Re: [vox-tech] AAARRRGGGHHHH! (Translation: Linux got hosed)

[Brad Benedict <bradb@aMAPSfes.com>]

Ahh.  Now I know what you're saying.  Can't help you there.  What I
would do is back them up, if at all possible, then just copy it.  You
might be able to back them up with muLinux or another disk-based Linux,
by copying to another drive or something.
"Mark K. Kim" wrote:
> 
> Well, the root partition is completely unuseable so I do need to format
> it.  HOWEVER, /usr and /usr/local are on different partitions and I'd like
> to keep the files on those partitions.  If I were to install/update, it'll
> overwrite, install around, or partial-install around the files in those
> partitions.  I'd rather leave those partitions alone; just clean install
> root.
> 
> -Mark
> 
> On Wed, 9 May 2001, Brad Benedict wrote:
> 
> > Oh, I take it you don't want to format your partition?  If you did that,
> > it would just do a clean install.  That's the easiest way I know of.  If
> > you choose Update, it will overwrite the packages that have been changed
> > :-\.  I don't know if I'm helping or not, but I don't really understand
> > what you're saying.
> >
> > "Mark K. Kim" wrote:
> > >
> > > I could, but what would then happen to the existing files?  Won't rpm (the
> > > program) complain about overwriting existing files?  Will it overwrite the
> > > existing files, will it back up old files, or will it skip them?  If it
> > > overwrites them, it's going to leave around old files that haven't been
> > > overwritten.  If it backs up old files, that's great.  If it skips them,
> > > I'll end up with a half-installed system that'll complain for the rest of
> > > the partition's life.  I'd like to know what will happen before
> > > installation so I know what to expect.
> > >
> > > Also, the other partitions work perfectly fine as far as I know.  I'd
> > > rather install just the root partition to recover the system I had.
> > >
> > > -Mark
> > >
> > > On Wed, 9 May 2001, Brad Benedict wrote:
> > >
> > > > Can't you just re-install, and choose to format your root partition, and
> > > > not your /home partition?  That's what I do when I screw Linux up to the
> > > > point where it won't work anymore.
> > > >
> > > > "Mark K. Kim" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > My Linux has been acting weird for a while... and it's finally gotten
> > > > > hosed today (just the root partition, as far as I can tell, though).
> > > > > It's incredibly annoying to use alpha/beta kernel modules...  at least I
> > > > > think that's the source of the problem...  I guess I'll reinstall the root
> > > > > partition.
> > > > >
> > > > > But I'm not sure how I can install just the root partition.  'cause the
> > > > > "install" option (on Mandrake) would try to *install* RPMs (as opposed to
> > > > > *upgrade* RPMs) which may not work properly because there are existing
> > > > > RPMs.  Which reminds me -- since the root partition is gone, the RPM
> > > > > database is also gone, right? -- so what will happen if I try to
> > > > > install/upgrade an RPM and there are existing files from the previous
> > > > > install but not registered in the RPM database?
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks!
> > > > >
> > > > > -Mark
> > > > >
> > > > > ---
> > > > > Mark K. Kim
> > > > > http://www.cbreak.org/mark/
> > > > > PGP key available upon request.
> > > >
> > >
> > > ---
> > > Mark K. Kim
> > > http://www.cbreak.org/mark/
> > > PGP key available upon request.
> >
> 
> ---
> Mark K. Kim
> http://www.cbreak.org/mark/
> PGP key available upon request.