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I am moving my install from an jfs partition to an ext3 partition. I was copying and... Code: debian:/# cp -a / /media/disk cp: cannot copy a directory, `/', into ...
  1. 10-10-2008 #1
    patrickaupperle
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    I am moving my install from a jfs partition to an ext3 partition

    I am moving my install from an jfs partition to an ext3 partition. I was copying and...
    Code:
    debian:/# cp -a / /media/disk
cp: cannot copy a directory, `/', into itself, `/media/disk/'
cp: cannot copy a directory, `/', into itself, `/media/disk/'
cp: cannot copy a directory, `/', into itself, `/media/disk/'
cp: cannot copy a directory, `/', into itself, `/media/disk/'
cp: cannot copy a directory, `/', into itself, `/media/disk/'
cp: cannot copy a directory, `/', into itself, `/media/disk/'
cp: cannot copy a directory, `/', into itself, `/media/disk/'
cp: cannot copy a directory, `/', into itself, `/media/disk/'
cp: cannot open `/proc/acpi/event' for reading: Device or resource busy
cp: cannot open `/proc/sys/net/ipv4/route/flush' for reading: Permission denied
cp: cannot open `/proc/sys/net/ipv6/route/flush' for reading: Permission denied
cp: reading `/proc/sysrq-trigger': Input/output error
    I am assuming that I used a bad command. It did not drop me back at a prompt, as if it were still working, but there was no hard drive activity. Should I cancel it? Should I reformat the partition I am copying to? What command should I use to copy?

    more info at Debian User Forums :: View topic - I installed with JFS, thinking about ext3
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  2. 10-10-2008 #2
    bigtomrodney
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    well /media/disk is a subdirectory of /

    So you might need to rephrase or be more specific, otherwise it could cause a loop. I would recommend doing this offline. There will be files that are locked and won't be moveable. The proc directory is causing this kind of trouble in your output above, and you can imagine how the kernel will be blocked

    Maybe a live disc?
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  3. 10-11-2008 #3
    patrickaupperle
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    Quote Originally Posted by bigtomrodney View Post
    well /media/disk is a subdirectory of /

    So you might need to rephrase or be more specific, otherwise it could cause a loop. I would recommend doing this offline. There will be files that are locked and won't be moveable. The proc directory is causing this kind of trouble in your output above, and you can imagine how the kernel will be blocked

    Maybe a live disc?
    Wow, I can not believe I did not think of a live disk. Thank you. I will try that. Get back to you after that.
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  4. 10-11-2008 #4
    patrickaupperle
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    It worked and now everything seems to be going great.
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