A newbie really need help: can't get inside Debian

[hansnataniel]

Hello, I'm really a newbie in Debian or any Linux OS.

I installed my Debian on a computer with Windows OS (dual boot). After installation I can get into debian normally, but after reboot, now I can't get into Debian.
It says "Welcome to emergency mode! bla... bla... bla..." and ask me to enter my root password or type control-D. If I press Ctrl D, the system says "Can't find ext4 filesystem" and ask me to enter my root password again. After I enter my root password, I enter the terminal (root@debian:~#) and I don't know what to do.

I tried to install Debian again, but when I choose the partition, it was said that I can't use that partition because it's used by the old LVM. again, I don't know what to do.

I tried to reformat that partition drom my Windows OS, but after I enter my Windows OS, I just realize that partition doesn't appear in my windows (maybe due to different file system or because of I installes encrypted LVM) so I can't reformat that partition.

What should I do? can someone help me to fix the problem or at least teach me how to reinstall Debian?


Regards,
Hans

[Dai_trying]

If you are starting out on Linux (and Debian) then you might want to start without using LVM, encryption or any specialist settings, try to install using standard partition/filesystem/directory layout and then when you have more of a grasp on what makes Debian work (and what doesn't) then move forward to making it more secure. I very much doubt you will need encryption for your first linux distribution as you will most likely be reinstalling or trying another distro before you settle on one you like and are comfortable with, Debian isn't really the freindliest to new users but I'm sure you will learn a lot from your endeavors.

To get you out of your current predicament I would suggest using a live-cd to boot into and then remove (or just reformat) the debian partition (using gparted is easiest) and then you will be able to continue with a re-install.

[GarryRicketson]

by hansnataniel »After I enter my root password, I enter the terminal (root@debian:~#) and I don't know what to do.

Well that is the linux command prompt, you can do anything as root.
Type 'help' for a list of commands.
You could try :

Code: Select all

# login "yoursusername"

and see if you can login as a normal user, at this point it is not a very goof idea
to be doing anything as root.
Have you read anything on using Linux, and the basic linux commands ?
What are the basic linux commands
Take your pick of the many tutorials, or this is one
I like : http://linuxcommand.org/learning_the_shell.php
Did you read any documentation on Debian, before installing ?
How to install Debian

You don't even tell us what version of Debian you installed,
but any way, this is for various architectures:
https://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/installmanual

Have you read any of the other 100's of threads that beginners have posted,
basically with the same situation ?

by hansnataniel » What should I do?

Read some of the basic documentation, listed above, and if need be try installing again, following the instructions care fully,
Or, consider installing a Linux distro that is a little bit easier to install, and use,
Debian is not a very good choice to start out with, when the user does not even know how to use the linux command line, there often are many things that need to be done, and one needs to have some basic experience with linux commands,
you may need to also install drivers, firmware and other things,...
A good distro to start with, easy to install and usually "just works", "right out of the box" , is MX-16 (or your choice of versions)
Others may suggest "Ubuntu", but I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy,... I have worked with, and tried both.
Again :

I enter the terminal (root@debian:~#) and I don't know what to do

The fact that you get a terminal, and the command prompt, means you have what you need to work with, from there you should be able to get everything working the way you want it to,.....The problem is you don't know any commands, or anything,...like I said, type 'help' , it will give a list of commands,
you can also use, 'man'

Code: Select all

man man

or

Code: Select all

man ls

For example, would give you instructions on how to use the 'ls' command.

[hansnataniel]

If you are starting out on Linux (and Debian) then you might want to start without using LVM, encryption or any specialist settings, try to install using standard partition/filesystem/directory layout and then when you have more of a grasp on what makes Debian work (and what doesn't) then move forward to making it more secure. I very much doubt you will need encryption for your first linux distribution as you will most likely be reinstalling or trying another distro before you settle on one you like and are comfortable with, Debian isn't really the freindliest to new users but I'm sure you will learn a lot from your endeavors.

To get you out of your current predicament I would suggest using a live-cd to boot into and then remove (or just reformat) the debian partition (using gparted is easiest) and then you will be able to continue with a re-install.

Hi there, thank you for your answer. I didn't mean to use LVM (I didn't even know that I can install it without LVM), because I just follow step by step instruction from this installing Debian tutorial: http://linuxbsdos.com/2011/02/17/how-to ... ndows-7/3/

What should I choose if in that partitioning part if I want to install without LVM?

[hansnataniel]

Have you read any of the other 100's of threads that beginners have posted,
basically with the same situation ?

by hansnataniel » What should I do?

Read some of the basic documentation, listed above, and if need be try installing again, following the instructions care fully,
Or, consider installing a Linux distro that is a little bit easier to install, and use,
Debian is not a very good choice to start out with, when the user does not even know how to use the linux command line, there often are many things that need to be done, and one needs to have some basic experience with linux commands,
you may need to also install drivers, firmware and other things,...
A good distro to start with, easy to install and usually "just works", "right out of the box" , is MX-16 (or your choice of versions)
Others may suggest "Ubuntu", but I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy,... I have worked with, and tried both.

The fact that you get a terminal, and the command prompt, means you have what you need to work with, from there you should be able to get everything working the way you want it to,.....The problem is you don't know any commands, or anything,...like I said, type 'help' , it will give a list of commands,
you can also use, 'man'

Code: Select all

man man

or

Code: Select all

man ls

For example, would give you instructions on how to use the 'ls' command.

Thank you for the answer, tips, and links.

Honestly I didn't read the documentation on shell commands, but I read the tutorial on how to install debian and windows 7. http://linuxbsdos.com/2011/02/17/how-to ... ndows-7/3/

I planned to install first and then learn and do at the same time. I install the latest version of Debian ( Debian 8 ), I think. Cause I just downloaded the installation image today.

[dasein]

Please stop "full quoting." It makes the thread very difficult to read.

[GarryRicketson]

by hansnataniel >>
Thank you for the answer, tips, and links.

Your welcome,

Honestly I didn't read the documentation on shell commands, but I read the tutorial on how to install debian and windows 7. http://linuxbsdos.com/2011/02/17/how-to ... ndows-7/3/

Part of the problem is that is really outdated, it is for Debian 6 , before the "secure boot" and UEFI things,...

You will be much better off following the guide at Debian.org, it is more up to date.
https://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/installmanual

To be honest, I have never used any MS windows, and don't have it, so on that end , I can not help, but there are many other members familiar with the problems that can occur when MS windows is involved,..
I know, when one first starts it seems over whelming, but a little bit at a time you will learn.

by Dai_trying »--snip-- I would suggest using a live-cd --snip---

I second this, and if you did not download a live image, I recommend you do get one, you can also use it to install,
https://www.debian.org/CD/live/index.html
It is valuable to have one any way, in case you need to make certain kinds of repairs , etc,... I know it takes some time to download another image, but well worth the extra effort.

-----edit---
offtopic,... Back in 1985 more or less, I was just as baffled when I saw my first
Unix prompt, after logging into a Unix server for my first time,..there were not any "forums", "google search", etc... back then. Fortunately being a very user friendly OS, and with the 'help' command, and 'man' manuals, etc. It was fairly easy to get started, and things got easier once I learned how to use 'mail' and access USENET , from there I was able to get help on all kinds of things, and also find out about open source software that was available, etc.

[hansnataniel]

I second this, and if you did not download a live image, I recommend you do get one, you can also use it to install,
https://www.debian.org/CD/live/index.html
It is valuable to have one any way, in case you need to make certain kinds of repairs , etc,... I know it takes some time to download another image, but well worth the extra effort.

I've downloaded that live image and use it to install

[Dai_trying]

What should I choose if in that partitioning part if I want to install without LVM?

If you follow Garry's advice and use the Debian.org advice for installation, although I would suspect it would be in your interest to install Stretch and not Jessie due to having newer hardware (Win10) I had a few issues with graphics and network with Jessie but they were fine with Stretch. But that is probably something else you could learn from.

[stevepusser]

I still have Win 10 on my laptop, though I only boot to it to test live USB creation programs and such. The last Windows update "accidentally" sent my Linux UEFI boot file to the bottom of the list in the UEFI setup, so a non-technical user might have assumed that Linux had completely vanished from the machine, since it was just booting straight into Windows again.