimanjd · 08-26-2003, 10:54 PM

Hello,

Today I've been trying to compile and set up a 2.6.0-test4-mm1 kernel on my Mandrake 9.1 system. I got it to compile alright, but had module problems on boot. I heard in a few places that the packages at http://supermount-ng.sourceforge.net/mdk-25/ may be necessary, so I downloaded them. I removed my old hotplug and initscripts packages and thought I had the new ones intstalled right, but apparently I didn't, because on reboot it couldn't find inittabs and I could not boot up. Now, is there any way to get in and fix this? I have no really important data on this machine, so a reinstall would not be terribly bad, but I'd like to avoid it if I can. I tried making a boot floppy from my other Mandrake 9.1 machine, but it wouldn't boot up for some reason. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

jdm

sikandar · 08-26-2003, 11:05 PM

I used the linux rescue option with F5 key and was able to boot from linux RH9 CD. So just boot from CD and then you have to press F5 and then type "linux rescue" I hope it will solve your problem.

merrimanjd · 08-26-2003, 11:23 PM

Hi sikandar,

Yeah, I forgot the install CD had that rescue mode... This will work, thanks! Now back to messing with the kernel.....

-jdm

Skyline · 08-26-2003, 11:55 PM

For Mandrake 9.1 its :

F1 (for advanced options)

Then type :

rescue

at the prompt.

merrimanjd · 08-26-2003, 11:58 PM

Sorry, I spoke too soon, I have another problem. After going into rescue mode, I can mount my existing partitions under /mnt, and I have access to all my data. Now I have rpm's for the stuff I accidentally removed, but I do not know how to go about installing them, since if I just do:

rpm -i initscripts-XXXX

It gives errors like:

error: cannot open Packages index using db3 - No such file or directory (2)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm

What do I need to do to get it to install as if I had been able to boot up normally?

-jdm

merrimanjd · 08-27-2003, 10:44 AM

So basically what I'm asking is: is it possible to install an RPM onto the system when I can't boot it, and my only access to the system is mounting it under /mnt when in rescue mode?

-jdm