Read-only file system problem

[Glen Turner]

> 
> cp fstab fstab.old2 and I get cannot create regular file - Read-only file
> system.
> 
> HOW can I edit my fstab again???

OK, there was an error during boot and the root filesystem was
mounted read only to prevent damage.  You are probably also
left in single user mode.  If not, boot again, saying
"linux 1" to LILO.

Now there are two approaches:

 1. Remount the root filesystem as read/write.  There's an
    explicit mount option especially for this (which means
    that you're not the first person to ever have this
    problem, so don't despair):

       mount -t ext2 -o rw,remount /dev/hda6 /

 2. Boot off the rescue floppy disks [1], mount the disk and
    change the file.

       mount -t ext2 /dev/hda6 /mnt
       vi /mnt/etc/fstab
       umount /mnt

Option 2 is the safest.  If you don't have a boot diskette, then
you might care to create one after you get your system back in
order.

Regards,
Glen

[1] You should have to give the BIOS password and change the
    BIOS boot order to do this.  Otherwise anyone can come
    along, boot you machine off floppy, and read your files.

-- 
 Glen Turner                        E-Mail: glen.turner at aarnet.edu.au
 Network Engineer                                 Tel: (08) 8303 3936
 Australian Academic and Research Network   http://www.aarnet.edu.au/

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