Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

notborg · 2013-05-24 17:12:40

Hi,

I have recently installed Arch Linux and have come a long way configuring my sound and network, installing some editors etc. The problem is every time I reboot, the folders I manually created are gone, also my sound doesnt work afterwards, so I have to make an .asoundrc file every time to set my audio device as my default, the same happens with my network, I keep having to dhcpcd "interface name" in the terminal to get a connection. The editors I installed remain installed, but the place where the tar.gz were and the unpacked folders are gone! (I know I can just delete them afterwards, but still) . Also I seem to have the problem of having to type startxfce4 at the CLI everytime before getting my desktop. Any help, suggestions or tips are greatly appreciated,

Thanks in advance!

Greets,
notborg

Last edited by notborg (2013-05-24 17:22:09)

ewaller · 2013-05-24 17:22:15

Welcome to Arch Linux. You should create a thread for each of your problems. Lets bang out one of them first. you need to enable the dhcp service as described here

Where are you creating the folders? It sounds as if you are creating them in /tmp or some other place that is not persistent. Please tell us where you are creating those directories, and please provide the output of mount.

If the sound is unrelated to this, I will ask that you start a new thread; but not yet, it could be related.

WonderWoofy · 2013-05-24 17:31:11

@ewaller, the only legit place an .asoundrc file would do anything is in the home folder. So it sounds to me like the OP is trying to create files and directories in $HOME. I took this also to mean that enabling the service would not take because all changes are lost. But maybe I am totally wrong.

@OP I think you need to be far more explicit about what your problems are and if they are separate or are listing various emptiness of the single problem.

notborg · 2013-05-24 17:31:34

Thank you very much for the link, I have been reading on Arch Wiki alot, but I guess I oversaw that one.
I just create the folders in my ~ directory, Documents, Downloads, that kind of stuff
The output of my mount:

$ mount
proc on /proc type proc (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime)
sys on /sys type sysfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime)
dev on /dev type devtmpfs (rw,nosuid,relatime,size=2787076k,nr_inodes=696769,mode=755)
run on /run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,relatime,mode=755)
/dev/sda4 on / type ext4 (rw,relatime,commit=600,data=ordered)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime)
tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,nosuid,noexec,relatime,gid=5,mode=620,ptmxmode=000)
tmpfs on /sys/fs/cgroup type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,mode=755)
cgroup on /sys/fs/cgroup/systemd type cgroup (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,xattr,release_agent=/usr/lib/systemd/systemd-cgroups-agent,name=systemd)
pstore on /sys/fs/pstore type pstore (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime)
cgroup on /sys/fs/cgroup/cpuset type cgroup (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,cpuset)
cgroup on /sys/fs/cgroup/cpu,cpuacct type cgroup (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,cpuacct,cpu)
cgroup on /sys/fs/cgroup/memory type cgroup (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,memory)
cgroup on /sys/fs/cgroup/devices type cgroup (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,devices)
cgroup on /sys/fs/cgroup/freezer type cgroup (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,freezer)
cgroup on /sys/fs/cgroup/net_cls type cgroup (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,net_cls)
cgroup on /sys/fs/cgroup/blkio type cgroup (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime,blkio)
systemd-1 on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type autofs (rw,relatime,fd=28,pgrp=1,timeout=300,minproto=5,maxproto=5,direct)
debugfs on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw,relatime)
mqueue on /dev/mqueue type mqueue (rw,relatime)
hugetlbfs on /dev/hugepages type hugetlbfs (rw,relatime)
tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw)
configfs on /sys/kernel/config type configfs (rw,relatime)
/dev/sda4 on /home type ext4 (rw,relatime,commit=600,data=ordered)
/dev/sda3 on /boot type ext2 (rw,relatime)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,relatime)

Thank you for the fast reply! I usually solve it cause of the vast documentation on Arch, but I have been stuck for a while now ^^

notborg · 2013-05-24 17:37:50

WonderWoofy wrote:

@ewaller, the only legit place an .asoundrc file would do anything is in the home folder. So it sounds to me like the OP is trying to create files and directories in $HOME. I took this also to mean that enabling the service would not take because all changes are lost. But maybe I am totally wrong.
@OP I think you need to be far more explicit about what your problems are and if they are separate or are listing various emptiness of the single problem.

Well, since all my problems happen on reboot I have the feeling that they are connected, but I am very new Linux itself, so its hard to trust myself on this one.
On the moment that I reboot, the .asoundrc file gets deleted, wich will render my alsamixer useless, if i speaker-test on reboot it says:
speaker-test 1.0.27.1

Playback device is default
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 1 channels
Using 16 octaves of pink noise
ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1022:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
Playback open error: -2,No such file or directory

#alsactl init shows:
Found hardware: "HDA-Intel" "ATI R6xx HDMI" "HDA:1002aa01,00aa0100,00100200" "0x103c" "0x3566"
Hardware is initialized using a generic method

# aplay -l shows:
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: 92HD81B1X5 Analog [92HD81B1X5 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

Also, when I open alsamixer I first get a panel with only one channel, dont even think it has use.
So when I press F6 I can select another device, both named HD-audio generic.

Sorry for throwing the network problem in, I just overlooked it:)

notborg · 2013-05-24 17:41:48

ewaller wrote:

Welcome to Arch Linux. You should create a thread for each of your problems. Lets bang out one of them first. you need to enable the dhcp service as described here
Where are you creating the folders? It sounds as if you are creating them in /tmp or some other place that is not persistent. Please tell us where you are creating those directories, and please provide the output of mount.
If the sound is unrelated to this, I will ask that you start a new thread; but not yet, it could be related.

Id like to add I just made a new install a few hours ago, and installed exactly the same as yesterday, wich I did cause of this problem. I follow the Wiki Install guide to the letter, so I dont think its cause of the way in install.. Just thought I should add though

ewaller · 2013-05-24 17:43:48

/dev/sda4 on / type ext4 (rw,relatime,commit=600,data=ordered)
/dev/sda4 on /home type ext4 (rw,relatime,commit=600,data=ordered)

I think that is your problem. you are using the same partition for both / and for /home.

Tell us about your partition configuration. Please post the output of sudo fdisk -l /dev/sda

notborg · 2013-05-24 17:45:57

ewaller wrote:

/dev/sda4 on / type ext4 (rw,relatime,commit=600,data=ordered)
/dev/sda4 on /home type ext4 (rw,relatime,commit=600,data=ordered)
I think that is your problem. you are using the same partition for both / and for /home.
Tell us about your partition configuration. Please post the output of sudo fdisk -l /dev/sda

sudo fdisk -l /dev/sda
[sudo] password for notborg:

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes, 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk label type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xbf5c1aac

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 409599 203776 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 409600 628559871 314075136 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3 628559872 629250666 345397+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 629250667 976773167 173761250+ 83 Linux

Thank you very much for the fast replies, I hope I can solve this with your guidance *edit* Yes, my / and ~ are on the same partition, is this whats causing the problem? Because I actually got from the web that this should be no problem? sda1 and sda2 are windows (im using grub-loader) sda 4 is my partition where / and ~ are on.

Last edited by notborg (2013-05-24 17:54:54)

ewaller · 2013-05-24 17:54:40

So, I see a pair of NTFS partitions, presumably windows installs. You've sda3 which I would venture is your boot partition [it is, I just went back and looked]. Then you have one large linux partition. That is fine; but... If you do not have a separate home partition (you don't), then your /etc/fstab should not have an entry to mount anything on /home. Just get rid of that line in your /etc/fstab.

notborg · 2013-05-24 17:56:48

ewaller wrote:

So, I see a pair of NTFS partitions, presumably windows installs. You've sda3 which I would venture is your boot partition [it is, I just went back and looked]. Then you have one large linux partition. That is fine; but... If you do not have a separate home partition (you don't), then your /etc/fstab should not have an entry to mount anything on /home. Just get rid of that line in your /etc/fstab.

#
# /etc/fstab: static file system information
#
# <file system> <dir> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
# UUID=a3a1218c-dc6a-49b4-a1d6-c0ba141da704
/dev/sda4 / ext4 rw,relatime,data=ordere$

# UUID=8c89fd6c-b21a-43bf-b6fe-95739130dd4e
/dev/sda3 /boot ext2 rw,relatime 0 2

# UUID=a3a1218c-dc6a-49b4-a1d6-c0ba141da704
/dev/sda4 /home ext4 rw,relatime,data=ordere$

Sorry, just for clarification, I should delete # UUID=a3a1218c-dc6a-49b4-a1d6-c0ba141da704
/dev/sda4 /home ext4 rw,relatime,data=ordere$
And thats it? Will this also resolve the alsa problem? Sorry for all the simple questions, but Linux still confuses me now and then

Last edited by notborg (2013-05-24 18:00:00)

ewaller · 2013-05-24 18:04:36

Yes.

Think about what we are asking it to do. First. it mounts sda4 on / . That is fine. now, / has a directory called /home/. One can either store files in that directory, or you can use that as a mount point to 'graft' another partition into the file system. What you have done is taken the same partition that is at / and remounted it on /'s directory /home/. Now, when you write to /home your are really also writing to /. This gets ugly, because you now also have /home/home, and /home/bin, and /home/etc. This is all bad.

torors · 2013-05-24 18:08:27

If you will try it out, just comment out the line /dev/sda4 /home .... (#/dev/sda4 home)

notborg · 2013-05-24 18:08:43

ewaller wrote:

Yes.
Think about what we are asking it to do. First. it mounts sda4 on / . That is fine. now, / has a directory called /home/. One can either store files in that directory, or you can use that as a mount point to 'graft' another partition into the file system. What you have done is taken the same partition that is at / and remounted it on /'s directory /home/. Now, when you write to /home your are really also writing to /. This gets ugly, because you now also have /home/home, and /home/bin, and /home/etc. This is all bad.

Aah I see, thank you very much for the clarification and support, Its clear to me now.
I wouldnt be able to fix it without help, thank you for the very fast replies, and straight to the point methods!
Have a nice day, greets

notborg · 2013-05-24 18:20:59

ewaller wrote:

Yes.
Think about what we are asking it to do. First. it mounts sda4 on / . That is fine. now, / has a directory called /home/. One can either store files in that directory, or you can use that as a mount point to 'graft' another partition into the file system. What you have done is taken the same partition that is at / and remounted it on /'s directory /home/. Now, when you write to /home your are really also writing to /. This gets ugly, because you now also have /home/home, and /home/bin, and /home/etc. This is all bad.

Well..I did what you said but, now when I try to login it will state: Failed to execute login command.
First I thought it was because I typed in the wrong pwd but, after the second time it stated the same and the screen froze.
I rebooted and tried again, but get the same problem.
Would appreciate it if you could talk me through this one..
Its not really a problem if I have to reinstall but, maybe you could tell me how to mount my partitions properly..though Id prefer fixing it, it seems a bit improbable because I cant even get into the system now:( Am on windows now...

Last edited by notborg (2013-05-24 18:21:40)

ewaller · 2013-05-24 18:25:29

Can you log in as root? If not we will need to go to plan 'B'. That will involve either a chroot, or by using a different init system by passing a parameter on the kernel command line in the bootloader. I need to step away for about an hour. I will get back to you then.

notborg · 2013-05-24 18:29:19

ewaller wrote:

Can you log in as root? If not we will need to go to plan 'B'. That will involve either a chroot, or by using a different init system by passing a parameter on the kernel command line in the bootloader. I need to step away for about an hour. I will get back to you then.

I cannot login as root.
What would it mean if I have to reinstall?
If so, when Id make a seperate partition for home, would I have to use other methods during the installation than before? Or is it the mount /dev/sda5* (in my case) /home only?
Ofcourse, ill be awaiting your reply, thanks:)

Last edited by notborg (2013-05-24 18:30:16)

ewaller · 2013-05-24 20:06:15

Okay, let's try this. Reboot, and in your boot loader, stop the boot process and let's change the boot commands. If you are using Grub, highlight the menu entry you want and press 'e'. Use the editor to move to the line that starts with 'kernel' and append 'init=/bin/bash' to the end of the line. Then, boot by pressing F10. Other boot loaders allow you to do this, but the process is different.

You should now be in a root shell. You are limited in what you can do, the setup is very basic. Don't expect networking or anything else to function. Look at the root directory using:
ls -a / There should not be much there. Here is mine:

ewaller$@$odin ~ [2]1015 %ls -a /    
.   bin   .config  etc   lib    lost+found  mnt  proc  run   share  sys  usr
..  boot  dev      home  lib64  media       opt  root  sbin  srv    tmp  var
ewaller$@$odin ~ 1016 %

I have a feeling we may find things in there that should be in /home, like your user home directories. Also, look in in /home, is your user's home directory in there?

I assume you have a second computer with which you can browse right next to the borked Arch system.

Last edited by ewaller (2013-05-24 20:06:42)

notborg · 2013-05-24 20:59:26

ewaller wrote:

Okay, let's try this. Reboot, and in your boot loader, stop the boot process and let's change the boot commands. If you are using Grub, highlight the menu entry you want and press 'e'. Use the editor to move to the line that starts with 'kernel' and append 'init=/bin/bash' to the end of the line. Then, boot by pressing F10. Other boot loaders allow you to do this, but the process is different.
You should now be in a root shell. You are limited in what you can do, the setup is very basic. Don't expect networking or anything else to function. Look at the root directory using:
ls -a / There should not be much there. Here is mine:
ewaller$@$odin ~ [2]1015 %ls -a /    
.   bin   .config  etc   lib    lost+found  mnt  proc  run   share  sys  usr
..  boot  dev      home  lib64  media       opt  root  sbin  srv    tmp  var
ewaller$@$odin ~ 1016 %
I have a feeling we may find things in there that should be in /home, like your user home directories. Also, look in in /home, is your user's home directory in there?
I assume you have a second computer with which you can browse right next to the borked Arch system.

I do not have a second system so I will not be able to.
While you were gone I decided to make a fresh install since I wrote everything to configure it the way it was down while I was installing the last time.
But to take precautions for the same thing happening, what is it in the install that I should have done differently?
Because in the beginnersguide they just mount /home on the same partition aswell.
How do I mount them seperately?

ewaller · 2013-05-24 21:11:09

If you do not have a separate partition for home, then you should not put an entry for /home in your /etc/fstab. The beginner's guide assumes that there is a separate partition for home. To use it, they attach that partition to the file system at home by mounting it there. If there is nothing mounted at home, then it just behaves as a regular directory. This is what you want.

Arch Linux

#1 2013-05-24 17:12:40

Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#2 2013-05-24 17:22:15

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#3 2013-05-24 17:31:11

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#4 2013-05-24 17:31:34

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#5 2013-05-24 17:37:50

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#6 2013-05-24 17:41:48

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#7 2013-05-24 17:43:48

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#8 2013-05-24 17:45:57

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#9 2013-05-24 17:54:40

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#10 2013-05-24 17:56:48

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#11 2013-05-24 18:04:36

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#12 2013-05-24 18:08:27

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#13 2013-05-24 18:08:43

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#14 2013-05-24 18:20:59

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#15 2013-05-24 18:25:29

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#16 2013-05-24 18:29:19

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#17 2013-05-24 20:06:15

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#18 2013-05-24 20:59:26

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

#19 2013-05-24 21:11:09

Re: Folders get deleted and settings change after reboot

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