Lost system after update. Can I get access to some data? {pretty much solved!}

[Old-Polack]

Before I start my own thread is this what I should have after yesterday's update.

That command works on mine and mine says 2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs

Kernels are not part of the normal upgrade process. Kernel installations should be done as a separate installation procedure, and are at the user's discretion. The command;

[root@fatman ~]# ls -l /boot |grep vm
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root      25 Jan 26 20:28 vmlinuz -> vmlinuz-3.2.18-pclos3.bfq
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2237856 May 24  2012 vmlinuz-3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2250064 Aug  1  2012 vmlinuz-3.2.18-pclos3.bfq

...shows that I have two kernels installed; the vmlinuz-3.2.18-pclos3.bfq is currently set as the default, but I'm booted to the other one, as I haven't yet rebooted since installing it. This being an installation of the 64 bit RC1, I have no older kernels.

[root@fatman ~]# uptime
 11:07:01 up 13 days, 22:57,  5 users,  load average: 0.77, 0.80, 0.63

Got to get around to rebooting, one of these days. 

[joechimp]

Thanks again O-P.

I will check out the kernels situation.

I was able to get to the control center by typing pcc.

However on another reboot the graphical interface is gone and I can only access it in text form.

So back to the drawing board and figure all that is wrong and start another thread looking for help.

I really hate this......signed a spoiled PCLinuxOS user.

[Old-Polack]

Thanks again O-P.

I will check out the kernels situation.

I was able to get to the control center by typing pcc.

However on another reboot the graphical interface is gone and I can only access it in text form.

So back to the drawing board and figure all that is wrong and start another thread looking for help.

I really hate this......signed a spoiled PCLinuxOS user.

Come on now, this is where the fun really starts. You get to learn something, fixing what's broken. If it never breaks, you never get the chance to learn all the neat stuff.

[joechimp]

Come on now, this is where the fun really starts. You get to learn something, fixing what's broken. If it never breaks, you never get the chance to learn all the neat stuff.

You make a good point. Thanks

The last time I had a real difficult problem, I was ready to give up. I persevered and was able to fix it without any help. It was quite gratifying.

This time I did not do that. I sought immediate help.   

I will plug away and see what I can do. This is quite a tough one though.

Onward and upward......

[joechimp]

Well, I just discovered one thing. KDE is not an option in display manager.

Could be a good reason it isn't booting to KDE. 

[daniel]

i would like to see the logfiles from synaptic.
Is there a way to post it?

Daniel

[joechimp]

That would be difficult as it is on another computer and I have limited abilities using it at this time.

It seems to be a problem with kde4-config

It tells me: "The following packages have unresolvable dependencies. Make sure that all required repositories are added and enabled in the preferences. "

then: 

kde4-config :

Depends: kde-smooth-tasks
Depends: wallpaper-theme-default

[davey]

Old-Polack, here's the output from fdisk:

[root@localhost dave]# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000d9919

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *          63   382893209   191446573+  83  Linux
/dev/sda2       382893210   401898104     9502447+   5  Extended
/dev/sda3       596207616   976773119   190282752   83  Linux
/dev/sda4       401944576   596207615    97131520   83  Linux
/dev/sda5       382893273   401898104     9502416   82  Linux swap / Solaris

--------------------------

The original (borked) install was on sda1. The partition manager shows 3 partitions plus Swap. The new Mini install is on sda 3. Drakboot shows sda3 as the default. It also shows the sda 1 Linux, but with no further info. Hmm... One odd think I just noticed: drakboot shows sda 1 and 3, but not 4, which holds a Bodhi install. The partition manager shows sda4 as Bodhi, which is in the bootlist and boots just fine. Sometimes I wonder if stuff from one partition can somehow bleed off into other and make mischief.

[JohnW_57]

Looks like here is grub legacy and grub2 causes the issue?

JohnW

[davey]

Yay!!! All fixed. Following various ideas here, I again tried reinstalling KDE4 from Synaptic and the CLI. As usual, got the "broken dependencies" message and no installing. So, with nothing to lose I went back to synaptic and removed every package that had anything to do with KDE. Rebooted, and voila! It's back. So far it looks like the only thing lost is KJots and a little data on it. It would be good to know why this happened for several people with the update, but at least all is well.

Thanks everybody!

I don't quite trust this install, so will keep backing up the important stuff and keep building my fresh, clean  MiniMe on another partition. Or wait and start over when/if a 64 bit Mini hits. (not that I see any difference between 32 and 64).

[joechimp]

Wish that had worked for me.

I have tried a lot of things yet it remains the same.

I will keep trying. Perhaps if I can fix it I can pass it on to someone here that may have this problem in the future.

btw, is there anyway to update the repositories in the state my computer is in. I thought that might be helpful to my solving this. Thank you.

[joechimp]

Well, some interesting things have happened.

I have succeeded in getting to the desktop. Albeit a black screen with a black desktop. Also I have to login through one of the 2 white terminals mention in previous posts.The taskbar is there but show the desktop is a big X and dolphin has a gear icon and says dolphin does not exist.

How it came to that I don't know. However I can get these back.

I was able to remove and add multiple things in synaptic after I was able to reload a couple of things in the repositories. I was able to get to the configure your computer and was able to add the KDE back as an option.

So I will consider this a partial success in part at this time due to perseverance.
I will let you know if I am completely successful.

[joechimp]

Update:

I decided to trying to update my KDE base to see if something was corrupted.
It worked in as much as I now see my desktop icons on a black screen. Adding wallpaper is next. I still don't have a show desktop icon. Was unable to find it in widgets or get more widgets. Need to bypass the 2 white terminals though.  I have to login as root in the terminal and then it lets me login in as guest in some funky looking dialog box.That should be the last task to recovery.

[Texstar]

Update:

I decided to trying to update my KDE base to see if something was corrupted.
It worked in as much as I now see my desktop icons on a black screen. Adding wallpaper is next. I still don't have a show desktop icon. Was unable to find it in widgets or get more widgets. Need to bypass the 2 white terminals though.  I have to login as root in the terminal and then it lets me login in as guest in some funky looking dialog box.That should be the last task to recovery.

The 2 white terminals indicate you do not have a login manager such as kdm installed.

[joechimp]

Thank you Tex.
 It shows that it is installed but I will uninstall it an reinstall and see if that makes a difference.