Hello,

I have an older (2001-era) IBM Net Vista desktop that I use for a music server, with a small Windows partition, a Linux swap partition, a Linux OS partition, and a large ext3 partition for holding my music files. The last two partitions are (I believe) in one large extended partition.

Here's the problem: the Linux OS partition held PCLinuxOS 0.93, which I had set up to run a Samba server so that I could access my files across my home's Windows/Linux network. I wanted to upgrade the OS to PCLinuxOS 2007, which I had successfully installed on two other desktops. I foolishly decided NOT to backup the music partition first, thinking that I would have no problems with the upgrade (separate partition won't be affected, etc.). Once I booted the 2007 live CD, I tried to open the installation program, but it refused to open (i.e., no response after a couple of minutes of inactivity). I rebooted and tried again a couple more times, before it finally opened. I was able to select the Linux OS partition as the one I wanted to have 2007 installed on, and format it; after the formatting process was completed, I was told to reboot the computer. I did so, but the installation process did not continue; instead, I was left at the desktop, and the installation program again refused to open. I was never able to get it opened again.

I tried to put PCLinuxOS 0.93 back on the hard drive, but it refused to load the live CD, saying something about the partition table was messed up. I tried loading a bunch of different live CDs, but the only one that booted without a problem was Knoppix 5.1.0, and it would not allow me to either access either of the Linux non-swap partitions, nor let me access the partition table through QTParted.

sudo fdisk -l from Knoppix printed the following:

I have not been able to access any other partitions from the command line (logical or otherwise). I have come up with several errors related to "bad magic number in superblock" or "couldn't find valid filesystem superblock".

I have been able to boot into Windows after installing GAG (GRUB was hosed after the aborted installation), and ran a couple of demo recovery programs which showed both partitions as being 'intact' (viewable); but to get files from them, I'd have to shell out money I don't have (college student). I do have an older backup of the music, but I would really like to restore what I have/had now, id that is possible

Can anyone help me?

Please post your thread in only one forum. Posting a single thread in the most relevant forum will make it easier for members to help you and will keep the discussion in one place. This thread should be closed because it is a duplicate of http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=565603.