Linux Format forums

linuxgirlie · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:31 pm Post subject: URGENT HELP

Ok, builders shut of the power and though I have ups's on Joshua they didn't seem to work, all my other servers shutdown and booted up perfectly.

Basically Joshua boots up, until it gets to where you would normally see the nvidia splash screen and then login. But instead you get a black screen and at the bottom in white text(I have put in text as I don't have a diamond or pie or square icon on my keyboard:

<- -..MI="diamond icon"L}"Pie Icon".I"Square Icone" m-

Now I have tried ctrl alt F2 for console and it just sits there and does nothing. All services are up and running students can get to thier work if its on Joshua and I can get to all of his shares.

He is running MDK 10 ....I know I know I should update, but when something works it works!! and in a school you tend not to get the time to update all the time. My gut feeling is to check Sal to make sure he has backed up correctly and start again, but it is such a problem as it means yr 9 and 10 will have no work.

I really think this is the end as I can't get a console...unless I use the MDK boot disk?!?

Any ideas!!

Desperate Network Manager!!!!

Jo Shocked

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Nigel · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject: RE: URGENT HELP

I get something like this on my AMD-64 box at home whenever there's a power glitch.

Can you get to Joshua from any other machine using telnet or ssh ? If so, log in and do a clean shutdown. Turn the power off completely (switch off at the PSU and at the wall). Wait 2 -3 minutes, then do a normal power-on.
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Hope this helps,

Nigel.

M0PHP · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:38 pm Post subject:

Boot up knoppix or mandrake recovery console (if it has one) and run a check on the disks. Providing it is a journalling fileystem you should be okay though Confused

Dont know what else to suggest except entering interactive startup and see if you can get a console login at all.

EDIT: Or what Nigel said Laughing

linuxgirlie · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the replies, I really don't want to give up on him to quickly, seeing as its Linux its seems a cowards way out to give up and re-install!!

I'll give these a go, and post back if I'm still stuck.

Jo
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linuxgirlie · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject:

Ok, Cold boot didn't work, so I will try a check, I might also try to boot in safe-mode as I have an option to in the lilo, to see if this does anything.

If anyone else has any ideas I would be grateful!!
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nelz · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:43 pm Post subject:

What about SSH? I always have SSH running from startup, as it provides a safety net if something like this happens.
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Flea · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:44 am Post subject:

Its sounds like its got to be a disk/fs problem or an X problem, Its probably a corrupt filesystem in which case do what M0PHP said. On the other hand if its an X problem you could try booting knoppix/mandrake recovery console/whatever and setting your X driver back to the default "nv" instead of "nvidia" see if that helps.

Other than that I got no idea. Never heard of anything like this before.
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linuxgirlie · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:55 am Post subject:

Flea if you live in Kent I'll buy you a drink you star Wink

Basically all the fsck came up clean, so I booted up damn small linux, mounted hda1 and edited the XF86Config file as flea suggested, rebooted and it worked!!

Cheers mate

One Very Happy Network Manager
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My knowledge comes with no warranty...........

Server operating system designed for schools:www.linuxschools.com

nelz · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:08 am Post subject:

Have you updated your kernel recently? If so, you need to reinstall the NVidia drivers.
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Unix is user-friendly. It's just very selective about who it's friends are.

Guest · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:10 am Post subject:

Yes, I have. So I'll do that now.

Jo

Flea · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:53 pm Post subject:

Holy crap! Does this mean I actually solved a problem?! Cool, I feel important now! Mr. Green

linuxgirlie · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:08 pm Post subject:

Yep, and a major one!

Jo
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My knowledge comes with no warranty...........

Server operating system designed for schools:www.linuxschools.com