save files before re-install

Peter Shepard · 12-13-2006, 03:29 PM

hello,

i have accidentally erased my /bin directory. I can access a shell but not as root and then when I get in I cannot change the passwd because the /bin/bash is missing. All my files are intact and I am hoping to save them and re-install ubuntu. I have an usb flash drive but I cannot mount it because I am not root. Is there a way to save my files before I re-install either on the flash or on the disk?

Thanks

fordeck · 12-13-2006, 03:37 PM

Do you have access to a live CD (i.e. Knoppix)? If so you could boot up with that and mount your usb drive and the partition the files on you want to copy. Then copy them over.

Peter Shepard · 12-13-2006, 03:41 PM

Not really sure. I have a ubuntu 6.06 cd. How do I mount the files I want on to this partition?

Thanks for your reply.

fordeck · 12-13-2006, 04:11 PM

I think you could boot up with ubuntu, then mount the partition with the files you want to save. For example:

Code:

sudo mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1

Replace hda1 with the correct partition name. Also if /mnt/<partition-name-here> does not exist you would have to create it. If your not sure what partition to mount you can view your harddrives partitions like this:

Example data

Code:

sudo fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sda: 82.3 GB, 82348277760 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 10011 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1          13      104391   83  Linux
/dev/sda2              14        1543    12289725   83  Linux
/dev/sda3            1544        1670     1020127+  83  Linux
/dev/sda4            1671       10011    66999082+   5  Extended
/dev/sda5            1671        3200    12289693+  83  Linux
/dev/sda6            3201        3965     6144831   83  Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 82.3 GB, 82348277760 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 10011 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1         126     1012063+  82  Linux swap
/dev/sdb2             127        5098    39937590   83  Linux

You would need to know which partition has your files on it. If you have not created a bunch of partitions then it will be easy to choose the right one. Otherwise you may have to mount a couple till you find the right one. I think with ubuntu you should be able to plug the usb drive and it will auto mount. If not post again and maybe I can help you with that.

Best Regards,
Fordeck

Peter Shepard · 12-16-2006, 07:36 AM

Thanks for your help I was able to boot and installl using the live boot command by pressing escape at the cd menu.

boot: live vga=771 noapic nolapic acpi=off

vga=771 allows the resolution to automatically adjust.

Thanks again.