Newsgroups:  gmane.linux.debian.user
Date:        Thu, 15 Jul 2004 20:50:00 +0800

> my Debian (stable version) crashed and has corrupted my reiserfs
> partion. Can't boot/mount it anymore :(.
>
> I started Knoppix from CD and
> I tried reiserfsck /dev/hda2 and it tolds me:
> "If the partition table has not been changed, and the partition is
> valid  and  it really  contains  a reiserfs  partition,  then the
> superblock  is corrupted and you need to run this utility with
> --rebuild-sb."
>
> Ok then I tried it with the --rebuild-sb switch and it ask me:
> "what the version of ReiserFS do you use[1-4]
>         (1)   3.6.x
>         (2) >=3.5.9 (introduced in the middle of 1999) (if you use
> linux 2.2, choose this one)
>         (3) < 3.5.9 converted to new format (don't choose if unsure)
>         (4) < 3.5.9 (this is very old format, don't choose if unsure)
>         (X)   exit"
>
> Damn I don't know the version, I assume it depends on the reiserfs tools
> of my stable Debian version.
> Does someone know what version is the right with stable Debian?

If at all possible, copy the paritition to a file (on another computer for preference) using dd:

First, get your knoppix organised so you can do passwordless logins either from or to it. I'm assuming your doing it from the Knoppix box:

dd if=/dev/hda1 bs=4096 | buffer | ssh backup.example.com \| buffer \
\| dd bs=4096 of=/var/local/backup-reiser.img

or similar.

The use of buffer is optional. May buy something, might not. Also consider using gzip or bzip to compress/uncompress data as it crosses the LAN.

You can, of course, backup (more quickly) to a local device, and you can use, eg, nfs rather than dd & ssh.

You should read the docs on dd: I may have left something important or useful out.

John Summerfield