'Root is full' problem

[Herman Aalderink]

On Sun, 2015-07-05 at 17:05 +0100, R Kimber wrote:
> I'm getting 'root is full' messages after installing a new USB drive, but I
> can't work out how to sort it out.
> 
> The background is:-
> 
> I had a failing USB drive (there are two).
> I unmounted both USB drives.
> I commented out both drives in /etc/fstab.
> I unplugged the failing drive.
> I rebooted.

For USB-drives you do not need fstab. Just plug-in, nothing else needed.
Try it, you will like it.
All U need is plugging in. Installing (fstab style) is done by the OS.

> I used gparted to format the new drive.
> 
> It turned out that the good USB drive was mounted after the reboot
That's normal ... stick in a (good) USB drive .... and it is mounted.

> , though
> not of course the new drive, but not where it had been specified in fstab.
> (How does that happen? I thought fstab controlled drive mounting).

Why dont you forget fstab and install USB drives by just plugging in?

>  And I
> get the 'root is full' message.

I expect one (the USB drive problem) has nothing to do with the other
('root is full').

Shortterm solution: Look for the recently stored files in /home (I
expect you have /home on the same partition as root).
Delete some files (like that recently downloaded Ubuntu) and all is
working again.

Longterm solution: Use the entire drive when installing Ubuntu and you
will not run out of space (root, home) again.
Analyse your present full disk. If you understand it, you have the
solution right there.

> So, where do I go from here?

1. Get familiar with 'right-click > Properties' basicly.
2. Play with 'Disk Utility' and similar programs that give information
on your harddisk.
3. Get Puppy-Linux. It runs from CD drive and you can see anything you
want on your drives. It is also great to get critical files off your
harddisk, save elsewhere, like on USB drive.

> 
> And how do I specify where USB drives are mounted (scripts are involved so
> I need to know where they are).  I thought I could mount drives wherever I
> wanted.

Maybe that is your only problem ....... you only have to play dumb ...
plug-in the USB drive and forget about fstab.

Herman in Philippines. (under house-arrest with a broken leg).