[ubuntu-in] Broken Ubuntu system during upgrade - need help to rectify

[ramnarayan.k at gmail.com]

Hi

this is in continuation to some mails regarding upgrading 6.06 to 6.10 
online.

The current status is that i have a broken system x systems don't work.

The problem is compounded a bit by my not taking a back up immediatley 
prior to upgrading so am a little reluctant to mess up further. (I know 
i know back up always but then sometimes one pushes ones luck too much )

So on my broken system i booted with a live cd(s) to see if i could back 
up my existing data. But there is a problem. I have 3 users on the 
system. one being the main user account. When i access the /home/ram 
(main user) directory all the folders and files contained within show up 
as "gnome footprint icon" meaning that the software does not recognize 
the contents. Further the details of each file and folder appear as 
"unknown" . It is not possible to copy the contents - an error message 
appears.

I usually use rsync to back my data up and have been using live cd's on 
other people's windows machines to back their stuff up as well (its 
really convenient and no nonsense)

However in the other 2 user accounts /home/open and /home/ram2 the 
contents are clearly visible and accessible.

Sudo mode does not make a difference. I tried live cd's from versions 
6.06, 6.10 and 7.04 (need less to say 7.04 was quite wow)

now my question is that is the problem with this particular folder 
something else ??? and How can i rectify it.

will appreciate your advise and help

thanks
ram