PDA

View Full Version : [SOLVED] fixing failed installation of 10.04



doihavetodothis?
September 7th, 2010, 11:49 AM
Please help me to save my home folder, mail and bookmarks.
I have a dual boot PC, tried to upgrade to Lucid Lynx and the upgrade failed. Can't boot into it at all. Windows XP still works fine. I have the live CD for a re-install now. I read this post but don't understand the difference between the instructions for the partitions. Have posted my screen shots below.
First screen shows that I have 10.04 and offers me the option to partition further.
Screenshot 1 I choose manual partition and then it gives me the right sized partitions. . Then in screenshot 2 I edit and choose the mount point as /, is that right?
(screen shot 3). Do I then change that option again to choose /home?
because otherwise it takes me straight to screenshot 4, the user name set up.

What am I missing?
Here is the post I am using as a guide:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1569675

There's No Custom User Title Here
http://ubuntuforums.org/images/rank_uf_staff.png

http://ubuntuforums.org/customavatars/avatar610428_55.gif (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=610428)

Join Date: May 2007
Location: The New Forest
My beans are hidden!
Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

Re: Re install Ubuntu but keep /home
If your /home is on a seperate partition, start the installer - pick manual at the partition stage.

Select the existing / partition - Edit partition - Use as ext4,format and Mountpoint - / then save/close that window

Select the existing /home partition - Edit partition - Use as whatever it was previously, DO NOT FORMAT and Mountpoint /home - save and close that window

Check that the only partition that is going to be formatted is the existing / partition.

Carry on - that will install over the existing installation and use the old /home.

Use the same username though.

Always good to have backups though :wink:
__________________

Realtime help at #ubuntu-beginners (http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=ubuntu-beginners)


Help us help you (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8920811&postcount=1)

rotave
September 7th, 2010, 12:34 PM
This tutorial video might explain the process better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOMIbf_dbDY

doihavetodothis?
September 7th, 2010, 01:18 PM
Thanks, I'm working off the liveCD right now, and can't watch the vid... but the partitioning is already done and has been working with Hardy Heron and XP for the last two years. The prob is replacing the failed upgrade without losing my data?

rotave
September 7th, 2010, 11:53 PM
Your current configuration does not have a seperate /home partition, therefore the only way to save your home folders, docs etc is to back them up from the live cd to a usb drive and then reinstall ubuntu with a seperate /home partition.

doihavetodothis?
September 8th, 2010, 08:47 AM
Thanks - I can get most of my files, that way and have already, but not my mail and my bookmarks - can't get permission to copy them and even if I could I don't think that the right way to save/back up my mail... gksu nautilus doesn't work.

doihavetodothis?
September 12th, 2010, 09:10 PM
Thanks - I can get most of my files, that way and have already, but not my mail and my bookmarks - can't get permission to copy them and even if I could I don't think that the right way to save/back up my mail... gksu nautilus doesn't work.
Just for anyone's info - from the live Cd go to your ubuntu partition use sudo nautilus in the command line and change the permissions of files to read (by others or to read and write) then copy them to where ever you want to back them up. - usb, dvd, other partition. Then re-install. You should change permissions back afterwards...
I haven't got there yet, but I'm assuming that if I split my partition between / for the OS and /home this problem will never happen again :D
And of course next time I will back up before trying to update.