Edit fstab from Live CD

**sarah_b** · 09-02-2006, 03:44 PM

I was tweaking my Ubuntu fstab and I messed up.

I am using Knoppix 4.0.2 CD, in a terminal I entered this: Sudo mcedit /dev/hdb6/ect/fstab

I was able to edit my fstab but when I tried to save it I could not using F2 or the drop down menu.
What am I missing, does anyone know what I may be doing wrong ? This is my work computer and I would be forever grateful if someone could help me please......

sarah

**ockham23** · 09-02-2006, 04:29 PM

Boot off the Knoppix cd and launch a shell:

Code:

su
mkdir /media/hdb6
mount -o rw /dev/hdb6 /media/hdb6
mcedit /media/hdb6/etc/fstab
umount /media/hdb6

**sarah_b** · 09-02-2006, 05:44 PM

Code:

mkdir /media/hdb6

I get this: can not create directory /media/hdb6, no such file or directory

Code:

mount -o rw /dev/hdb6 /media/hdb6

mount point /media/hdb6 does not exist

Code:

mount /dev/hdb6

mount /dev/hdb6 already mounted or busy

**ockham23** · 09-02-2006, 06:16 PM

Did you boot off the Knoppix cd without clicking on any of the hard drive icons on the desktop?
Did you enter "su" as first command?
Is your existing Ubuntu install located on hdb6 = 6th partition on the secondary hard drive?

**Harry Kuhman** · 09-02-2006, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by ockham23

Is your existing Ubuntu install located on hdb6 = 6th partition on the secondary hard drive?

More precisely, the second logical drive on the extended partition. Even with 1 primary partition and one exteded partition containing as few as 2 logical drives, the first logical drive on the second (slave) disk on the first IDE controler would be hdb5 and the second logical drive would be hdb6.

**sarah_b** · 09-02-2006, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by ockham23

Did you boot off the Knoppix cd without clicking on any of the hard drive icons on the desktop?

Now you have a good question there, I do not remember if I did or did not open up the hdb6 icon. Is this important ?

Did you enter "su" as first command?

I can answer yes to this

Is your existing Ubuntu install located on hdb6 = 6th partition on the secondary hard drive?

yes again....

**ockham23** · 09-02-2006, 06:39 PM

I assumed you were somewhat familiar with linux commands. Here's an explanation:

su # become root

mkdir /media/hdb6 # create mount point "hdb6" inside directory "media"; assuming mount point doesn't exist already

mount -o rw /dev/hdb6 /media/hdb6 # mount hdb6 and make it writable; clicking on the desktop icon will mount the drive "read only"

mcedit /media/hdb6/etc/fstab # launch editor

umount /media/hdb6 # unmount partition when you're done

**sarah_b** · 09-02-2006, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Harry Kuhman

Originally Posted by ockham23

Is your existing Ubuntu install located on hdb6 = 6th partition on the secondary hard drive?

More precisely, the second logical drive on the extended partition. Even with 1 primary partition and one exteded partition containing as few as 2 logical drives, the first logical drive on the second (slave) disk on the first IDE controler would be hdb5 and the second logical drive would be hdb6.

here is what I have, with Ubuntu on hdb6:

/dev/hdb1 reiserfs 13.97 GB

/dev/hdb2 extended 19.75 GB
/dev/hdb5 linux swap 1.12 GB
/dev/hdb6 boot 18.63 GB

/dev/hdb3 reiserfs 19.53 GB
/dev/hdb4 reiserfs 21.27 GB

**sarah_b** · 09-02-2006, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by ockham23

I assumed you were somewhat familiar with linux commands

ok, let me try booting Knoppix CD again and I will make sure I have not clicked on the hdb6 icon, I'll be back.......

regards,
sarah

**sarah_b** · 09-02-2006, 07:14 PM

ockham23,

thank you for the commands explaination, I am under average using linux commands, I have a personal file that I have saved my most important commands, I do a lot of copy and pasting. I wasted about a year with Linspire, (no commands needed) and have been using Ubuntu for about a year and love it.

But anyway, I booted Knoppix up again, made sure I did not open the hdb6 icon, then opened a terminal and tried your commands again but had the same results again as before.