Fixing Linpus with only a small USB key

NOTE: Problem solved. See my post 5 down for some details.

Hey,

I made an apparently "clever" change to my fstab, and now my system boots to an X cursor. Hooray for me. My question, is there a way I can get in to my system and change a text file?


First I've tried Grub. I can "cat (hd0,0)/etc/fstab" from grub to view my stupidity, but I'm unfamiliar if there's a way to actually change files from there.

Next I tried booting up in kernel "single" mode, but that apparently doesn't work. Hum.

Finally, I've now set up a USB key with Damn Small Linux on it. I can do the same grub stuff from here, but it doesn't want to let me "mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/SomeFolderICreated", with or without "-t ext2". Well... assuming that's the correct device to mount.


Any suggestions would be appreciated. All I need to do is drop a # sign in front of a line.

Thanks,

 

Re: Fixing Linpus from Grub or a USB key?

It seems with "Damn Small Linux" SDA1 is the USB key. Alright. Now to figure out what device is the SSD.

Oh don't mind me. I'll gladly talk to myself if noobody else will.

 

Re: Fixing Linpus from Grub or a USB key?

Ok, I managed to mount my drive.

mount /dev/hdc1 /mnt/hd

Made the change and I'm back in Linpus.


But!... haha, now the touchpad stopped working. . Oh such fun.

Unless there is some other known touchpad issue, I'm guessing starting kernel in "single" mode might have started something. Goody.

 

Re: Fixing Linpus from Grub or a USB key?

Wild. Removing the battery (as suggested elsewhere on the forum) somehow fixed my touchpad problem.

Well then. All is well again. . Conversation with myself over.

 

Re: Fixing Linpus from Grub or a USB key?

Even though no one was able to help, it's good that you had this conversation. There's a darn good chance it will help someone else in the future.

 

Re: Fixing Linpus from Grub or a USB key?

That's what I figure too. For completeness, the software I used.

A 50 MB Linux Distro, Damn Small Linux:
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org

How to create a bootable USB key of Damn Small Linux from Windows.
http://www.althack.com/2006/03/10/how-t ... usb-drive/

Prepare a key first, then:

- Insert the USB key, then turn on your machine.
- Start pressing the F12 key before the ACER bios/logo comes up (about 5-6 seconds after power on). Yes, pressing means keep doing it until something happens.
- Pick your USB key here.
- Damn Small Linux's bootloader should start.
- Push enter when asked to (twice).
- Select option "0" (80x25... get fancy if you want, but that'll do)
- Damn Small Linux should boot now.
- Click Near the bottom left corner of the screen there's some icons. One of them is a terminal.
- From the terminal do:
- "sudo su" to become root
- "mount /dev/hdc1 /mnt/hd"
- Now, files at "/mnt/hd" will let you manipulate your Aspire One's SSD drive.

To edit text documents, use beaver:

beaver /mnt/hd/boot/grub/grub.conf

or in my case:

beaver /mnt/hd/etc/fstab

Or any other file you may want to change. Beaver is the most mousepad/notepad like editor that comes with Damn Small Linux.


And if you happen to lose your touchpad like I did, you can ALT+F4 your way to the desktop, then use the arrow keys+enter to navigate the shortcuts on the desktop. There's even an "exit" option there so you can shut down. Be sure to uncheck "backup".