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While trying to set up my vsftpd server, I changed the file permissions on my server. This included my /etc directory. Using chmod and chown I changed the owner and ...
  1. 02-11-2007 #1
    Alaric
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    Changed permissions of /etc... Bad idea...

    While trying to set up my vsftpd server, I changed the file permissions on my server. This included my /etc directory. Using chmod and chown I changed the owner and permissions of my /etc directory. Now, I can't boot into the second runlevel of my server because I get the error '* INIT: cannot execute "/etc/init.d/rc"'. In the "recovery mode" the drive is mounted as read-only upon errors, so it can't be saved that way. Knoppix doesn't seem to work either. I tried mounting the drive and changing the permissions, but it didn't seem to have any effect. I remember being able to use the "linux 1" command at boot-up with lilo on an old red hat desktop computer, but I can't figure out how to do this in grub. Is there any way to save my computer without reinstalling?
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  2. 02-11-2007 #2
    BlahBlah_X
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    lol, doing that is like throwing linux out the window.

    Because /ect is where all the config files are kept. Its like somehow uninstalling the control center on a comp, except worse.

    There might be some über tech yway to save yourself, but I think not.
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  3. 02-11-2007 #3
    Alaric
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    You mean it's not as easy to fix as just mounting the drive and changing the permissions again? How are the permissions stored? What's keeping me from changing the permissions from singles (my "linux 1") mode?
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  4. 02-11-2007 #4
    BlahBlah_X
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    well, to my knowledge, you can't write anything to the files in /ect unless your root in linux.

    So maybe if you login as root through a live-cd and then mount the partition and fix stuff up.

    Try SystemRescueCD (at distrowatch). Its meant for stuff like this.
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  5. 02-13-2007 #5
    djmoymoy
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    When you tried to change the permissions in Knoppix did you use the shell?

    I would try using the Knoppix shell as the superuser. I had the same problem a little while ago, where I was mindlessly editing my /etc/fstab and screwed it up so that the system couldn't load. It was the same problem - I could edit the fstab in Knoppix, but it wouldn't save. I ended up using the terminal, su'ing (i don't think there's a password for root in Knoppix) and then using vi to fix my fstab. But you might be able to su and then chown and chmod to reset your permissions.

    Let me know if any of that helps.
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  6. 02-13-2007 #6
    burntfuse
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    Are you sure the execute bit is set for all the scripts in /etc that have to be executable, like the stuff in /etc/init.d?
    I have sold my soul to the penguin
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