install deb package using dpkg from live cd

babagau · 12-05-2010, 04:16 PM

I want to rescue my system. After a faulty installation of linux-firmware_1.38_all.deb (subprocess /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1))
the system does not boot, even in recovery mode. Using a live cd, I downloaded the linux-firmware version I had previously, and try to install it with dpkg but I can't direct it to the directories I need:

dpkg -i linux-firmware_1.26_all.deb
Segmentation fault

dpkg -i --instdir=/mnt/sdb1 linux-firmware_1.26_all.deb
dpkg: unrecognized option '--instdir=/mnt/sdb1

I cannot get the correct parameters even by reading the man page. What am I missing? thanks guys

andrewthomas · 12-05-2010, 06:49 PM

You need to install the package from within a chroot.

babagau · 12-06-2010, 07:41 AM

thank you very much!

andrewthomas · 12-06-2010, 07:46 AM

If you are unsure how to do this, here is the script that I use

Code:

#!/bin/bash
sudo mount /dev/sdaX /mnt/
#sudo mount /dev/sdaY /mnt/boot
sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc
sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
sudo mount --bind /dev/pts /mnt/dev/pts
sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys
sudo mount --bind /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/etc/resolv.conf
sudo chroot /mnt/ /bin/bash
# execute your commands here
sudo umount /mnt/etc/resolv.conf
sudo umount /mnt/sys
sudo umount /mnt/dev/pts
sudo umount /mnt/dev
sudo umount /mnt/proc
#sudo umount /mnt/boot
sudo umount /mnt/

You just have to change the sdaX to whatever partition your / exists on and uncomment the two commented lines and change to what partition your boot resides on (only if you have them on a separate partition.) You can either copy/paste the lines one at a time in the terminal, or just make the script executable and run it.

babagau · 12-09-2010, 08:09 AM

I also made attempts by adding init=/bin/bash at the end of the kernel line at grub start-up. So I booted in runlevel1, but after viewing the dpkg log, there were far too many packages half installed and half configured so I reinstalled the system. From what I understand by looking at your script and reading man mount, you mount the directories of the live cd at the /mnt. Why is that?

andrewthomas · 12-09-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babagau

you mount the directories of the live cd at the /mnt. Why is that?

It really does not matter what you mount it at. I did forget to tell you to

Code:

mkdir /mnt

before running the script since the directory that you are mounting has to exist. You could call it anything you want.

babagau · 12-10-2010, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewthomas

It really does not matter what you mount it at.

Sorry, I think I was ambiguous, I meant why mount some of the directories of the live cd as a subtree to the sdaX mounted partition. What do we need these directories mounted there?

thanks,
Baba