Re: Newbie question on recovery---<solved>

[jerryk]

I am very new to Linux and my knowledge of computers is limited but I did manage to install Mint 11, grub with Windows 7. Being a stupid newbie I did some stupid things like downloading some programs fixes from the web not realizing the programs were available within mint 11. I think these early errors caught up to me. As a result, I could watch a video on Chrome but not on Firefox. I was hoping that linux had something like system restore but it doesn't. Anyway, while watching a video I lost the video connection and it crashed. When I started it again it said that the graphics were low. So I attempted to follow the directions but that froze. So next I ran the recovery from the grub. From the menu I chose the Resume normal boot. It says Starting flash streaming server red5-server----failed. After running the recovery it asked for my login and password which I typed. Then a drawing of a penguin and some words for wisdom and the following line (not in quotes) "jerryk@jerryk-EC14-Series ~ $"

Now while typing this message above I happen to touch the up key and it said "Sudo add-apt-repository ppa: sevenmachines/flash" So I push enter (enter password) and it says "Error reading https:lauchpad.net/api/1.0/~:sevenmachine/+ archive/flash~: <urlopen error [Errno-2] name or service not known> Followed by "jerryk@jerryk-EC14-Series ~ $" What do I do next? Is there a command line that I should enter?

[xenopeek]

If you don't know what you did to get to this point, perhaps just easier to reinstall. I know I reinstalled Linux a few times the first year I used it I suggest you backup your personal files and things like bookmarks from your browsers, perhaps take a list of additional programs that you installed, and do a clean reinstall. Perhaps wait for the Linux Mint 12 final release which should be out soon.

The recovery mode gets you to a console where you run as root. This is meant for manual recovery of the system; it doesn't do anything magical, you will have to do it all yourself. That includes setting up your network connection (which in the graphical boot the NetworkManager does for you). So it is really more intended if you know what you are doing. Be very careful what you do in recovery mode, as you run as root you can do anything--including altering or deleting critical system files without any warnings or having to acknowledge it!

There are various ways to take a backup of your installation. Things like CloneZilla. I'm not sure about a system restore function, but there is Back In Time, which will let you easily flip back and forth in time from backups made of specific directories. (You could for example use it to backup /etc, so you can always go back in you mess something up with the system configuration, but this won't remove installed packages.)

[Silent Warrior]

Can you select to run commandline with networking from the recovery mode? It should definitely be possible to recover from this - though reinstalling is absolutely less effort. It all hinges on your internet connectivity, though. If you can't get that working easily enough, just reinstall.

[DataMan]

As Vincent referenced, there are quite a few good backup apps out there. My personal preference is fsarchiver.

Any of the backup apps can be used as a pseudo-recovery app if a backup is made BEFORE you start changing things (this applies to updates as well). Upon completion of the change, run the backup app again to image out the changed condition of your ops.

Using this simple approach, you have, in essence established a recovery point. This method has spared me countless hours of trouble shooting and hacking to overcome an update / new version / install etc. problems.

The last recommendation I would like to make is to use the Mint Forums as your FIRST stop when you have questions about specific new apps or problems you are experiencing. As you just learned the hard way, there is a whole lot of misinformation out on the public web. This is not to say that you may never receive a bit of bad advice here, but your chances of accurate responses to your questions are pretty high here.

-DataMan

[jerryk]

Thank you for the quick response. I reinstalled Mint 11 and it works. The previous video problems have been resolved.

Please mark this problem as solved.

[sunewbie]

As you have said, you have both win 7 and Mint 11 dual boot. In such case generally people manually store data on NTFS partition, since Linux can read / write it. (Hope you have only one hard disk.) If so, it is easy, you can backup data to any external device through win7.

Incase you have some data in /home folder which is partitioned ext3 or ext4, you can use LIVE CD, just boot into LIVE CD and backup all the data you need it. For future ref, there is a free service called Dropbox, which allows you to upload upto 2 GB data for Free. You can consider this service, if yuou have a broadband.

If you have enabled sync option in Opera, FF or Chrome, then no need to worry .

Through LIVE CD, you can check weather everything is running fine or not, then proceed to install. Fresh install takes 10-15 mins and troubleshooting may need from 5 mins to 30 mins (or even more), depending upon problem and your expertise.

Since experienced users have suggested you to go for fresh install, I will try my best to explain manual installation:

It is not difficult as it looks like. Once you are able to do it, it will give you much confidence. Alternatively, you can try to install inside Virtualbox. I suggest you to try to install inside Virtualbox, if you have never installed any other Linux manually i.e. the current install, that you managed and messed up is your first Linux Install. Virtualbox can be installed inside win7 (~95 MB exe file). This will give you good confidence. (Search in net on how to install Linux Mint as guest OS inside Virtualbox, if you do not get required results, which is unlikely, replace Mint with Ubuntu.). Next time, whatever R & D, you wish to do, do it inside Virtualbox.

To explain installation with screen-shots is beyond my pay grade

Linux needs 3 partitions as against only 1 partition that windows require. Other partition is automatically created for backup.

1. /root partition: This is where you system is installed

2. /home partition: this is where all data and maybe config files are stored (please correct if I am wrong). So I case of multiple distros like one windows and 2 Linux e.g. Mint and Ubuntu, you can have a common /home folder.

3. /swap partition: This is like RAM. It is generally 2x times the size of RAM. If your RAM is 2GB, then Swap partition should be 4GB.

If you again select dual boot, as I did in case of Ubuntu 9.1, another copy of Mint can be installed along with existing one.

After you select manual install, you will have to create / select partitions.

Since you have installed Mint, so all three partitions would already be present.

Select, the partition, in which MINT is installed and just reformat (only) this partition, keeping same file system i.e. ext3 or ext4 (It should be ext4, but even ext3 is of no harm).For Reformatting, Gparted will be triggered. You need to right click on the partition and select option to reformat to ext3/ext4). After selecting, click apply button (on main menu - just hover over it to read tool tip) to start the format process. (search for manual install and you will get good explanation along with screenshots).After the format is complete, you will be returned to the installation screen where you need to select other partitions.

In your case, SWAP should be automatically selected, if not, you can easily identify SWAP, as it is the smallest partition between 1 GB to 4 - 6 GB.
Just select it without formatting.

Then select the last, remaining partition as /home and format it. This will clean all data and config files, etc. If you do not format this partition, still you will be able to install Mint.

After selecting and formatting all 3 partitions, just follow the instructions and let the install do it's work.

In 10 -15 mins, you should have Mint installed, ready to use.

Enjoy !!!


--

Note: You can also install win 7 as guest OS inside Virtualbox
Tip: If you want to do any R & D after you install Mint (which is host OS), Install Virtualbox inside Mint and then Install Mint (as guest OS) inside Virtualbox.
Tip2: Store data mp3 on NTFS, so that you can access through win 7 or Mint. I have common drive for data since 2 years.Till now, I have encountered any data loss

[sunewbie]

Thank you for the quick response. I reinstalled Mint 11 and it works. The previous video problems have been resolved.

Please mark this problem as solved.

Only the author (or mod) can mark it as solved.

Edit your first post, in the Subject line add [SOLVED]

[jerryk]

Thank you for the quick response. I reinstalled Mint 11 and it works. The previous video problems have been resolved.

Please mark this problem as solved.

Thanks Again