[SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

Princee · 2014-07-01 03:30:34

I can't use pacman because the.db's (core, extra, community) are in

/mnt/var/lib/pacman/sync

, not where the system says it should be; in:

/var/lib/pacman/sync

Should I have used

mount /dev/sdaX /var

instead of

mount /dev/sdaX /mnt/var

?

If so, what was the point of mounting the root to /mnt in the first place?
If not, how to I set the expected directory to

/mnt/var/lib/pacman/sync

?

Thanks!

Last edited by Princee (2014-07-03 02:47:55)

Scimmia · 2014-07-01 03:42:52

Either chroot into the installation or use pacman's --root option.

Edit, I'm assuming this is from the install disk or something similar.

Last edited by Scimmia (2014-07-01 03:43:34)

Princee · 2014-07-01 14:34:09

Could you be a bit more specific? I don't know how to use the pacman --root option (it's not in the ArchWiki). I would really appreciate a walkthrough on this, especially since I saw "root." Whenever I see "root," I get anxious and fearful of destroying my system

And should my mount points be

/var instead of /mnt/var

,

/home instead of /mnt/home

, and

/boot instead of /mnt/boot

, etc. ?

Trilby · 2014-07-01 14:47:31

The root option is clearly described in the man page. But I think that is a bit of a red herring. There is no need to really use that. If you are in the install media still, you should just use pacstrap as the install/beginner's guides direct.

As for your other questions - see this:

Scimmia wrote:

I'm assuming this is from the install disk or something similar.

We can't answer your questions until you answer ours. In fairness, Scimmia did say he was assuming rather than just asking - though I'd think the question is implied. For clarity: Is this from an install disk or something similar? Or is this from a current install? Or ... ?

EDIT: Please clarify whether you are installing, and if so, what step you are on, and what you are trying to accomplish. For good measure, the output of `mount` might be helpful. Please post that output within [ code ] tags.

Last edited by Trilby (2014-07-01 14:49:01)

Princee · 2014-07-01 17:40:49

I burnt the Arch .iso to a USB device, and I am currently in installation. That's why asked if

Princee wrote:

my mount points should be
/var instead of /mnt/var
,
/home instead of /mnt/home
, and
/boot instead of /mnt/boot
, etc. ?

; if I needed to change the mount points, I could just restart my installation.

I am at the point in the installation where you install "iw" and "wpa_supplicant" which you need to connect to a network (see this section in the Beginner's Guide). However, if I mounted incorrectly, I could just restart, mount correctly, and hopefully this problem won't arise.

I'm not exactly sure how to put the output of `mount` onto another device; since all I have is a terminal, this poses as a pretty big difficulty.

If I did mount correctly, I should just use the root option and everything should be fine, right?

Thank you for replying!

BluMongoose · 2014-07-01 18:02:40

How exactly are you trying to use pacman? As Trilby pointed out, you should be able to use pacstrap now to install the base system. The mounting you have done so far seems correct.

Trilby · 2014-07-01 18:04:32

Your mount points are correct for the installation process (but see the cautions about using a separate var partition).

Generally one should not need to use pacman within the iso - you'd use pacstrap. If you need to install something to the live system to continue, then you would need to use pacman, but *not* with the --root option. You do not want to install these to the new system you are creating, you want to install them to the live system.

If I recall correctly, the one time I did this, there was a warning about the databases not existing. That should be fine. You *might* need to do `pacman -Syu <package>`, but I think `pacman -S <package>` should work on current isos.

EDIT: I misread - the part of the guide you linked to is for installing to your newly installed system. Either use pacstrap when in the live system, or use pacman when in the chroot. Do not use "--root" for either of these contingencies.

Last edited by Trilby (2014-07-01 18:06:00)

Princee · 2014-07-02 00:56:09

Shoot, I wish the terminal had a battery life warning.
My computer shut down, and my mount points became unsaved

Before I restart installation, I would like to clarify:
-I should mount /boot to my primary partition
-I should mount:
/ partition to /mnt
/var partition to /var, NOT /mnt/var
/home partition to /home, NOT /mnt/var
-When using the installation .iso, I should use pacman if and only if I

arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash

-Because of the above point, at this point in installation, I should still be using

arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash

Thank you so much for helping me!

Trilby · 2014-07-02 01:08:30

Trilby wrote:

Your mount points are correct for the installation process

Your other questions are all answered in the beginner's guide - but to repeat it: yes, you'll still be in the chroot at that step. It is after the arch-chroot step, and before it tells you to exit from the chroot (which is at the bottom of that page). Just follow it step by step.

Princee · 2014-07-03 02:56:56

Thank you for helping me! I marked this thread as solved.
However, I don't want to block up this sub-forum with my inquiries.

I am at this point in the installation and I noticed that it tells me to run

# grub-install --target=i386-pc --recheck /dev/sda

First of all, I am running the x86_64 installation. Should I change "i386" to "x86_64" or something of the like?

Secondly, should I forgo this command and just create my BIOS Boot Partition, or do both?

Lastly, will using /dev/sda ruin the Windows 7 I have on the same device?

Thanks!

BluMongoose · 2014-07-03 06:33:14

I don't use grub so I can't help you there, but you would want to change the /dev/sda to the location of your linux install. If you are setting up dual boot with windows, have a look here for your options.

jasonwryan · 2014-07-03 06:52:31

This thread is solved: please don't clutter it with further questions. If, after reading the wiki, you still are unsure about something, open another thread
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Fo … ow_to_Post

Arch Linux

#1 2014-07-01 03:30:34

[SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#2 2014-07-01 03:42:52

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#3 2014-07-01 14:34:09

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#4 2014-07-01 14:47:31

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#5 2014-07-01 17:40:49

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#6 2014-07-01 18:02:40

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#7 2014-07-01 18:04:32

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#8 2014-07-02 00:56:09

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#9 2014-07-02 01:08:30

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#10 2014-07-03 02:56:56

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#11 2014-07-03 06:33:14

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

#12 2014-07-03 06:52:31

Re: [SOLVED] Cannot use pacman because of .db error

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