TAR Backup 16.04

There is not nearly enough information here for anyone to advise

What files did you archive?
Is it the whole system or just /home or some other folder?
Are you restoring to the same release of Ubuntu?
What release of Ubuntu are you using?
Do you want to restore the whole file contents or just one or two files?

We don't know anything about the file you have made or what you want to do with it. We can't see your system. You need to fill us in.

Thank you.

I archive the whole system
Yes am restoring from the same release of Ubuntu
Using u Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
Want to restore the whole file and system

But I also have a little problem now.
After backup.tar.gz /folder is completed i have 0 space on my system. Try to move the folder to an external hard drive,
It won't allow me.
Please kindly assist in moving the folder first to an external hard drive

Well well well.
In deep trouble now. saw a video on line on how to remove TAR files. used the command i.e

ls
rm file.tar
rm -r -f file.tar

now i cant log into my system on cairo dock, but i can log into it via unity desktop. but cant update no Apps nothing. no space on system everything is gone.
Please help

Rename the configuration folder(s) for the Dock then log in to the Cairo session. You will get default settings once again

When I switched off and restarted am getting a black screen saying.

grub

Where did you run the command from (which folder) and what exact command did you run?

Thank you for the support

here is the command

ls
rm file.tar
rm -r -f file.tar

then i used boot repair iso to see if i can repair grub and file system. once i restarted i got black screen saying grub

Yes but from what location in the file system did you run the command? What was the pwd of the terminal you ran the command?

If you open a terminal and run:

pwd

You will see /home/username

What would the same command have output if you had run it before you ran the rm command? Or, what other filenames did you see when you ran the 'ls' command?

Can't boot at all. Here is the message

GNU GRUB version 2.02 beta2-36ubuntu3
Minimal BASH- like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB lists possible command completions Anywhere else TAB lists possible device or file completions.

grub>

I know you can't boot. When you ran the 'ls' command, what other filenames did you see?

Documents Desktop, pictures, music, video, file.tar, public, Templates

Do you have an Ubuntu installation kit on DVD or on a bootable USB stick?
You could boot into a live system in the "Try Ubuntu without installing" mode, and examine your hard disk partitions, e.g. how much free space they have available.

Thank you for the support.

I have the live CD on USB.
I have checked
I have 0 space due to the backup.tar.gz I did.
Could not move the folder to an external hard disk

"Could not move the folder to an external hard disk" - Why not? Do you get error messages? What happens if you try?

There was no more space on the system to complete the backup.tar.gz
Maybe that is why when right click no option to move. Only option to copy or extract or move to Dropbox

Where to do you want to move that backup.tar.gz file?

From / folder to my external hard drive

If moving is not possible, then copy it there and delete the source file afterwards.

I wanted to do that but it won't allow. Also try to change permission no luck

What happens if you try?

1. How did you boot your system for this attempt?
2. Is your external drive mounted?
3. Does it have enough free space?
4. Which step failed, copying the file, or deleting it afterwards?
5. If it is the copy part, what action do you try to copy the file there? command line, nautilus, ...?

Please try to be more elaborate, and refrain from just telling "it does not work", but provide details.

I was on my system when I did the backup cause I just bought a new laptop.
From instructions about TAR online after backup is completed move folder to external drive. So I did not connect my external thinking I would move the folder when I finish the backup
My external is 1TB
My laptop is 750GB have data about 500GB
So I started the backup.tar. gz which now save in my / folder.
It took a very longtime so I went to bed woke up to find out that there's no more space on my hard drive. So I connected my external hard drive. I try to move the folder backup.tar.gz to my external with no luck.
Went online and try a command below

LS
rm file.tar
rm -r -f file.tar
Now messed my system couldn't log on to Cairo dock but was able to log on to unity.
So I used boot repair to fix it. And filesystem then really messed everything.
Now boot to black screen

grub>

Hi
Really appreciate all efforts. But very frustrating. I had to format and reinstall 16.04.
Many thanks for all efforts
Solved

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