Topic: Can do this? Fresh install 7.1 keep files and old mysql dbs

[WACOMalt]

well I found a useful solution to the not being able to read in windows thing.

its a program called "explore2fs"

it basically lets you explor and backup onto your windows any file on one of the linux filesystems (including whatever sme uses)

I made a backup of the WHOLE HARDDRIVE in a folder on my windows PC.

Now I have a new question (I DID do a search this time and couldnt find what I need)

I am restarting on my server. doing a fresh install. I put in the 7.1 install CD and fist off I have to know if my PC is i586 or not.. (I honestly don't remember.) either one of the options I choose though (pressing enter, sme then enter, or smei586 then enter) when it gets to

"running install
running /sbin/loader"

it freezes for a LONG time. then when it recovers I get a

kernel panic message

"Kernel panic - not synching: Fatal exception"

I then have to restart...

I was wondering if this might be due to the issues that might have caused the hard drive problems int he first place...

how could I go about completely reformatting the drive? I need to completely write 0's to it. any way to to this when I cant get anything to run on the drive?

[raem]

WACOMalt

As pointed out by osiris9510 & bpivk if your server is not running then you obviously will not be able to use the pre-backup event & dump file.

In that case your only option will be to manually copy the mysql databases directly from /var/lib/mysql. Note you should only do this when the mysql service has been stopped.

[osiris9510]

It could be a bad burn. You could try a media test or re-download the ISO.

Otherwise, I would imagine that the hard drive is bad.

[WACOMalt]

It could be a bad burn. You could try a media test or re-download the ISO.

Otherwise, I would imagine that the hard drive is bad.

I know I have done a media test before, but for some reason I cannot find the option now o_O where is it located?

and I do not think the hard drive is a lost cause. when I put it in my windows machine, "explore2fs" read the disk perfectly. and the WHOLE disk, as I did a complete dump of the whole disk. If anything is wrong with it, I personally think it is something that a reformat will fix.

thanks for the help btw everyone. And sorry for any attitude I might have had so far. (I don't actually know if I have or not, I just felt like thanking everyone and covering my butt if I have been mean or anything )

[bpivk]

The option should be available when you install sme. Before installation you get an option to check cd before installing.

[WACOMalt]

the old CD wasn;t even getting to the place where I could check the CD. a new burn works just fine (which is odd, the bad copy worked just last week)

I now have a new 7.1 on my server. I am having issues seeing the ibays on my local network though, but I'm searching on that one right now