Recovering a lost OS
 

I have partitioned to put Mint on my new laptop but.... I have lost Windows 8.

8 is not really important to me, but I may require it in the foreseeable future to communicate files and transfer files to Mint.

Can I recover 8?
Can it be placed at the back of my Hard drive to take up very little space?

Any help will most welcome

It depends, really, how Mint was installed. Did you get an option, while installing, to resize the Windows partition?

What do you see if you open a terminal and run sudo fdisk -l (list all disk partitions)?

Hi Robhogg,
Thank you but I have exasperated my problem.
It was to hell with windows and I have reinstalled Mint but with the 64 bit version.
Once installed I started loading some of my docs and left the laptop for lunch.
Now when I turn it on I get a full screen terminal.
I can load and install from the command line but that is all, I cannot get into the OS and I don't know what if anything I have done or what I must do to get back into my OS.
Not only a newbie but a silly "old" sod.

Syd

Info: before the terminal I get
....ubuntu 13.04.....
usb 1-1.1:string descriptor 0 read error:22

Checking dist drive for errors
This may take several minutes

Press C to cancel all checks


Then up pops the full screen terminal

Hope this helps

Recovering a lost OS-reply to Robhogg
 

Hi Robhogg,

I have run fdisk -l as instructed and this is what I get. I must say it means nothing to me.
Would it be better for me to backup and re-install?

fdisk -l result

bash: /usr/bin/mint-fortune: No such file or directory
syd@syd-Aspire-V3-571 ~ $ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for syd:

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00065888

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 499711 248832 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 501758 1953523711 976510977 5 Extended
Partition 2 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/sda5 501760 1953523711 976510976 8e Linux LVM

Disk /dev/mapper/mint--vg-root: 991.5 GB, 991499911168 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 120542 cylinders, total 1936523264 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/mapper/mint--vg-root doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/mapper/mint--vg-swap_1: 8396 MB, 8396996608 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1020 cylinders, total 16400384 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/mapper/mint--vg-swap_1 doesn't contain a valid partition table
syd@syd-Aspire-V3-571 ~ $


Thank you for your help so far much appreciated.

Syd

So when you boot up on to a terminal type.

type your pasword, hit enter and let it do its thing.
next type
if prompted type your password, hit enter and let it do its thing.
once is done running type
usually after running these command you would wish to reboot your computer

Note:
sudo is the 'super user do' command in Linux base operating system most of the admin tasks must be done from a super user level. So for you to perform changes , updates and installation of new program you have level up yourself with the root pasword.

If you just want to read the a configuration file or an error log you can do it with the cat command.

like you must replace user from that command to the name of your user in your computer. Another thing is that if the file is big you will just see a bunch of text flying in front of your eyes. if the file is too big and you want to see it with pauses you type

then you can hit the space bar to see portions of the file. To get out of the cat command you just press the q key.

post result of your command line here on the forums using the quote tags by using [ ] like
[.quote]put your quote here [./quote] without the period thouhg.


good luck to you

Hi TroN-0074,

I have followed the sudo commands, rebooted and the error message has gone.
There is a Ubuntu 15 .... then I get full terminal with login and password request same as before:
Exactly what I get

Ubuntu 15
. . . .

Then:
Linux Mint 15 Olivia syd-Aspire-V3-572 tty1
syd-Aspire.....etc Login:
type login
then password:
type in password XXXXXXXXX
command line.......~$
type in startx
& Hey Wallah

Nothing but

Last login: Date time etc on tty1
Welcome to Linux Mint
* Documentation: http://www.linuxmint.com
-bash:/usr/bin/mint-fortune:No such file or directory
syd@syd......etc ~$
type startx and Whoopie I'm in

Do I just backup and try to install again?

Your advice will be most welcome

Regards,

Syd

I suspect that the problem is with a video driver that is not loaded correctly. Do you happen to know what video card do you have?

If we cant figure out what video device you have even if you re install chances are the problem will persist.

Do this type on the terminal

type your password, hit enter and see the result, paste the results here but use the quote tags so we can read it better.

Hi TroN0074

I am not sure about the video card all I can say is there is Intel Core i7-3632QM CPU @2.20GHz x4 8 GB & 1TB on an Acer Aspire-V3-571

Is this what you want? I trust thequotes are correct. I am learning slowly

you left out the - infront of knn

so you need to type
then post the results here

Hi again TroN,
Sorry about my little ommision, comes with old age and being a beginner.
Hope I have it right now

This line here is your graphic card
Here is more information about a sub system Two video cards perhaps?
This line tell us what the kernel is using So you will need to install the right driver for it. I havent had the chance to work with a computer with that hardware. Perhaps another member here has. Another thing it might work is load the generic VESA module for video.

I read on another post that Linux mint 13 already had the driver included

I have been looking a solution for your display problem and nobody out there in the web is reporting any issues like the one you are facing.

Here is a link to a full specs http://www.linlap.com/acer_aspire_v3-571

maybe re install will be one solution?

Thanks for link i am also looking for this.