Solved Linux can boot - suspect full HD, need help to access HD.

[wwdwgs]

Hello, everyone.
Problem - I can't boot Linux computer (dual boot - Ubuntu and Win). What i see is a black screen with blinking cursor.
Before this problem happened, I noticed that Thunderbird could not delete any messages and was constantly showing the status bar, that it's loading "new" messages. I eventually restarted the computer and this problem happened.
I tried a recovery mode, got some information about the disc. HD capacity is about 450GB and 430GB was used (showed 100% used). That's why I assume that the problem is lack of "free" space left on HD.
I tried Live CD, Live USB sticks, saw the HD with "old" linux, but I can't delete any files from the "old" drive. What I'm trying to do is to move (or delete, if it come to this) large files/folders on spare USB, free up old HD and start the computer (normally).
Is there a way to access the files/folders on old linux from the terminal and move/delete them?
Is there a way to resize the old HD (take some space from windows-occupied partition and "add" to Linux's?
Currently I'm using Ubuntu 20 Live USB.
Please let me know what to do in order to "fix" my problem.
TIA

 

[Condobloke]

Live USB sticks, saw the HD with "old" linux,

Just to be clear....to make the above happen (to see "old" linux)....you have inserted a usb stick which is bootable......booted to it......and when it has booted you are seeing your current hard drive (which is ~ full) ....and you are unable to either move or delete any files or folders from there

Is that correct?

Where would you move them to?

 

[wwdwgs]

That's correct. I tried to move the files to another spare USB stick (used as a storage).

 

[Condobloke]

Is the usb stick big enough to absorb many GB's....if the drive is showing around 430GB used, you would need to offload approx 30Gb 9or preferably more) to "free up" the drive enough to be able to use it.
You will then need to offload more again....otherwise it will fill to the point where it locks up, again

A sizeable external drive would be ideal....at least 1TB.....maybe 2TB...depending on possible future needs ?

 

[wwdwgs]

I can't delete any files from old Linux. "cut", "move to", "rename" options (when right clicked mouse) are grayed out. I can't also get a root access from the terminal. When I type SU, it prompts me to enter the password. I enter the password for old linux - failure. The currently working USB linux has no password. I'm a little lost here...

 

[Condobloke]

The currently working USB linux has no password

It may not need a password...try just hitting enter

(fyi ubuntu 20 has already reached end of life)

 

[Condobloke]

Just a thought...Do you have Timeshift setup, saving snapshots of the system?....and, if yu do, where are the snapshots saved to ?

 

[Danbor]

Is it possible to see "old Linux" in this situation without the HD being mounted? If the drive isn't mounted you can't manipulate it's files.
Sorry I can't help you further.

 

[wwdwgs]

Just a thought...Do you have Timeshift setup, saving snapshots of the system?....and, if yu do, where are the snapshots saved to ?

I dont' even know what it is. I assume, if I don't know what timeshift is, then I didn't set it up. I did gain a root access on live USB stick linux, and I can browse the old HD, but I can't delete any files from old HD to free up some space from it.

 

[wwdwgs]

It may not need a password...try just hitting enter

(fyi ubuntu 20 has already reached end of life)

I didn gain a root access to live USB Linux, and I can browse the old HD, but I can't delete any files from old HD in order to free up some space on it. I could re-boot and see if the old HD works, if not.. then I'll use Live USB again. I'm getting many instructions on this and other site, therefore I don't answer fast to all of you, guys.

 

[Condobloke]

I you click in the area the files are in, or on the folder they are contained in, are you able to right click and select 'open as root' ?

Not being able to move/delete them may be linked to permissions

I'm getting many instructions on this and other site,

One at a time.

Finish with the other site first, hope they can get you out of trouble. If not, come back here and we will try again.

Conflicting suggestions and information can lead to greater trouble than you already have.

 

[wwdwgs]

I you click in the area the files are in, or on the folder they are contained in, are you able to right click and select 'open as root' ?

Not being able to move/delete them may be linked to permissions


One at a time.

Finish with the other site first, hope they can get you out of trouble. If not, come back here and we will try again.

Conflicting suggestions and information can lead to greater trouble than you already have.

1 - there is no "option" with right click "open as root".

 

[tpkusr]

You can try this command to gain access as root

sudo -i

 

[wizardfromoz]

Finish with the other site first, hope they can get you out of trouble. If not, come back here and we will try again.

I agree with @Condobloke , entirely.

@wwdwgs , please oblige us by doing as suggested. We are not mind readers, and have one arm tied behind our backs while you are receiving perhaps conflicting or duplicated advice from another site.

@tpkusr please take note of that - it is an unwritten policy, but only makes for common sense.

TIA

Wizard

 

[tpkusr]

Finish with the other site first, hope they can get you out of trouble. If not, come back here and we will try again.

I thought he finished with other site and come back here with new post.

 

[wizardfromoz]

I'm getting many instructions on this and other site, therefore I don't answer fast to all of you, guys.

My highlighting.

 

[wwdwgs]

Update: Same problem - the screen is black. when I press power button, screen shows bunch of commands leading to Power Off. When I use Live USB stick, I can see and copy most of the files from old HD, but some (about 40%) are "locked" (red circle with an X - no permission, I guess).
I did get root "privilege", I did mount and unmount old HD, scanned it, too (fsck command) and it returned:
root@ubuntu:~# fsck /dev/sda2
fsck from util-linux 2.34
e2fsck 1.45.5 (07-Jan-2020)
/dev/sda2: clean, 419031/30515200 files, 116341332/122029568 blocks
root@ubuntu:~#

I also tried to restart the PC and try to boot Linux from old HD (as normal) - no luck.
What I didn't try is to go through all the menu points in a recovery mode when Linux on old HD is started.

 

[wwdwgs]

Question - is ti possible to resize linux and win partitions (same HD) from the windows side (disk management) in order to create more free space for Llinux OP, since I have "no free space" left" condition? I fired up computer with win and opened up Disk Management. In there, I selected wind partition and it can be shrunk. Linux partition cannot be moved - either expanded or shrunk. If I were to shrink windows partition by, let's say, 5 Gb and add those 5Gb, that should, theoretically, solve my problem. What do you think?

 

[KGIII]

Question - is ti possible to resize linux and win partitions (same HD) from the windows side (disk management) in order to create more free space for Llinux OP, since I have "no free space" left" condition?

Use Windows tools to adjust Windows partitions and Linux tools to adjust Linux partitions.

Before doing so, back up your important data.

 

[Alexzee]

For Linux I recommend gprarted Live. Boot to gparted live on a usb and adjust the Linux partition.

GParted Live on USB

gparted.org