WHICH ONE OF THE LINUX WILL BEST WORK FOR ME.. OR SHOULD I CALL AND INQUIRE ABOUT MYISSUE SO THEY CAN SET ME UP?
I was updating my computer and it crashed. I can't get to my home page.
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While I like the dolphin file manager in the KDE desktop, the one in Mint is easier and yet meets my needs including use as an FTP client too.
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Just wondering if I should order a new hardrive.. because the test code verified at hp support a bad hard drive (disk failure) if so, I notice them on ebay ranging from 180 gb to terabytes. I am guessing 500 gb is enough. . I do not use much storage and not a gamer.. if it is suggested to just wait and try the linux mint 16 first and hold off ordering a new disk..anyway, will be ordering some stuff after reply
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what was the impetus for wanting a new one? Just some test? What software tested it? It was from the maker? HP? What was the error msg given?
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James, according, to HP support.. by phone.. (this was back early December 2013) I called hp support.. some guy in India said to read off the failure code.. he told me I needed a new hard drive.. He than said that He could not answer as to why or further diagnose unless I was willing to agree to spend 106.00 get this plus TAX in total for tech phone support.. anotherwords, HP is bilking it's customers instead of helping with an easy diagnostic test.. no manual or back up disc ..so I asked than to connect me to a real tech.. to help with my model date purchased and registry confirmed.. the India hp employee took my credit card # and said now I can connect you to a qualified service tech.. anyway,, It took about 20 minutes on hold.. than by that time .. i get this lady tech ( strong India accent.. hardly could understand her) anyway.. I read her the number the previous dh confirmed as a burnt harddisk.. so just by her acknowledgment of a code confirming a failed disk.. she said it was a hardware issue and after another two minute conversation as to what the repair fee estimate was given me ( over 400.00 parts labor shipping American/ foreign tax etc.) I demanded a refund and told i wanted a confirmation of a refund to my credit card. I also phoned my vredit card to confirm no charges have been made from HP support.. I guess it would be wise being i'm in no hurry now having the Acer.. to just go one step at a time? BTW,, I am going to phone Acer support and find out how to use the preloaded software on this Acer ..I know I didn't install Nero 12.. and still not certain if in fact it did burn successfully.. It may have burned something but not everything needed to automatically boot in cd/dvd rom.
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I found this read and wanted to share it.. note: Make sure to burn the ISO
image
to disk, and not to write the ISO
file
to the disk. A very common
mistake, especially for people using Nero, is to actually burn the ISO file on the disk as a data file. The ISO
file is an image of a disk so it needs to be burnt not as a file which will appear on the disk, but as an ISO
image which will be decompressed and whose content will be burnt onto the disc. After burning the DVD
you shouldn't see the ISO file within the disc, but rather folders like "casper" or "isolinux". Most burning
software has a special option for this... but maybe the Nero express12 does not have the extra feature in it's free doftware.. I remember seeing that for a better featured nero burner,, i would have to pay for an upgrade? .. Anyway, pardon my ignorance.. I'm no tech savy here that is for sure lol.. i best read more like Bob advised
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After watching a quick youtube visual tutorial no sound.. i see where i went wrong.it was that i choose dvd instead of the one highlighted in the bar.. pretty simple afterall but, . Nero btw is a joke.. they too want a credit card number for tech support.by phone.lol.. what a world we are subjected to.. anyway.. linux mint 16 is on my laptop screen.. do i install it? i see three shortcuts on upper left computer mint's home and install linux mint .. btw you guys deserve at least something for your kind patients and technical support.. I am going to rate all you folks a thumbs up from here on ! lol
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I do not think I have anything of great importance to retrieve from the laptop,, that is unless I can now somehow create a back up recovery disc of my HP pavilion g7 original factory settings of windows 7 home premium.. And I have my desk top hooked to my ethernet jack .. I use a wireless verizon router here so i suppose i could key in a wifi password and go wireless to my laptop ..but not sure about security tools yet.. am I going to need maleware and atti virus protection software using linux mint?
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but a few are available to keep from infecting friend's windows computers. One is called Clam AV, but that's for later.
If you can hook this laptop to the Ethernet port, you won't have to yet mess around with doing the wireless in Linux. Reason is you can use the browser in Linux and make it quicker and easier on you to run the following commands and then copy and post the results to this forum. On the inxi command, anything you feel reveals too much, just remove and post the rest, such as the WAN IP address for example.
Go to Menu, find Terminal, open and paste these commands in them, one at a time and hit enter. Once that's done, copy/paste to us here so we can assess what's going on with the laptop.
sudo fdisk -l
sudo parted -l
blkid (or may need to use sudo blkid, or may need to use blkid -o list)
inxi -v7
If you have a photo place you can park an image, you could also open GParted and just look at it's display, especially for the hard drive, and then clk on the Print Screen key and paste into image program and save as photo file. If you can't put on site for us to view, no problem, the parted -l will tell us what is needed, but you will appreciate the graphical user interface (GUI) that is provided.
GParted is short for Gnome Parted. Gnome is/was a long time desktop environment for Linux, the other main one is KDE, once called Kool Desktop environment, now just "KDE", no emphasis on "Kool" anymore.
So, save what you want first to a backup drive like flashdrive or external hard drive, or if on your LAN you can do it across to the Acer laptop fairly easily.
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No, don't install it. You need it to find and recover files. In the upper left the default is to have file manager icons for Computer and Home. The same program runs them both, it's just a file manager, goes to different places depending on which you choose. In Linux the "home" is similar to "My Documents" folder in Windows.
Probably best for you to clk on Computer, find your windows drive, which won't be labeled in "windowese" as C drive, unless it was actually "labeled" such while windows. Should appear by whatever it's label or volume name is. There you can use the file manager to browse the drive with windows on it, find the folders and files you want, and do "copy/paste" from it to your backup storage media. Remember, just get your personal files off, not waste time and space copying off the \windows and the \Program Files folders nor any others which don't contain your own files. Most of your files will probably be in \My Documents folder.
Once you have rescued all your folders, you then have a choice to make. We can help in that choice by having you run some commands using the Terminal program in Linux, available from it's Menu area.
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I will review your instructions and try to get this done ,,please give me a bit of time.. I should be able to get on this task and complete by sometime tomorrow.. I 'll buy a flash drive to extract all my personal files from my documents.. and from their just a few handyman projects in the am,, I should be able to complete this task.and post results later tomorrow. But thank you much again..
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James, I have an 8gb flash drive ready but need steps to rescue files/pics/documents .. does the laptop need to be connected to the internet before rescuingto 8 gb flashdrive? secondly.. I have the Acer desktop with ports and a usb cable connector if this is suggested. 3),, to communicate here during this task.. could I connect the laptop via usb /piggy back the laptop using a USB connection to the Acer desktop? If I can do this.. do i unplug the laptop power adapter for power surge safety?
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The best option is to pull that drive out, into some external case, slip in a new blank drive and restore the computer to its factory state.
Now that the machine is back we can plug in the old drive to copy in our files.
Then we have one lone backup copy. Later we get our act together with regular backups to this HDD, that memory stick and other places with what we can't lose. I keep a few things up on dropbox.
Bob
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The best option for you to transfer data between laptops is to do it through your home router's LAN. If the Acer is working OK by wifi, then you only need to plug the other laptop with a cable to one of your router's LAN ports.
Once you have that set, you boot to the Linux system, set it to find your LAN in Homegroup or Group or whatever your LAN is called. You then clk on the HOME icon on Linux desktop and look for Network in it and go to the Windows Network. There you can find any shared folder on your Acer laptop and move files from the Linux laptop to the Acer one across the LAN to save them to the Acer.
Alternate saving method is to simply plug your USB flashdrive into the Linux booted computer and when you see it in the file manager, right clk on it and choose to Mount it. You can then find and move files to it from the laptop's hard drive.
None of this requires internet connection because it's all done within your home, nothing passing across the internet. Your LAN is NOT your internet, it is connected to the internet, usually through a firewall, but what goes on between computers behind that firewall is your home LAN only.
I would discourage trying to use some USB cable networking system since the Acer might have software to work it, but then you'd need different software on the Linux booted computer to do so, since the Acer will be using a windows based program instead, which can't be loaded to the Linux laptop.
Either do it between computers across your home LAN, or move files to a USB flashdrive (which you can then copy to the Acer and come back for more files), or to a hard drive in an enclosure, or some other backup system.
If you have more than 8GB of files and want to use the flashdrive, then copy files to the flashdrive, take it to the Acer and put the files on it. Then clear the flashdrive to receive more files back at the Linux booted computer and till the process is finished.
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Using my galaxy here instead of ACer because I unplugged the lan wire to plug into laptop. Where do I go from here to move any files to a flash drive? Icons showing are computer. .mint home. .install mint..system..8gb icon (I have plugged in usb port)..I tried to find a way to move files to 8gb usb but do not know how yet
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Clk on the Home icon on the desktop, or maybe better clk on the Menu button in left bottom corner, see the "Network" choice and clk on it. If you are plugged into the LAN port on your router then it should be a cakewalk to find the other computers on your LAN. Just drill down to one of their shared folders and once you have that, it's where you can send your files to back them up. While you are in that file manager, under the View tab at top of it, you can choose to enable a second pane. That will open another side by side view. In one you have it set to the shared folder on the other computer, and then for the other pane you find where the files are on your injured laptop, and make the folder and file transfers you want to save. It looks like and works almost like windows file explorer, if you've ever used that.
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If you open the HOME icon on desktop and plug the flashdrive in, it should appear as a drive choice in Mint's file manager.
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I was there before and get stuck on what to do on the second step in your demo... I see networks too but files are empty.. perhaps I have nothing to save? .. I am communcation from the laptop so this is a good thing so far! Just wondering about coping files necessary to fix this laptop to it's factory settings .. do you think I can use a new unused 16gb sandisk flash drive right here to copy important recovery files being it would seem easier for me.. I am not sure if I am transfering files from this troubled windows 7 laptop to any other functioning /(uninfected) computers.. Not sure I understand why this windows 7 os crashed the laptop.. certainly worried about transfering infected files to another computer. So I rather try using a flash drive to salvage anything of importance to repair the laptop to it's former state.
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I typed in those command prompts too But, not sure what you want me to copy and paste.. the entire thing? I did what you asked typing one at a time ,, sudo fdisk... sudo parted...sudo blkid... inxi-v7 .. would you want me to see if i can copy and paste it all here?
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mint@mint ~ $ sudo fdisk
Usage:
fdisk [options] <disk> change partition table
fdisk [options] -l <disk> list partition table(s)
fdisk -s <partition> give partition size(s) in blocks
Options:
-b <size> sector size (512, 1024, 2048 or 4096)
-c[=<mode>] compatible mode: 'dos' or 'nondos' (default)
-h print this help text
-u[=<unit>] display units: 'cylinders' or 'sectors' (default)
-v print program version
-C <number> specify the number of cylinders
-H <number> specify the number of heads
-S <number> specify the number of sectors per track
mint@mint ~ $ sudo parted
GNU Parted 2.3
Using /dev/sda
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) sudo blkid
align-check TYPE N check partition N for TYPE(min|opt)
alignment
check NUMBER do a simple check on the file system
cp [FROM-DEVICE] FROM-NUMBER TO-NUMBER copy file system to another partition
help [COMMAND] print general help, or help on
COMMAND
mklabel,mktable LABEL-TYPE create a new disklabel (partition
table)
mkfs NUMBER FS-TYPE make a FS-TYPE file system on
partition NUMBER
mkpart PART-TYPE [FS-TYPE] START END make a partition
mkpartfs PART-TYPE FS-TYPE START END make a partition with a file system
resizepart NUMBER END resize partition NUMBER
move NUMBER START END move partition NUMBER
name NUMBER NAME name partition NUMBER as NAME
print [devices|free|list,all|NUMBER] display the partition table,
available devices, free space, all found partitions, or a particular
partition
quit exit program
rescue START END rescue a lost partition near START
and END
resize NUMBER START END resize partition NUMBER and its file
system
rm NUMBER delete partition NUMBER
select DEVICE choose the device to edit
set NUMBER FLAG STATE change the FLAG on partition NUMBER
toggle [NUMBER [FLAG]] toggle the state of FLAG on partition
NUMBER
unit UNIT set the default unit to UNIT
version display the version number and
copyright information of GNU Parted
align-check TYPE N check partition N for TYPE(min|opt)
alignment
check NUMBER do a simple check on the file system
cp [FROM-DEVICE] FROM-NUMBER TO-NUMBER copy file system to another partition
help [COMMAND] print general help, or help on
COMMAND
mklabel,mktable LABEL-TYPE create a new disklabel (partition
table)
mkfs NUMBER FS-TYPE make a FS-TYPE file system on
partition NUMBER
mkpart PART-TYPE [FS-TYPE] START END make a partition
mkpartfs PART-TYPE FS-TYPE START END make a partition with a file system
resizepart NUMBER END resize partition NUMBER
move NUMBER START END move partition NUMBER
name NUMBER NAME name partition NUMBER as NAME
print [devices|free|list,all|NUMBER] display the partition table,
available devices, free space, all found partitions, or a particular
partition
quit exit program
rescue START END rescue a lost partition near START
and END
resize NUMBER START END resize partition NUMBER and its file
system
rm NUMBER delete partition NUMBER
select DEVICE choose the device to edit
set NUMBER FLAG STATE change the FLAG on partition NUMBER
toggle [NUMBER [FLAG]] toggle the state of FLAG on partition
NUMBER
unit UNIT set the default unit to UNIT
version display the version number and
copyright information of GNU Parted
(parted) inxi-v7
align-check TYPE N check partition N for TYPE(min|opt)
alignment
check NUMBER do a simple check on the file system
cp [FROM-DEVICE] FROM-NUMBER TO-NUMBER copy file system to another partition
help [COMMAND] print general help, or help on
COMMAND
mklabel,mktable LABEL-TYPE create a new disklabel (partition
table)
mkfs NUMBER FS-TYPE make a FS-TYPE file system on
partition NUMBER
mkpart PART-TYPE [FS-TYPE] START END make a partition
mkpartfs PART-TYPE FS-TYPE START END make a partition with a file system
resizepart NUMBER END resize partition NUMBER
move NUMBER START END move partition NUMBER
name NUMBER NAME name partition NUMBER as NAME
print [devices|free|list,all|NUMBER] display the partition table,
available devices, free space, all found partitions, or a particular
partition
quit exit program
rescue START END rescue a lost partition near START
and END
resize NUMBER START END resize partition NUMBER and its file
system
rm NUMBER delete partition NUMBER
select DEVICE choose the device to edit
set NUMBER FLAG STATE change the FLAG on partition NUMBER
toggle [NUMBER [FLAG]] toggle the state of FLAG on partition
NUMBER
unit UNIT set the default unit to UNIT
version display the version number and
copyright information of GNU Parted
(parted)
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that first command
sudo fdisk -l
is
sudo space fdisk space, a dash, then an "L" in small cap.
same for
sudo parted -l
there's also the command
blkid
and the big one
inxi -v7 which is inxi space, dash, the letter Vee, and a numeral 7
The above commands will give information about your hard drive, the partitions on it, whether it has MBR or GPT formatting, if there is an EFI partition on it, and information on motherboard make and properties and other such things.
What you got was basically those commands help files since the command was not executed properly.
Yes, I would like you to do it correctly and post the info here. As mentioned, you should remove anything you feel is too exposing like your WAN IP number.
=========================================
Did you read the networking stuff I wrote? Or just dont' understand it? If the latter, then just use the flash drive to remove data from one computer to place on a backup. When you open the file manager in Linux, look for a disk partition there which contains the folders Windows, My Documents, Program Files, and that will be the drive partition you want. If you know where your files are, copy them to the flash drive and then write them into a folder on your other computer. Just to be safe copy all of My Documents folder and back up to another computer.
Anytime you order actual recovery disc they charge you a nominal fee of about $15-20 for the cost to them, even though the windows system on it is worth more than that. When you bought it you were expected to make the recovery disc from the recovery partition on it, so that's how they justify it. That recovery partition MAY still be there, but unless we can see it from the commands above, we also may NEVER know.
I have a few hairs left, but they are going fast. Pulling....pulling.....
==============================================
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For whatever reason, I didn't see this reply before submitting my prvious post reply.. anyway, I'll get right on it.I have only one lan reaching my room..(modem is other room).. i will use my galaxy note to check replies or the laptop during terminal test.. this time i will get it right following your specifics
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Lets see, if I buy a partnered PC OS combo and the hard drive fails just after the warranty expires should I have a recovery disk to load on to the new HD drive I must buy, despite any piracy rick to its creator? For most that answer is obvious. Home computers should last at least 5 years, for that time they need to support their OS and a recovery disk does that.
If you bought a TV and it lasted three years would you be a happy camper? If it didn't most would consider it unreliable. My expectation for any PCs/Laptops are the same including its OS.
I'm certain most consumers would agree. After reading the old thread discussions,, it is likely AVG FREE EDITION UPGRADE caused msft windows 7 premium to crash this 2 year old laptop. Ido not want to support any windows os after that experience,, Going to learn /read more about linux os
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It's from that PDF file at HP which I linked to. It's about running the Recovery software that should be on the computer still.
I'd not do it till I got all my wanted files off first though. No guarantee it's still there either.
=========================================
To restore the computer from the recovery partition, follow these steps:
1. Access Recovery Manager in either of the following ways:
Select
Start > All Programs > Recovery
Manager > Recovery Manager
- or -
Turn on or restart the computer, and then press esc while the "Press the ESC key for Startup Menu" message is displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Then, press f11 while the "F11 (System Recovery)" message is displayed on the screen.
2. Click System Recovery in the Recovery Managerwindow.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions
=================================================
Changing the computer boot order
To change the boot order for recovery discs:
1.Restart the computer.
2.Press esc while the computer is restarting, and then press f9
for boot options.
3.Select Internal CD/DVD ROM Drive from the boot options window.
To change the boot order for recovery flash drive:
1. Insert the flash drive into a USB port.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Press esc while the computer is restarting, and then press f9
for boot options.
4. Select the flash drive from the boot options window
========================================================
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I tried F11 with HP tech support on the phone.. and after that she said I had a harddisk issue and they could repair both disk drive and software issue for the outlandish estimate quote of over 400.00 that ain't happening.. But, I can try it again,, If I recall, that was the last recommended option she said. too.. By now, I'm somewhat familiar with the esc instructions/ steps.. tried esc f2 tried f10, f9 and pretty sure I tried about everything.. and believe the last attempt was the F11 all else fails recovery option...l do not recall where I might have lost windows 7 os.. but do not see it anywhere trying the linux software on the laptop. right now , i could plug the lan connection back in laptop from my the Acer desktop i'm on now.. I could try try F11 recovery online with the LINUX again but still not sure how to get all stored personal files off prior to doing so....much in the way , I do not believe i have any personal files to worry about salvaging. I do have an 8 gb flash drive with at least 6gb free space on it.. .. just can't figure out where to extract any personal files if they even exist on the notebook.. I looked and tried the steps you pasted. Perhaps I deleted them already by accident messing with F11 internal recovery option? No matter, eventually I want to use linux ,, i do not even like windows 8 on the Acer,, I do not trust msft products anymore.. I spoke with them on the phone too and rather not give them any more business. I want to read and learn more about Linux OS. I imagine there are pros and cons comparing them. But I'm not buying windows no more.. i'll build my own or pay some one to build my computer. thanks again,, what did/do you make of the terminal results or were they even test results I copied and pasted here?
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or acquaintance who is more computer savvy than you are? You've made quite a bit of progress on your own but seem to have hit a personal wall on where to go from here.
What I want to accomplish is;
1) Help you save any personal files like emails, pictures, videos, music, etc. Most other than email folders would be in the My Documents folder.
2) After securing your personal data to a safe backup, determine the manner in which your hard drive and system on it is setup.
3) One of two things then can happen.
4) Either complete restoration of computer to original software status which means it goes back to factory setup and all files you have created on it disappear, including any programs you installed.
5) Or, restoration of windows and then a "side by side" installation of Linux Mint in a double boot setup.
6) Or, abandon of windows, especially necessary if there's no restore partition on the drive, and full install of Linux Mint to use instead.
If you have someone who is more knowledgeable about how to access networking, understands using file managers, has working knowledge of drives versus logical drives, and could have them at your place or with your failed laptop and direct them to this thread, I think they could quickly solve your problem with the laptop.
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I do have friends and even brothers who said sometime when they are not busy , they would look at it.. I honestly want to learn ,, and certainly do not want to burden you with loss of time minding this delema.. I am in no rush.. i will try reviewing the steps to salvaging any personal documents .. I will get on it right away.. I do Apologize for my lack of computer knowledge
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