How can I fix a very broken Ubuntu installation without losing data?

Posted by jredkai on Ask Ubuntu See other posts from Ask Ubuntu or by jredkai
Published on 2012-05-22T11:36:45Z Indexed on 2012/11/15 11:25 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 158

Filed under:

12.04

|

grub2

|

command-line

Okay guys, I was installing a program (I do not remember the name). When I did sudo apt-get update I was given missing dependencies. It told me to sudo apt-get install -f which deleted just about every dependency needed for Ubuntu, now I cannot log in or anything, now in GRUB it actually says Debian instead of Ubuntu. I have tons of important data in that partition. Can I some how use the live cd to fix this problem??? I mean like re-install without losing data.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

© Ask Ubuntu or respective owner

Related posts about 12.04

Wipe 12.04/Windows 7 dual boot setup and start fresh new 12.04

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I have an Asus u56e laptop running dual boot setup, Windows 7 and 12.04. I had Windows 7 first. I was wondering what's the easiest way possible to erase/format my drive (500GB) so that it deletes Ubuntu and Windows 7 so I can reinstall 12.04 onto my whole drive? Does the Ubuntu Live CD help make this… >>> More
In 12.04: Failed to load session 'ubuntu' [closed]

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
Possible Duplicate: There's an issue with an Alpha/Beta Release of Ubuntu, what should I do? I'm using 12.04 beta. Today I was prompted to install some updates, which I did, followed by a reboot. On reboot, X starts, but all I see is a single dialog window in the middle of the screen… >>> More
Will final version of 12.04 use the power management changes found in kernel 3.3

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I have seen in some version of Ubuntu that instead of making a huge change to update to the latest kernel, they take some of the good stuff out of it, for the sake of stability and put it on a previous version. In this case, kernel 3.3 has seen some very good power management enhancements that are… >>> More
Wired PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse do not work in 12.04 Live CD or after fresh 12.04 install - Foxconn D270S Atom Motherboard

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
My Wired PS/2 keyboard and mouse do not work in 12.04, either in a fresh install or from the Live CD. A USB keyboard and mouse will work. The PS/2 keyboard and mouse will work using the same hardware and a fresh 10.04 Ubuntu install or a fresh Windows 7 install. The motherboard is a Foxconn D270S… >>> More
Difference between 12.04 and 12.04.1

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I recently did a fresh install of Ubuntu 12.04 two days ago. Or at least I thought it was 12.04, but actually 12.04.1. Now I'm having errors popping up from the grub loader. Error: no video mode activated which was apparently resolved in this bug# 699802. However these workarounds are for 11.xx… >>> More

Related posts about grub2

How to enable boot timeout in Grub2?

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I'm am trying to enable the boot timeout selection in grub2 on Ubuntu 9.10. I modified /etc/default/grub: GRUB_DEFAULT=0 #GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0 GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=false GRUB_TIMEOUT=2 GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian` GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash quiet" GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="" and… >>> More
Windows 8 changes GRUB2 in every boot!

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I've installed Win8 and Ubuntu 12.10 both UEFI style (win8 first then ubuntu). GRUB2 shows me Both Ubuntu and Win8 entries. If I boot into Ubuntu is fine. I could reboot anytime I will see GRUB2 unchanged. The story changes when I Boot into Win8. When I boot to Win8 using GRUB2 it takes me to the… >>> More
How to install Grub2 under several common scenarios

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I feel the community has long needed a clean guide on how to install Grub2 under a a few extremely common scenarios. I will accept answer as solved when it has one section per scenario and assumes nothing other than what is specified. Please add to the existing answer, wiki style, keeping to the original… >>> More
Make bootable iso with grub chainloading

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
My parents' pc has windows 7's boot manager installed at MBR and grub2 is installed on /dev/sda2 (booting linux on /dev/sda2). I want to make a bootable cd so that when booted from it just chainloads into the boot manager on the second partition. I assume using grub rather than grub2 for this will… >>> More
So HERE'S how you get into grub2 if there's no boot menu in Ubuntu Lucid 10.04

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
<b>Click:</b> "I installed Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid from a daily build yet couldn't boot into my fresh new desktop because I needed to add nomodeset to the grub2 boot line and didn't know how to do that because there was no boot screen visible." >>> More