I deleted everything by accident. cannot log in to desktop

quickbreakfast · 04-27-2021, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisareaves

In lockdown right now so struggling to get an external hardrive :-/

In that case find an online computer shop, and buy an external drive and get them to deliver it.

For my computer needs I'll use Brisbane based shop umart.com.au

Quote:

I think you are correct as it usually says disk space running low after an update but this time it said zero disk space.
(i usually just delete some old kernels to resolve this)

A temporary fix to this is to drop a file (preferrably one of your files) onto a usb. But put all your data onto an external drive as soon as possible.

The long term fix is to do a reinstall ....... Increasing the size of your root partition. DON'T do this before you have your data on a external drive!

Whilst that might be a little painful, once complete there should be no more worry.

Lisareaves · 05-03-2021, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickbreakfast

Probably.

Perhaps a better question is why can you not recover "everything I had saved on my desktop" from your enternal backup.

If you do not have an external hard drive, then go out and get an external drive as at least as big as the internal HDD before you read any further. aka NOW!

By the way, keep your external drive up to date.

At this stage type

Code:

ls

If your computer responds with an alphabet list, then all is good. Your information is still there and can be copied to your newly acquired external drive and it just a matter of copying your data to the external dive.

Edit to add. If your computer comes back with an alphabet list try

Code:

 ls /home

Your computer should then list your data. end edit.

Once the data is copied to the new external drive (which could take hours.... how many depends upon many things) you simply need delete one of your files.

If not the computer does not respond with an alphabet list, you have a big problem.

Hi sorry for the wait at this stage below

''At this stage type

Code:
ls
If your computer responds with an alphabet list, then all is good.''

All i get is a cursor and 'ls' does nothing as it is just a black screen with a cursor :-/ No alphabet list appears. Just the cursor and the black screen

quickbreakfast · 05-03-2021, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisareaves

i have a USB with mint on, if i install will it bring back my files or totally wipe them and make new?

If while doing a fresh install you tell the computer to format the disk, it will wipe everything.

By the way, good to see you back. Most members turn up here when they have both the time and the need. So delays don't worry me.

What happens when you type either of these commands?

Code:

 find /home -ctime -14 <press enter>

tab

The first command should list all the files that have been created since you created this thread. If that returns nothing try changing the number to 21.

I think the second command should list most of the commands available to you...... but I could be wrong.

Would I be wrong in assuming you now have an external drive?

If yes, have you formatted it?