Lacie linux backup crash

[telephoto]

Lacie made a backup device called EdMini. It crashed.

The HDD from it is OK and appears to be readable using a CD-run version of Ubuntu.

I have been advised that using CHMod I can change permissions so that I can read and switch the files to another system.

I can see the folder, which is protected. I can open a terminal window - but as a complete Linux newbie I cannot find the command to change to the relevant (physical) hard drive and relevant partition.

Can anyone hold my hand through this please?

Telephoto

 

[BadBigBen]

I cannot find the command to change to the relevant (physical) hard drive and relevant partition.

the command is called CD, e.g. let's say the drive is SDC with two partitions, which may be called SDC1 and SDC2, or SDC1 and SDC5... or they may even have LABEL names, e.g. /DATA...

now you would change to the DIRECTORY using the cli command:

CD /DATA or CD /DEV/SDC1



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[LeeMason]

If you have automount running when you boot your Linux system (from CD or hard disk) hopefully this will mount the Lacie disk. If it is mounted you should see it if you do:

df -h

You should be able to see the disk and it's size. Lets say the disk is mounted as /mnt/lacie if you do:

cd /mnt/lacie

you will be on that disk. If you want to change the permissions or owner on the directories and files then you can use:

chmod -R 777 *

this will change all files to read/write/execute for everyone. Once you have moved the files to your new system you should change this to something more realistic.

You can also change the owner:

chown -R root:root *

This will make root the owner of all of the files.

Hopefully this helps.




Lee Mason
Optimal Projects Ltd

http://www.opl.co.uk

http://www.backupsanywhere.com

 

[telephoto]

Thank you both.
My first problem was because I didn't realise that Linux showed drives as directories... (I said I was a newbie)

I can see two new mounted hard drives, but total size is only about 115 MB, files visible are Lacie files.

The HDD is 250GB, so I still can't see my files. Do you know how I can force the OS to read this area without compromising any file structure?

Telephoto

 

[LeeMason]

If you have two mounted partitions one of which is 115MB I suspect that this is the /boot partition. Don't do anything on that one as you might cause the system to be unbootable.

Logon as root and do:

fdisk -l

See if Linux sees the external drive. It might see is as /dev/sda something.


Lee Mason
Optimal Projects Ltd

http://www.opl.co.uk

http://www.backupsanywhere.com

 

[telephoto]

Thanks Lee.

Problem solved, details follow in case they are of interest to others.

The Lacie disk was mounted in a USB holder.

I discovered another linux distro for rescuing "stuff" called Trinity Repair Kit. (Google was good to me). This runs in a command line from the CD.
There is an open source program called Testdisk, details on

http://www.cgsecurity.org

The program is included in TRK.
Testdisk reported that the Lacie disk had several partitions, two of which were FAT32. These could not be seen under Linux as sdb*

Testdisk showed that the boot sector was faulty on the HDD, apparently showing an availability of about 500G on a 250G disk. The data (files) was shown and the program repaired the boot sector.

The HDD was then connected to XP, and is currently being download to a new NAS unit.

Thanks to both for your input - I've now learned a lot more about Linux.

Telephoto