Ubuntu

update messed up password how to recover update or data

Asked by RFG

On restart entering my password results in a screen flash and a request to enter password. entering a wrong passworg gives the correct error info. A boot from a cd will not let me read the data files as it states i do not have permission. I tried booting fron an older verson (via grub) the same password problem. The only idea i have is to install ubuntu on a new HD and hope as adm it lets me read the old one. any suggestions other than backup first.

Installed new ubuntu on usb HD and was able to recover all the data . cleaned the old ubuntu HD and did a fresh install. three partitions /, /home and swap. 14.01.1 seemed to load but could not buut due to grub error. will download a fresh one ond try again

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Why do you not have a backup? What if the drive motor or IDE fails, where is your data then?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#2

If you press CTRL + ALT + F1 on the login page and log in there you can run commands. If you run:

df -h

Do you see free space? You can free some easily with:

sudo apt-get clean

If you also run:

sudo chown -r $USER :$USER $HOME

(No need to change any of the command. The Bash variables will sort themselves out) it will make sure your user is the owner of all of it's home folder (you will ser a warning about gvfs, this is expected). The command will take a while but let it run.

If you then run:

sudo reboot

You can test the system

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