1 Topic by merlin1012 (edited by merlin1012 2012-01-09 20:49:25)

  • merlin1012
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Topic: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

Hi;
I am using an older version of GParted (I'll get the version later) on a Windows 7 system. Trying to repartition the Windows down & add an ext# partition to install a Linux distro, dual boot.
Last I remember, the GUI was copying data to the newly re-sized Windows part (on 0 of 2 operations).  Checking later the screen had switched to text that was repeating:

usb 3-2: usb disconnect, address 86
usb 3-2: new low speed usb device using uhci_hcd and address 87
usb 3-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
input: pixart usb optical mouse as /class/input/input 845
input: usb hid v1.11 mouse [pixart usb optical mouse] on usb-0000:00:1d.1-2

This is as best as I could copy by hand. This does repeat, the numbers after "address" & "input" increment up with each iteration.

What is my next step?  Turn the system off & try again? Is there some way to interrupt the current process & get it back on track?
Any other details that may help diagnose the problem?

Thanks in advance

merl

2 Reply by gedakc

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

It appears that there are some problems with the USB connection.

If you interrupt GParted while it is executing, then the file system being written will likely be in an inconsistent state.

If you were copying a partition, you could cancel the operation, delete the bad copy, fix the USB connection, and then try the copy again.

3 Reply by merlin1012

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

Hi Gedakc;
and thanks for responding.

I didn't interrupt the process (that I know of).
The mouse, printer (which is off) & most likely the keyboard are USB, but only the mouse shows.  The KB still functions. I did turn on the printer which gave a 

usb 2-1: new high speed device...

but didn't repeat.

GParted was running, I don't think it completed the requested operations (re-size original partition then make another new partition).  How would I cancel the current operation?  Would it render the HD useless?

I am thinking of unplugging the mouse just to see what happens.

merl

4 Reply by merlin1012

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

I am using version 0.3 (yes I should upgrade).

I disconnected the mouse and the screen stopped but it didn't go back to the GUI.  After giving it some time I pulled the plug. 
After restarting GParted the partition had been resized but it looks like the data did not make the transition.  Is there any way to get the data back?
The new partition still has to be "formatted".

Any help appreciated! Thanks

merl

5 Reply by gedakc

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

First, I highly recommend that you upgrade to the latest version of GParted.  Many bugs, some serious, have been fixed since version 0.3.

What action did you originally instruct GParted to do?

If you indicated to copy a partition, your data should still be available in the source partition.

If you indicated to move a partition, there was a bug in this old version that could change a resize into a move and resize operation.  If this was the case then your file system is likely in an inconsistent state.  You might try photoroc to try to recover files from the damaged partition.

6 Reply by merlin1012

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

Hi Gedakc;
Thanks for responding & having patience with me.

Downloading & using the latest version is high on my list. 8^)

What I tried to accomplish with 0.3 was to shrink the existing NTFS partition by about 100G, then create an EXT# partition with the space that was vacated. (I believe the process got interrupted somewhere during the shrinking process, the program mentioned something about "copying" information onto the reduced NTFS partition; then the text screen).

Is there a program to recover the data on the reduced NTFS partition?
As of now there is a "warning" marker on the NTFS partition. I click on a command to give information about the marker & a new window pops up with many errors. If you want an updated readout, data, etc; I will do my best to get 0.11 tonight & look at the HD with that.

Sorry for asking you to hold my hand thru this process, thought it was pretty simple when I started. 8^?

Thanks again;
merl

7 Reply by gedakc

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

I believe your best bet at this time, assuming that you do not have a good backup of your data, is to try using data recovery software.  The above link for photorec is such software, though I am sure there are many others that you could investigate.

8 Reply by merlin1012

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

Now I feel real inadequate. 8^(
I downloaded 0.11.0-7 version.  The computer booted on that disk but I couldn't find the TestDisk software (It is included, correct?)
I did download TestDisk/PhotoRec & expanded onto a USB which I am having trouble mounting.
Sorry, guess I'm too used to GUIs, my UNIX days are too far behind me.

I do have a backup that is several months old, not sure I have a Windows 7 Recovery Disk (which I saw that I can get one).

Which way would be easier, TestDisk/PhotoRec or Restore?

I really do appreciate your help.
Thanks & my apologies again for the hand holding;

merl

9 Reply by merlin1012 (edited by merlin1012 2012-01-08 07:32:34)

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

My inadequacy is not so bad.
I did figure out how to run TestDisk & PhotoRec (just type them in!!!). No need to mount the thumb drive.
Now my problem is with PhotoRec, I cannot save the recovered files to anywhere but memory.  This would be ok except the memory gets filled fast, i.e. not enough memory for the "files to be recovered".
I have the space created with GParted (for now I have it as an NTFS partition) & I have a USB thumb drive installed but neither can be written to.  Both are "seen" in /dev, but that's it, cannot write to them, nothing in /media or /mnt as mentioned in the PhotoRec wiki.
Off to ask the author of PhotoRec...

Anyone familiar with PhotoRec in Linux off a Live CD?

Thanks again!

merl

10 Reply by gedakc

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

In order to copy the files to other media, you will need to mount the media.

See the GParted Live Manual for instructions on how to do this.

11 Reply by merlin1012

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Re: [SOLVED]screen switch from GUI to text

Hi Gedakc;

Thanks for your help.

I have since decided it would be easier to restore the 9+ month old backup that I had rather than trying to recreate the files from the recovered files.  The manufacturer was smart enough to create a partition & install system recovery information there so I didn't need a system recovery disk.

The partitions (new & resized) seem to be operating fine, so I will consider this topic SOLVED.

The only problem now is re-installing all the programs since we bought the computer.  The programs are there, in their default install directories, but Windows is not smart enough to act like they are there. (Too much reliance on "install"?)  A program that would search "default" install directories & make appropriate changes to Windows registry or tell you what needs to be installed (because of complex installions, etc) would be nice.

Thanks again for your help!