Rescuing my Debian!

mc_03 · 03-26-2004, 09:42 PM

I seem to have overwritten the MBR (and consequently, LILO) in a recent Windows re-install, and now I can't log into Linux when my computer boots (goes straight into Windows.) The Linux partition is otherwise untouched and all my files are there, I in my n00bliness just can't find any way of booting into it. (I lost my rescue disk.) Any suggestions?

Thanks

Edit: I DO have a Knoppix disk, if that can be of any use.

tr4nsfix · 03-26-2004, 09:54 PM

you can rescue from your debian install disk... (check the options when you boot off CD)

assuming you know which partition you installed linux on you specify your root. so it will be something like this:

rescue root=/dev/hda1

once you're booted you just need to modify your /etc/lilo.conf to include your windoze partion like this:

other=/dev/hda3
label=windoze

run lilo as root. reboot and you should be able to dual boot.

mc_03 · 03-26-2004, 09:56 PM

I installed Linux off a Knoppix disk, so while it's pretty much Debian I don't have a Debian install disk. Any way I can do it from Knoppix?

tr4nsfix · 03-26-2004, 10:03 PM

I'm not familiar with knopix... maybe give it a try.

Also you might want to try using the rescue floppy from this page: http://pigtail.net/nicholas/linux/debian.html

mc_03 · 03-26-2004, 11:21 PM

I booted from the rescue floppy, and used rescue root=/dev/hdb1 (knoppix root partition.) It starts loading linux.bin and then gives me an error.

Does anyone know if the Knoppix cd has rescue features or how to make a boot disk for my knoppix partition?

tr4nsfix · 03-27-2004, 09:24 AM

Whats the error?

mc_03 · 03-27-2004, 11:42 AM

Boot failed. Please insert another disk and press any key.

I tried booting the Knoppix CD, chrooting to /dev/hdb1 and running lilo but it gave me an error too, something along the lines of Failure to open /dev/hda.

tr4nsfix · 03-28-2004, 01:21 AM

You can use a debian boot CD (download image here: http://linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=4)
You only need the first CD. It'll let you do the rescue.

urzumph · 03-28-2004, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mc_03

I tried booting the Knoppix CD, chrooting to /dev/hdb1 and running lilo but it gave me an error too, something along the lines of Failure to open /dev/hda.

did you mount /dev/hdb1 -o rw,remount first?

The other option without chrooting is to /mnt/hdb1/sbin/lilo -r /dev/hdb1
(I never could get it to work chrooted for some reasion, but that works...)

mc_03 · 03-30-2004, 06:19 PM

Success! I somehow got it working by booting Knoppix in text mode, chrooting from there and running LILO.

Thanks for the help!