There must be a way to modify protected files with Knoppix!!

natterport · 11-22-2006, 11:33 AM

My installation of UBUNTU locks up at “decompressing Linux OK... Loading Kernel”. The only way I can boot up my computer is to use my Knoppix Live CD. I need to modify the protected file /boot/grub/menu.lst file to fix the problem. There must be a simple way to use Knoppix to do this! I can find the file and modify it I just can't save it. Is there somewhere that I would use my password that I set up when I originally installed UBUNTU?

I'm a newbie so please be very specific.

Thanks,
Michael

fordeck · 11-22-2006, 11:49 AM

It been awhile, but off the top of my head. Try right clicking on the icon on the Knoppix desktop. I believe there is an option to mount so you can write.

natterport · 11-22-2006, 04:43 PM

But I am still unable to save the file, as I don't have the proper privileges. Any thoughts?

Spinlock · 11-22-2006, 05:29 PM

Get Slax. It's small, fast, and best of all, you're root, and root is all powerful. That means YOU'RE ALL POWERFUL! Plus, Knoppix mounts all external filesystems read-only by default.

Go here (link points to Knoppix.net Using FAQ) which tells you how to do it. Good luck!

And btw... if that STILL doesn't work... GET SLAX!

fordeck · 11-22-2006, 05:54 PM

On the menu bar, click on the penquin and there is an option for a root shell. Or in any knoppix terminal you can use sudo <command> to get root.

fordeck · 11-22-2006, 06:08 PM

While in Knoppix open a terminal. Lets assume that /dev/hda1 is the partition you want access to and it is mounted to /mnt/hda1. You can get this information by:

Code:

df -h

Lets unmount it first:

Code:

sudo umount /mnt/hda1

now lets mount it for read and write:

Code:

sudo mount -o rw /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1

If you run df again you should see it in the output. You should now be able to fix /boot/grub/menu.lst. Let me know if that works