problem starting ubuntu ...please help

[karan_sharma01]

hi I am using ubuntu 8.10 on my desktop ...and theres a problem ...its not getting started.

After the routine checkup it showed some error .....and i used fsck command to manually recover the error ....after recovering all the errors its showing something like during booting

starting kernel log deamon ....[ok]
mkdie: cannot access directory '/var/run' : Read only file system
chown: cannot access '/var/run/Klogd': No such file or directory
mkfifo: cannot create fifo '/var/run/klogd/kmsg': No such file or directory
...
....
start-stor-deamon:Unable to open pidfile '/var/run/klog/kmsgpipe.pid' for writing : No such file or directory (No such file or directory


and after this a blue screen comes up saying ..
Server Authorization directory (deamon/ServerAuthDir) is set to /var/lib/gdm but this does not exist.Please correct GDM configuration and restart GDM.

Im not been able to access my computer .... and need serious help

thanx in advance

[ubudog]

Looks like a bunch of needed files are missing. You may have to reinstall. If you can get to the recovery console, you can backup your stuff to a flash drive or cd.

[karan_sharma01]

Is there any way around .......or anything so that i can save my data..??

[DrMelon]

As has been said, you might want to use a newer version (like 10.04, for example).

[ubudog]

Start the recovery mode. Insert a cd or flash drive, and copy the files to it.

cp nameoffile /media/nameofdrive

Then, go on another computer and get a 10.04 cd and install ubuntu from that.

Oh, and you have to type cp -a for directories.

[karan_sharma01]

tried sudo fsck -fy...still the same problem.....and yes i'll try to use 10.04......but is there any way to sove this problem???

[karan_sharma01]

sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm is giving the output

Unrecognize chalacter \xA8 in column 1 at /usr/lib/perl/5.10/IO/File.pm line 1.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/share/perl/5.10/FileHandle.pm Line 9.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/share/perl/5.10/Debconf/Template.pm line 8.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/share/perl/5.10/Debconf/Template.pm line 8
.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Question.pm line 8.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Question.pm line 8.
.

Compilation failed in require at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Config.pm line 7.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/share/perl/5.10/Debconf/Config.pm line 7.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Log.pm line 10.
Compilation failed in require at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Db.pm line 7
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/share/perl/5.10/Debconf/Db.pm line7
Compilation failed in require at /usr/sbin/dpkg-reconfigure line 9.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/sbin/dpkg-reconfigure line 9

[sadaruwan12]

....um, did you.... log in as root and start thrashing around folders? O.o.

It does seem kind of like reinstalling would be the easiest route. Things look all sorts of messed up. I'm afraid I don't know what to do there.

You don't need any command line to get your files off, just a liveCD. You can boot up via the cd, mount your hard drive, and drag 'n drop the files onto another drive.

I'm sorry if this doesn't get resolved, but this looks nasty. I'll keep following and input any suggestions if I can think of one.

I also agree with Chauncellor this kind of error comes when you hdd get messed up the remedy for this kind of a error is to do a clean install to recover your files you might have to use the live cd and from that you can copy your data to pen drive.

And theres no way around this kind of a problem.

[karan_sharma01]

Ive been using ubuntu for some time now .... i dont think i did something like this
anyways thanx for your help..... i'll try to this with live cd

[sadaruwan12]

Ive been using ubuntu for some time now .... i dont think i did something like this
anyways thanx for your help..... i'll try to this with live cd

Well thats thing Bro you haven't we have any way If your home folder is in a new partition you can format and install the root with out loosing your data but best advised to take a backup.

Oh .... and if you can use a new version live cd.