Did 6.06 LTS install to hda kill my 5.10 data on hdb?

[Default User]

Shame on me for being so trusting . . .


What I had:

i586
/dev/hda: ide hd with Debian stable, with grub/mbr from Ubuntu 5.10
later standard install on /dev/hdb.
/dev/hdb: ide hd with Ubuntu 5.10 system, standard install, apparently
did LVM setup automatically.
/dev/hdc: 2 stand alone vfat formatted partitions for miscellaneous
storage.
/dev/hdd: ide cd/rw.

it was a dual boot debian and Ubuntu setup. grub installed by Ubuntu
5.10 automatically detected and set up grub to dual boot, and worked
fine.


What I did:

downlaoded downloaded Ubuntu 6.06 LTS, burned iso. Had already backed up
all Debian (/dev/hda) data. Did not back up Ubuntu 5.10 data (/dev/hdc)
. (Trusting, aren't we?)

Installed Ubuntu 6.06 to /dev/hda, overwriting Debian as expected, using
graphical installer and default automatic partioning. Then the fun
begins.

Reboot. Ubuntu Grub pops up, automatically booting directly into Ubuntu
6.06, without offering Ubuntu 5.10 as an option. This was unexpected, as
Ubuntu 5.10 had automatically detected Debian and set that and itself up
for dual boot. Silly me for thinking 6.06 would be as advanced.

The 2 partitions on /dev/hdc were readable, as was /dev/hda, the new
Ubuntu 6.06 system. /dev/hdb1, apparently the Ubuntu 5.10 root (or
possibly boot) partition is readable, but /dev/hdb5 (possibly an LVM
glob of the rest of the 5.10 system) is not readable, nor mountable.
cfdisk just scratches its head, saying there are NO partitions on
/dev/hdb.

The Ubuntu install disk main menu has an option to "boot from first hard
disk." So I re-cabled and jumpered /dev/hdb to be detected by the cmos
as /dev/hda. But the "boot from first hard disk" install disk option
would not work, stalling after a "ERR M" error message.

Due to an undetermined hardware issue, I could not get the cmos to
recognize all of the drives when trying to re-cable and jumper them into
the original configuration. So I physically disconnected the drive at
/dev/hdc, then re-connected the drive at /dev/hdb as /dev/hdc.

What I have now:
i586
/dev/hda: ide hd with Ubuntu 6.06 LTS occupying full disk, standard
install.
/dev/hdb: no drives physically present.
/dev/hdc: was /dev/hdb, (hopefully) still has the Ubuntu 5.10 system,
including my data. Appaerntly 2 partions: /dev/hdc1, with the root (or
boot) partition files. Also /dev/hdc5, possibly an LVM clump of the rest
of the Ubuntu 5.10 system, and hopefully where all of my data is.
/dev/hdd: ide cd/rw drive.


What I (desperately) need:
To retrieve my data from /dev/hdc, the Ubuntu 5.10 system, and move it
to /dev/hda. the Ubuntu 6.06 system. That's all I ever wanted!

Just a side note: is there a way to install Ubuntu without LVM, so that
you have real partitions that you can see/read/write/manipulate, like in
the good old days?

Any assistance would be appreciated, even if it's just to tell me the
data is lost forever, so at least I can get on with the grieving
process, and then try to get on with my life.

Thanks!