Score:2

I (unintentionally) deleted (I guess) a passwd file

th flag

What should I do?

Ok, I'm not expert on Ubuntu whatsoever but I really need some help. I was trying to install x11vnc to screen share my laptop through the terminal. While I was doing it, x11vnc asked to add password and so I did. Then I needed to open another terminal and it started with "I have no name!"@laptop, so I thought a restart should help.

I restarted the laptop and only one line of code appears "/dev/****: clean, */ files, / blocks" I rebooted a couple of times but it was the same

I thought it had to do with the password of x11vnc, used the advanced Ubuntu options and go to recovery mode and through root shell, I was trying to recovery the (I believe) deleted /etc/passwd file.

But now, I still the same, I can't even use the /var/backups/passwd.bak is says it don't exist

What I'm asking is there a way to recover some of my files? Or reinstall Ubuntu and not loose my files like in Windows? I have some valuable info for my thesis and clearly no time to do it again.

cocomac avatar
cn flag
Boot to a Ubuntu live CD, press "Try Ubuntu", and go copy your thesis somewhere safe, like cloud storage. DO NOT copy it to the live CD, as the live CD is reset every time you reboot. Once your thesis is safe in the cloud, _then_ try to fix your issue.
Will avatar
id flag
@cocomac - I think you should post as an answer - it is what the OP is asking and you've answered with exactly what they need to get their data back.
Soren A avatar
mx flag
You might have a backup copy of the password-file in `/etc/passwd-` from before the last password change / user add / user delete operation.
Cristián Hernández avatar
th flag
@cocomac I don't really remember if I click the option of encrypt my SSD. But I do remember all my passwords. Could it work out?
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