manual edit of /etc/fstab/

[jenaniston]

I have to stop the automatic filesystem check in a USB OS I had to make in a campus computer ( Dell)

I can boot the USB OS drive to a Sharp AL27 laptop ( Ubuntu9.04 actually worked, I'd prefer Fedora 11 or 12 but that is for later)
with the only useful success in the root terminal recovery mode - which is fine for now.

But . . .
after 25 mounts . . . it will do a filesystem check (fails miserably). . . and it will all come to a halt.
This is a temporary jerry-rig USB OS just to get at the sick laptop . . .
rescue files and re-partition for a fedora hard disk install.

Anyhoo, I have to edit the last 1 to a 0 in fstab for the /dev/sdb1

see:www tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/fstab(dot)html

but I just haven't been able to get the insert mode of vi editor for this fstab file - at least in this recovery mode root terminal . . .

will nano editor work instead . . . ?

or Is there any better way to manually edit this crucial /etc/fstab file ?

Thank you for any suggestions or criticism.

[lugoteehalt]

but I just haven't been able to get the insert mode of vi editor for this fstab file - at least in this recovery mode root terminal . . .

will nano editor work instead . . . ?

or Is there any better way to manually edit this crucial /etc/fstab file ?

Thank you for any suggestions or criticism.

From that it *appears* the thing is working 'read only' which it would do in some sort of recovery mode. Incidentally on the criticism front your post is a bit cryptic - I am a moron, you have to factor that in, you have to lead me.

The simplest thing to do is use a 'live' CD, such as Knoppix or Ubuntu et al, to boot it from the cdrom drive, and then you can use any editor to fix fstab.

If it's stopping, during the boot process, and asking whether to go into recovery mode, press enter, or continue, hit ctrl+d; try the later.

[jenaniston]

. . .
The simplest thing to do is use a 'live' CD, such as Knoppix or Ubuntu et al, to boot it from the cdrom drive, and then you can use any editor to fix fstab.

If it's stopping, during the boot process, and asking whether to go into recovery mode, press enter, or continue, hit ctrl+d; try the later.

This is an edit of etc/fstab file question.

I appreciate the criticism really . . .
cryptic to be sure in that links are not allowed as a new forum member . . .

But . . .
(1) boot from CD live version NOT an option.
(2) boot from USB live version is also NOT an option

grub gives the choice for recovery mode kernel . . .

This recovery mode allows write permission.

The only way in to the laptop is a PXE LAN boot . . .
CD-ROM Live versions or other are of no use and Live version USB does not complete the boot process . . .
this full install of U9.04 to a USB pendrive is what it is . . .

So question still really is only . . .
how to manually edit /etc/fstab to disable the automatic filesystem check -
one character the <pass> character from a 1 (first filesystem check) to a 0 (no filesystem check) is what it will take . . .

anyone use nano editor to edit this type of file . . .

Thanks everybuddy.

[MikeTbob]

You can use nano, as root or use sudo, whichever you system is set up for.
nano /etc/fstab
Edit the file to your liking and then press Ctrl X to exit, Y and Enter to save file.

[jayd512]

You can use nano, as instructed by Mike, and all will be well.

If you ever want to use vi in the future, though, all you have to do is press <insert> on the keyboard to go to insert mode, make your changes, then hit <escape>.
A quick entry of <:wq> to write changes and quit... done!

[lugoteehalt]

Try setting the sixth field in /etc/fstab to 0, zero.

Congrats, didn't know you could do that.

[jenaniston]

You can use nano, . . .

If you ever want to use vi in the future, though, all you have to do is press <insert> on the keyboard to go to insert mode

Thanks all for the quick replies and interest . . .

I'll have to try all this tomorrow -
but I am now very confident that a manual edit of this file works after all.

Note the caveat mentioned at the end of this other forum thread . . .
about an empty line maybe needed at end of line (my fstab in U9.04 does NOT have one)
at :
forums.opensuse.org/new-user-how-faq-read-only/unreviewed-how-faq/413463-fstab-editing-manually(dot)html

I have mostly used vi as text editor . . . and nano maybe once or twice . . .
. . . but when I tried my usual vi editor insert mode by enter <a> (then later <escape> and :wq)
it did NOT let me change this one character . . .
I could insert at other spots in fstab file though -
but I always left with nothing changed by forcing a quit out of vi edit with :q!

I will try vi insert mode with <insert> instead of <a> in this "recovery mode" root terminal.

Thanks again all.

[jayd512]

I've manually edited my fstab one more than one occasion.
But I've never actually left an empty line at the bottom of any files that I fiddle with, and not had any problems from it yet.