I am trying to put back together a big atr file from some smaller tar files that I created several years ago. The issue is that in order to tar this large file, I must put each file back using the command

tar -xMf cd-1.tar
Prepare volume #2 for 'cd-1.tar' and hit return:n cd-2.tar
Prepare volume #3 for 'cd-2.tar' and hit return:n cd-3.tar
and so forth.

I have fourteen files cd-1.tar through cd-15.tar. The cd-9.tar files is missing and I assume that it is gone. Now when I type the commands in I get the following:

As you can see I do not have cd-9.tar. That stops the untarring cold. However, I have cd-10.tar,cd-11.tar,cd-12.tar,cd-13.tar,cd-14.tar,cd-15.tar. Now I may have these files, but they cannot be put back in the main file because cd-9.tar is missing and everything must be put in sequentially.

Is there a way to complete this sequence of steps and add all fourteen files to the files bigbackup leaving out cd-9.tar? That means that the bigbackup file will be incomplete, but that is better than no file or having bigbackup missing six files on the back end.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Respectfully,


Newport_j

You can extract the remaining tar files individually by not using the -M option.

https://ftp.gnu.org/old-gnu/Manuals/...e/tar_137.html

I tried just a simple listing of the contents of the files and nothing else.

Here is the result.

-linux tarfile]$ tar -tvf cd-1.tar
-rw-r--r-- james/james 10755138772 2011-08-15 12:35 bigbacku.tar.bz2
tar: Unexpected EOF in archive
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

I am quite sure the command is okay. I understand that it would reach a unexpected EOF. i am only lusting
cd-1.tar which is just the first cd of a tar file thta takes 15 cd-1.tar.

I pack the files and then wote all fifeteen parts onto 15 cd's using Ubuntu 64 bit, 11.04.

Now i am trying to unpack it and A PC using Redhat 64 bit latest version which I am ashamed to say I do not know.

Any way what causes this error (unexpected EOF and) and how do work around it.

I know that this error sometimes is generated when someone packs a files on a PC with one linux OS and then
tries to unpack when on a PC with another version of linux.

i just want to get these files back.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Respectfully,

Newport_j



.

I tried just a simple listing of the contents of the files and nothing else.

Here is the result.

-linux tarfile]$ tar -tvf cd-1.tar
-rw-r--r-- james/james 10755138772 2011-08-15 12:35 bigbacku.tar.bz2
tar: Unexpected EOF in archive
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

I am quite sure the command is okay. I understand that it would reach a unexpected EOF. i am only lusting
cd-1.tar which is just the first cd of a tar file thta takes 15 cd-1.tar.

I pack the files and then wote all fifeteen parts onto 15 cd's using Ubuntu 64 bit, 11.04.

Now i am trying to unpack it and A PC using Redhat 64 bit latest version which I am ashamed to say I do not know.

Any way what causes this error (unexpected EOF and) and how do work around it.

I know that this error sometimes is generated when someone packs a files on a PC with one linux OS and then
tries to unpack when on a PC with another version of linux.

i just want to get these files back.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Respectfully,

Newport_j

Since bigbacku.tar.bz2 is split across volumes it will quit with an error. You might have to provide some additional information as to how the the multi-volume archive was created. If it is only one file i.e. bigbacku.tar.bz2 then you might be in trouble.