Ubuntu

I did control-alt-delete during an update(Ubuntu Hardy Heron) and everything seems to have fallen apart. I can't start up the system again; on a black screen with white letters, I'm prompted for my login and password, but the login I type is "incorrect"; I do not want to lose any data, so I can't wipe everything "clean" and start afresh; ergo, how can I recover my system and start up again, so I can make a backup of the last data I entered and install Intrepid Ibex?

Asked by sleepless in Ottawa on 2009-01-12

I work with Ubuntu Hardy Heron on a AMD Turion 64 x2 Amilo model by Fujitsu Siemens.
Because I wanted to abort an update, I pressed control+alt+delete. Everything stopped, screen went black and when I start up again, I have a black screen with white letters and I'm prompted to type in my login, followed by my password.
The login I type, is considered "invalid" and I can't get my system to work again.
I have not made a back-up of the data I was working the day of the system froze, and I'd really hate to lose that stuff.
Could anyone please advise me on how to get my system up and running again so I can make that back-up, wipe everything clean and re-install Hardy Heron, or, why not, the new Intrepid Ibex?
Feel free to answer in English or French, Spanish, German or Dutch. Thanks A BUNCH in advance for your help!!!

Question information

Language:: English Edit question

Status:: Answered

For:: Ubuntu Edit question

Assignee:: No assignee Edit question

Last query:: 2009-01-12

Last reply:: 2009-01-12

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plutino (plutino) said on 2009-01-12:

First of all, don't worry, there is no way that you will lose any of your data. I can think of two solutions to save your data:

1. Since you can still boot to the login screen, it seems to be a broken Xorg/gdm. But because you don't remember your login password, or the passwd file has corrupted, you may boot your computer to single user mode by selecting "failsave" at the grub menu. As soon as you boot into single user mode (you have all root privileges now), you can now upgrade you system normally and it should fix the X problem. If not, reconfigure the relevant packages with "dpkg --reconfiguration". Sorry but I cannot remember the package names and I'm not on an Ubuntu machine now.

2. If the first solution does not work, you can boot to a live CD and backup all data before you wipe out the system.

3. This is not a complete solution, but just in case you have your data files on a different partition as the root filesystem, you don't need to back up anything before wipe out the root filesystem and reinstall Intrepid.

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sleepless in Ottawa (eemaho) said on 2009-01-12:

Hello Plutino and happy New Year to you! Thanks for answering: I'll try out
your suggestions straight away!