re-install parallel xubuntu-- how do I retrieve my personal files?

[Suzi-Q]

Unix operating system-- destroyed dependencies by following terrible advice from the internet. installed Xubuntu via USB on second partition.

The first installation is unusable because bin/bash does not recognize any programs.

Is there some way I can retrieve my personal files from the first partition?

 

[McHenryB]

Just copy them over. You may need to change the ownership, but otherwise it's a simple copy operation.

 

[Suzi-Q]

Thank you--
The original installation is showing up as "766 G Volume" and the second installation is "File System"
When I browse in the file manager, I don't see any contents in the 766 G Volume, even when I check "See Hidden Files".
Is there a GUI program that will change ownership or do I need to use command line?

 

[McHenryB]

Ah, sorry. I thought you could see the filesystem. Have you tried logging on as root and then checking the volume again? TBH, I'm not sure how easy it is to do this in the Ubuntu variants.

I'm really not familiar with the Ubuntu desktop as I tend to use Gentoo, so I'll leave it to someone who is used to that GUI. There are quite a few here so hopefully someone else will answer soon.

 

[skittle]

Please post output of
"sudo parted -l"

 

[Suzi-Q]

Please post output of
"sudo parted -l"

Model: ATA ST1000DM003-9YN1 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 766GB 766GB primary ext4 boot
2 766GB 1000GB 235GB extended
6 766GB 992GB 226GB logical ext4
5 992GB 1000GB 8556MB logical linux-swap(v1)

 

[skittle]

Not sure why you have 1x 766gb + 2x 230gb partition but:

Make a directory and mount a partition as read only:

mkdir ~/yourfoldername
sudo mount -o ro /dev/dev/sda1 ~/yourfoldername

Do the same depending on which partition your data is on.. /dev/sda2.. /dev/sda6

 

[Suzi-Q]

Not sure why you have 1x 766gb + 2x 230gb partition but:

Thank you Skittles. When I installed Xubuntu as a dual boot, the installer proposed 766 + 230 partitions, I don't know where the second one came from

I think my hugest mistake was user ID. I entered first and last name and allowed Xubuntu to create new user with my first name-- should have entered previous user ID and previous PW.

 

[skittle]

Just access with root instead of user

 

[Suzi-Q]

Thanks to all for your assistance. In GPARTED I saw that 766 Gig Volume was not mounted. When I mounted it, the files were visible.

Will these two days of chagrin and anxiety force me to back up my documents-- including 15 years of music and ebook collections? Spare yourself the PTSD and back up remotely!!!

 

[McHenryB]

Not sure why you have 1x 766gb + 2x 230gb partition

There's only one 235GB partition, an extended one with 226GB and 8GB logical drives within it.