[QCLUG] Save a drive

[Leif Theden]

It defiently sounds like a boot-loader problem.  A couple years ago, I
had a similar problem that I couldn't figure out.  My solution was to
simply add another drive and install linux again, then mount my old
drive.  Not the most elegant solution, but I didn't have any headaches
(until I wanted to really fix it).

I really fixed it by using a knoppix cd and reinstalling GRUB
(grub-install from the command line) until it finally worked.

On 11/17/08, Mark Riedesel <mriedesel@gmail.com> wrote:
> Doesn"t sound like a physical disk problem so much, I would suspect
> something like bios disk boot order or something. Does grub start but
> fail? Or does the system not attempt to boot from that drive at all?
>
> As for copying the contents of the partitons, tar is fully capable of
> such things provided you use the proper options.
>
> On 11/16/08, Jim Hall <volunteer.jim@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On 11/15/08, Mark Riedesel <mriedesel@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Boot from knoppix or some live cd and try running gpart (not
> >> gparted!), it scans the disk contents and attempts to rebuild the
> >> partition table. If that works, then reinstall grub and all shall be
> >> well.
> >>
> >> Although you say you can read the drive's contents by means of
> >> mounting the partitons, then your partition table is probably fine so
> >> it's likely just a grub issue.
> >>
> >> If you think the drive is physically failing, smartmontools might
> >> provide some info regarding failures, just an idea.
> >>
> >> On 11/15/08, Jim Hall <volunteer.jim@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>> I had so much fun at the meeting I only mentioned this briefly near the
> >>> end.
> >>>
> >>> I have a Debian Etch install with what appears to be a seriously trashed
> >>> MBR. No longer boots, even from floppy or CD. It's readable from a live
> >>> CD
> >>> or as a slave drive. Also have another drive the same size. Methinks I
> >>> should be able to copy bad to good, reinstall Grub and have a working
> >>> drive
> >>> again. This is based on theoretical Q&A from a long time ago.
> >>>
> >>> Any command or program recommendations?
> >>>
> >>> Jim
> >>>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >
> >
> > That was interesting. Ran gpart, scanned and wrote new partition
> > table, reinstalled grub. No change <sigh>.
> >
> > It looks like I'm back to the idea of getting this install onto
> > aanother drive. I have another drive the same size. Im leery of a bit
> > for bit clone because I don't know what the bad sector tables look
> > like. If I can do a "pick up the contents of a partition and drop it
> > in a partition on another drive", then it might work.
> >
> > Anyway, I'm going to keep researching.
> >
> > Jim
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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