Boot problem after / partition resize - ( Stupid mistake !!) [SOLVED]

[Old-Polack]

francis:

First you need to actually install MiniMe. You will need to use the expert/custom partitioning section to tell the installer on which partition to put / and /home. Do not even mention swap during this phase, or the installer will reformat it, and lose your swap label. Also when you get the window where it shows which partitions will be formatted, make sure that neither is checked, or the same thing will happen with the main two partitions. All you want the installer to do is copy the files to the hard drive in the right location, and install grub.

[Tony]

First you need to actually install MiniMe. You will need to use the expert/custom partitioning section to tell the installer on which partition to put / and /home. Do not even mention swap during this phase, or the installer will reformat it, and lose your swap label. Also when you get the window where it shows which partitions will be formatted, make sure that neither is checked, or the same thing will happen with the main two partitions. All you want the installer to do is copy the files to the hard drive in the right location, and install grub.

Really, o.k.
Gonna have to leave Comp on, and install Minime later unfortuneately.

You will need to use the expert/custom partitioning section to tell the installer on which partition to put / and /home.

Wow, o.k.
Pretty straightforward, damn, have to just jot this down, no printer of course, lol.
Wow ...

[Old-Polack]

First you need to actually install MiniMe. You will need to use the expert/custom partitioning section to tell the installer on which partition to put / and /home. Do not even mention swap during this phase, or the installer will reformat it, and lose your swap label. Also when you get the window where it shows which partitions will be formatted, make sure that neither is checked, or the same thing will happen with the main two partitions. All you want the installer to do is copy the files to the hard drive in the right location, and install grub.

Really, o.k.
Gonna have to leave Comp on, and install Minime later unfortuneately.

You will need to use the expert/custom partitioning section to tell the installer on which partition to put / and /home.

Wow, o.k.
Pretty straightforward, damn, have to just jot this down, no printer of course, lol.
Wow ...

You have more than one desktop, so you can just read the instructions from here while running the installer from another desktop. 

[Tony]

*Finally got PCLinuxOS MiniMe installed.
Wasn't any trouble, except that I was using the 'LXDE mini LiveCD' during the whole partitioning sequence, ( )  had to obviously change LiveCD's to MiniMe, plus go out to work, etc., with the disk in, doing the install on my return.

Initially the Drak-Live Wizard shows a graphic on the first page, and suggested using the partitions created with your very clear instructions using the commandline earlier old-polack; suggesting to go with that.
Which I did, although I thought I should have been in the Advanced menu straight off.  
I can see why you said to take care, it's a little 'cryptic' maybe.
Went into the Advanced config after selecting the existing setup, then unchecked any changes it suggested, just used common sense.
Grub is installed, and working.
I didn't let it Format the partitions, had it clear in my head that /dev/sda2 (20 GB, ext4) was /, plus dev/sda3 (16GB,ext4) being /home.
Was obvious the CD was feeding files to the Drive, not Formatting it.  
Most importantly:

" ...Also when you get the window where it shows which partitions will be formatted, make sure that neither is checked, or the same thing will happen with the main two partitions. All you want the installer to do is copy the files to the hard drive in the right location, and install grub."

At the end of the day clarity of instructions really brilliant, thankyou Sir !
I'm stuffed, off to dreamworld ...

[jimi@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 41.1 GB, 41110142976 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4998 cylinders, total 80293248 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: 0x294e53ac

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1            2048     3147775     1572864   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2         3147776    45090815    20971520   83  Linux
/dev/sda3        45090816    80293247    17601216   83  Linux
[root@localhost ~]# df /
Filesystem            Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda2              20G  2.1G   17G  11% /
[root@localhost ~]# df /home
Filesystem            Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda3              17G  381M   16G   3% /home
[root@localhost ~]# df -ahT
Filesystem    Type    Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda2     ext4     20G  2.1G   17G  11% /
none          proc       0     0     0   -  /proc
none        devpts       0     0     0   -  /dev/pts
/dev/sda3     ext4     17G  381M   16G   3% /home
none   binfmt_misc       0     0     0   -  /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc

[Old-Polack]

francis:

To check to be sure your labels are intact, you can do this from the running installed OS:

[root@localhost ~]# blkid               <Enter>

Eanmple:

From my machine, with two drives attached, I can add |grep sda, or |grep sdb to the blkid command to show each drive separately;

[root@fatman ~]# blkid |grep sda
/dev/sda1: LABEL="boot1000" UUID="10165aee-8b41-4c52-aa7e-c6b0d6d17eeb" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda2: LABEL="swap1000" UUID="8b44f813-fd45-4f94-b519-28300b4791ad" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sda3: LABEL="TR5" UUID="6ae6cf37-7fd2-4b9c-86dc-f037141745bb" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda5: LABEL="TR5-Documents" UUID="9c1bbdf4-5f3c-4d70-b03a-983504da6c15" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda6: LABEL="tmpback" UUID="dcf02721-aca8-494f-8182-cc8ab1df8430" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda7: LABEL="TR6" UUID="36feb97d-2f61-4709-b6f5-8e8d8fee3370" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda8: LABEL="kde2011" UUID="8c17ff68-f606-4148-98ac-1e85324e7bc6" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sda9: LABEL="minime" UUID="2454cc3e-24d8-4cd7-bef2-70d9ab665273" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sda10: LABEL="st-backup" UUID="7b1f293e-8deb-49de-adbf-db9173fd2599" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda11: LABEL="os-backups" UUID="3d1692bb-afe0-4648-b5be-d30f1eca32e7" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda12: LABEL="movies2" UUID="fad35a11-5738-401e-88b6-56b78dfeb15a" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda13: LABEL="share1" UUID="9c1c0b28-b24c-40ed-8c90-e5c704021548" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda14: LABEL="minime2010" UUID="ab32e99a-5bb8-4360-b75d-e13df5412608" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sda15: LABEL="kde2010" UUID="f5b15060-9731-4dd8-9250-3d347b883295" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sda16: LABEL="minime12" UUID="d31989a1-48f3-4875-848b-a66db2e86f09" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"

Note that my labels are all shown at the beginning of each line. This is not necessarily so in all cases. Last week the newest reformatted and labeled partition was /dev/sda13, and the label part of the entry was at the end of the line. I'm not sure by what process, but at some point the list gets sorted into the orderly list shown above, on its own, automatically.

Note my swap partition on /dev/sda2 shows as being labeled swap1000, similar to how we named yours swap40, indicating the size of the drive it's located on.

[Tony]

francis:

To check to be sure your labels are intact, you can do this from the running installed OS:

[root@localhost ~]# blkid               <Enter>

You do have a big one don't you 

These commands are great, really essential. I don't think I've upset the 'Partition table' ?

[jimi@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# blkid |grep sda
/dev/sda1: UUID="82bace0a-cdf3-4f26-a43f-73e31916122d" TYPE="swap" LABEL="swap40"
/dev/sda2: LABEL="minime" UUID="805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sda3: LABEL="home" UUID="273075e6-fb03-442e-b1b9-7a17f960429b" TYPE="ext4"
[root@localhost ~]#

Note my swap partition on /dev/sda2 shows as being labeled swap1000, similar to how we named yours swap40, indicating the size of the drive it's located on.

Yep, from my untrained, but learning eye, seems labels are intact ? (Which is a huge relief after the last week of disasters I'd created for myself  )
One little slip of the finger in windows, using a Partition manager, medicated to the eyeballs (Note: Don't go near a Computer if at all intoxicated, in any way  !!! ) , and Kaboom !
Once you've stuffed that first sector with the MBR on it, which only an idiot could do as it takes some effort, all can try is advanced recovery, or Format.
As a Windows User, (past) I used a freeware programme , MBRfix which I recommend.
Once Windows is unbootable it's not alot of good however.
It's nice to know what's going on, lol ... 
I'll shutup now 

[Old-Polack]

francis:

To check to be sure your labels are intact, you can do this from the running installed OS:

[root@localhost ~]# blkid               <Enter>

You do have a big one don't you 

These commands are great, really essential. I don't think I've upset the 'Partition table' ?

[jimi@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# blkid |grep sda
/dev/sda1: UUID="82bace0a-cdf3-4f26-a43f-73e31916122d" TYPE="swap" LABEL="swap40"
/dev/sda2: LABEL="minime" UUID="805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sda3: LABEL="home" UUID="273075e6-fb03-442e-b1b9-7a17f960429b" TYPE="ext4"
[root@localhost ~]#

Note my swap partition on /dev/sda2 shows as being labeled swap1000, similar to how we named yours swap40, indicating the size of the drive it's located on.

Yep, from my untrained, but learning eye, seems labels are intact ? (Which is a huge relief after the last week of disasters I'd created for myself  )
One little slip of the finger in windows, using a Partition manager, medicated to the eyeballs (Note: Don't go near a Computer if at all intoxicated, in any way  !!! ) , and Kaboom !
Once you've stuffed that first sector with the MBR on it, which only an idiot could do as it takes some effort, all can try is advanced recovery, or Format.
As a Windows User, (past) I used a freeware programme , MBRfix which I recommend.
Once Windows is unbootable it's not alot of good however.
It's nice to know what's going on, lol ... 
I'll shutup now 

This is where the fun just gets started. 

From your now running system, in a terminal as root, (you should be getting good at that by now) enter the following;

[root@localhost ~]# cat /boot/grub/menu.lst                  <Enter>

[root@localhost ~]# cat /etc/fstab                          <Enter>

Post your results.

[Tony]

This is where the fun just gets started. 

Oh dear, ... 
Sick of saying, "Thankyou for your very clear instructions, and help."
Please take it that this is so, and I'm growing in confidence. It's been a great journey.

O.K.

 
[jimi@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
timeout 10
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/gfxmenu
default 0

title linux MiniMe
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux_MiniMe root=UUID=805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a  quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=82bace0a-cdf3-4f26-a43f-73e31916122d splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.img

title linux-nonfb
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=UUID=805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a  quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=82bace0a-cdf3-4f26-a43f-73e31916122d
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.img

title failsafe
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=UUID=805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a  quiet failsafe vmalloc=256M acpi=on
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.img
[root@localhost ~]# cat /etc/fstab
# Entry for /dev/sda2 :
UUID=805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a / ext4 defaults 1 1
# Entry for /dev/sda3 :
UUID=273075e6-fb03-442e-b1b9-7a17f960429b /home ext4 defaults 1 2
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
# Entry for /dev/sda1 :
UUID=82bace0a-cdf3-4f26-a43f-73e31916122d swap swap defaults 0 0
none /dev/pts devpts defaults 0 0
[root@localhost ~]#

When setting up Grub, I named the Boot line:-

title linux MiniMe

Hope that doesn't matter ? Thought need to distinguish between each OS.

[Old-Polack]

This is where the fun just gets started. 

Oh dear, ... 
Sick of saying, "Thankyou for your very clear instructions, and help."
Please take it that this is so, and I'm growing in confidence. It's been a great journey.

O.K.

 
[jimi@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
timeout 10
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/gfxmenu
default 0

title linux MiniMe
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux_MiniMe root=UUID=805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a  quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=82bace0a-cdf3-4f26-a43f-73e31916122d splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.img

title linux-nonfb
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=UUID=805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a  quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=82bace0a-cdf3-4f26-a43f-73e31916122d
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.img

title failsafe
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=UUID=805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a  quiet failsafe vmalloc=256M acpi=on
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.img
[root@localhost ~]# cat /etc/fstab
# Entry for /dev/sda2 :
UUID=805d4859-73b8-43f5-a104-c2c5650e521a / ext4 defaults 1 1
# Entry for /dev/sda3 :
UUID=273075e6-fb03-442e-b1b9-7a17f960429b /home ext4 defaults 1 2
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
# Entry for /dev/sda1 :
UUID=82bace0a-cdf3-4f26-a43f-73e31916122d swap swap defaults 0 0
none /dev/pts devpts defaults 0 0
[root@localhost ~]#

When setting up Grub, I named the Boot line:-

title linux MiniMe

Hope that doesn't matter ? Thought need to distinguish between each OS.

If one edits both these files, as root, the long and rather meaningless (to us humans) UUID numbers can be replaced with the labels we created.

Edited menu.lst:

timeout 10
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/gfxmenu
default 0

title linux MiniMe
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux_MiniMe root=LABEL=minime  quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=LABEL=swap40 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.img

title linux-nonfb
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=LABEL=minime  quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=LABEL=swap40
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.img

title failsafe
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=LABEL=minime   quiet failsafe vmalloc=256M acpi=on
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd.img

Edited fstab:

# Entry for /dev/sda2 :
LABEL=minime   /   ext4   defaults   1 1
# Entry for /dev/sda3 :
LABEL=home   /home   ext4   defaults   1 2
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
# Entry for /dev/sda1 :
LABEL=swap40   swap   swap   defaults   0 0
none /dev/pts devpts defaults 0 0

I added some extra space bar presses between parts of each line entry, for clarity at to where spaces are required. In fact, the spaces can be Tab inserts, or multiple Tab inserts  if you like, and won't affect how the file is read.

Example, from my fstab:

Code: [Select]

# Entry for /dev/sda8 :
LABEL=kde2011           /                       ext4    defaults,noatime                1 1
LABEL=TR5-Documents     /home/polack/Documents  ext3    rw,user,noauto,exec,noatime     0 0
LABEL=Documents2        /home/polack/Documents2 ext3    rw,user,noauto,exec,noatime     0 0
# LABEL=share7          /share7                 ext3    rw,user,noauto,exec,noatime     0 0
LABEL=share1            /share1                 ext4    rw,user,noauto,exec,noatime     0 0
LABEL=share9            /share9                 ext3    rw,user,auto,exec,noatime       0 0
LABEL=movies            /movies                 ext3    rw,user,auto,exec,noatime       0 0
LABEL=movies2           /movies2                ext3    rw,user,auto,exec,noatime       0 0
# LABEL=TV-1            /tv                     ext3    rw,user,noauto,exec,noatime     0 0
LABEL=storage00         /zstorage00             ext3    rw,user,noauto,exec,noatime     0 0
LABEL=120backup         /zbackup                ext3    rw,user,noauto,exec,noatime     0 0
LABEL=boot200           /mnt/boot               ext3    rw,user,noauto,exec,noatime     0 0
#LABEL=part17           /mnt/17                 ext4    rw,user,noauto,exec,noatime     0 0
none                    /proc                   proc    defaults                        0 0
# Entry for /dev/sda2 :
#LABEL=swap200          swap                    swap    defaults                        0 0
# Entry for /dev/sda2 :
#LABEL=swap300          swap                    swap    defaults                        0 0
# Entry for /dev/sdc2 :
LABEL=swap1000          swap                    swap    defaults                        0 0
# Entry for /dev/sde2 :
LABEL=swap750           swap                    swap    defaults                        0 0
none                    /dev/pts                devpts  mode=0620                       0 0
/dev/fd0                /mnt/floppy             auto    rw,user,noauto,exec             0 0
/dev/sr0                /mnt/cdrom              auto    ro,user,noauto                  0 0
/dev/sr1                /mnt/dvd                auto    ro,user,noauto                  0 0
# none                  /dev/shm                tmpfs   defaults                        0 0

I find this neater, and easier to relate to, than when just single spaces are used between parts of each line entry.

[Tony]

GoodDay to you old-polack  

I haven't attempted editing as yet, as had a Question.
* Do I backup the original menu.lst, and fstab ? (Suppose up to me)
* I understand this step is to make reading these files easier; could you outline what it is we are attempting to do, overall, like a brief overview.
*I can assign time to do the whole process, or at least, know how much work and time will be required then.
*We had talked of Installing PCLinuxOS LXDE mini 2006.01, is that were this is headed ?

Please excuse my tone, I'm in no way trying to be a pain in the butt, just not sure what your aim is, thanks OP  

Edit: Just looking at the New suggested; and Older texts, comprehending that we over-write the UUID numbers, with the "labels we created".
I have my "The Linux Commandline" PDF open,  wondering if after overwriting the UUID numbers how then to SAVE the changes, or if it just does save automatically.
Newby brain at work ...

[Old-Polack]

GoodDay to you old-polack  

I haven't attempted editing as yet, as had a Question.
* Do I backup the original menu.lst, and fstab ? (Suppose up to me)
* I understand this step is to make reading these files easier; could you outline what it is we are attempting to do, overall, like a brief overview.
*I can assign time to do the whole process, or at least, know how much work and time will be required then.
*We had talked of Installing PCLinuxOS LXDE mini 2006.01, is that were this is headed ?

Please excuse my tone, I'm in no way trying to be a pain in the butt, just not sure what your aim is, thanks OP  

This is just a simple edit of two files, but the files, being system files, have to be edited as root in order to save them. You could backup the old versions as a separate step, but on my system the backups are automatic, leaving a file of the same name but with a ~ added, as the backup version.

Barring typo errors on your part, this should go off without a hitch. I do this with every installation and have never had a problem. I even use the same fstab for all my installations, editing only the LABEL=</ partition name> so the appropriate / partition is used.

After doing this, and rebooting to be sure everything is working as it should, the next step is to open Synaptic, then do the Reload --> Mark All Upgrades --> Apply and again Apply from the confirmation window. When that process is done, while still in Synaptic, click Search and enter task-lxde then click the Search button on the bottom of that window. Mark the package for installation, then click Apply again. When this is done, on subsequent reboots, when you get to the login screen, at the bottom of the screen you'll see a Session link. Click the Session link, and you will see a menu that shows both KDE and LXDE. Click the one you wish to log into, and then log in as usual. The last session chosen will remain the default for future reboots, until you manually change it from the Session link.

At which point, you are set to go.  

You can now add any additional new applications you wish to use through Synaptic, but before adding new packages in the future, again do the upgrade routine first, to be sure you are properly in sync with the repo with all your already installed applications.

[Tony]

Gee, you make it sound so simple 
Off I go then, thanks.    Be interesting to see how LXDE gets installed.

[Tony]

O.K., seems that's a wrap !    ("Phew", says all )

Bit odd, I thought it would install the PCLinuxOS LXDE 20111.06 mini.iso that I burnt to a Live CD.

Anyways it's done, and I have to thanyou once again Mr. old-polack. 

This will keep me busy for quite awhile   

[Old-Polack]

O.K., seems that's a wrap !    ("Phew", says all )

Bit odd, I thought it would install the PCLinuxOS LXDE 20111.06 mini.iso that I burnt to a Live CD.

Anyways it's done, and I have to thanyou once again Mr. old-polack. 

This will keep me busy for quite awhile   

Have fun. If you get stuck with anything, just start a new thread in the appropriate section. Always willing to help.