linux failing to boot citing insufficient disk space

Hello,

I have been using red hat linux (fedora core 1) with windows xp through Grub boot loader for some time now.

Yesterday while working in linux a very large output data file was created. However I forgot to delete it. Subsequently, linux is failing to boot saying that the disc space is not sufficient. I had made the mistake from working from inside the root directory itself.

However I can boot normally to windows.
Could anybody help me suggest how to get through the ordeal?
My emergency boot floppy disls in linux have become unusable.

Will it help if I perform an installation upgrade to (say Fedora core 1 or later) keeping the linux partitions as it is and installing only the minimum no: of rpms?

I do not want to format the linux partitions as I have no backup as yet.

I would appreciate an early response.

thank you.

You will need to boot into a LiveCD like Knoppix, chroot to the current linux install, and delete the troublesome file. The reason it still boots to Windows is because Windows has space left on its partition.

Hi Scuzzmann,
Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately I have not used Knoppix before but I have no option but to give it a try. What I would like to know is how do I use "chroot" to access/delete the troublesome data files?
Is it as simple as clicking buttons on a Knoppix GUI? Or do I need to use commands and scripts from the shell? I may sound a bit foolish but I would very much appreciate if you could enlighten me a bit more...
Could you provide me a link which has the steps a new user could comprehend easily?
Thank you.

If you still have the original Fedora ISO disk 1, you can boot with the cd.
When you reach the boot menu screen type linux rescue
The install process will attempt to find your linux partition and mount it.
After it drops you to a shell you can type in chroot /mnt/sysimage(Or what ever) and you will have access to your file system.
When your done just type exit and exit

Please do not post the same thread in more than one forum. Picking the most relevant forum and posting it once there makes it easier for other members to help you and keeps the discussion all in one place.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/rules.php

The original thread is here