[NBLUG/talk] Ack Down

[gandalf at sonic.net]

I moved our server across the room. I as it didn't have a keyboard or mouse connected I just did a power off. I went to boot it back up and it wouldn't start. After numerous plug testing and outlet testing I opened up the power supply and found an exploded cap. HSC, back, install new power supply. Now it won't boot. It will boot from CD, pulled up Knoppix, but I'm thinking of downloading a newer version (using 3.8 something). Downloaded Rescatux and gave it a try but it failed and then I was unable to find the log file telling me why. Tried to pull some files off it with Knoppix using a USB drive and had no luck at least yet. It's behaving oddly when I try to unmount the thumbdrives. 

The good point is the files all look to be there. This is a Debian Sarge 3.1 64 bit system. I really should upgrade it and change it over to CentOS which is more familiar. It has a mirrored raid with dual SATA 10k 74g raptors. It's also got a backup drive and hot swap (although I never got that to work) removable drive. 

I'm still early in the trying thing phase, but the problem is I have to have this thing operational (self booting) by Sunday. I have authorization for paid assistance if this reaches pulling hair out proportions. 

I figure the boot sector is hosed. I think I used to have a floppy with grub on it. I seem to remember I could even make a boot disk that would load grub or that other one, but it's been years and we just moved from our old office and I can't find anything looking like that. 

I'm going to try disconnecting one of the Raid drives and booting, and then if that doesn't work, do the same with the other one. I think they booth have boot sectors, but really I don't remember. I can get into both drives fine under Knoppix. 

(imagine a cute or dirty tagline here)