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Re: [LUG] More problems with my Linux

 

On 19/04/13 10:47, Peter M Le Mare wrote:
Here I am again asking for help. A few days ago my Linux (Ubunto 12.04) just crashed and it will not boot up again. I have another version on a separate disk and after secveral attempts I have booted up with this and by accessing sideways all the documents etc. are there. Is there some way of rescuing the boot up and desktop interface?? I have tried putting in a cd data Ubunto but all it offers is yet another along side or complete reformatting and wiping all data.


If you boot from an Ubuntu (or other distro) live DVD/CD, don't choose the install option. You may see a drive or two on your desktop which you can open up and if you're lucky you might see a home folder in there with your home directory (it'll be the same name as your username). I use Linux Mint on my laptop and when I boot from a Live DVD (or USB stick) the partitions show up under Computer (click Menu, Computer). I think it might be under a Places menu on Gnome, under Unity, well I'm not entirely sure, maybe someone with Ubuntu might be able to advise.

Again you might see some drives in there, double clicking on them should open them up, and fingers crossed you'll see a home folder which you can copy to a USB stick or something.

There are two reasons for wanting to rescue this version as it had the older desktop previous to Unity that gives me everything open along the bottom I cannot get used to the Unity one which lists evrything down the side but not individual windows). I can't remember what my desktop was called and how I downloaded it.


It could be KDE, that has a bar at the bottom of the screen with a kind of start button type thing. Or possibly LXDE, XFCE or Gnome 2 although as far as I'm aware XFCE and Gnome 2 are configured to have the menus at the top of the screen and the applications on the bar at the bottom.
The second reason is that I have earlier this year lost al my old addresses in my Thunderbird (17 odd years worth) and have just started rebuilding it. I can copy over to a new system all the other data but I have been unable to find where my addresses are and how to copy them.


On my system Thunderbird stores it's profile (the mail folders, addresses etc) in a folder called .thunderbird in my home directory (in my case /home/rob). Using the Gnome 2/Mate file manager it won't show the folder unless you enable hidden folders. You should be able to do this by pressing Ctrl and H (other desktops may vary, I'm not sure about KDE or Unity etc).

Yet again please help online and if there is anyone near me (St Just) I would appreciate if you might visit and help.


Fingers crossed this will give you something to get started with, and maybe there might be someone local to you who might be able to help.

If all else fails, pop back on to the list and between us we might be able to help.

Rob


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