[calimehtar]

The computer I'm running right now (wallstreeet powerbook) has some problems with the OS X install, and I don't have the boot CD anymore. I need to access some data on an UFS partition and as far as I can tell I have one viable option: make a linux boot cd and try to mount and move files that way.

I don't want to install, at least right now, since this pc is really just for backing up data, and my primary pc is in the shop right now. Is this going to work? Will there be some point when I can drop out of the install process and just move some files around? I'm planning to use yellow dog linux 2.3 (because it's on one cd while 3.0 requires 3)

[Detrius]

Your linux attempts are likely to frustrate you, and they are likely to be unsuccessful. Technically, Linux supports UFS. However, just like UNIX isn't a specific term, neither is UFS. There are about a dozen different filesystems called UFS.

If you have another Mac running OS X, you could attempt firewire target disk mode (assuming your machines will support it).

If you have no access to other Macs running OS X, you could talk to your local Mac repair technicians. They *should* be able to do what you need done.

(note: this solution comes to mind because I am a mac technician)

[calimehtar]

Thanks for the advice. So far you've been proven correct, though the problem right now is actually that I thought it would be easy to boot from a linux install CD but this hadn't proven to be the case.

I do have another mac but it's in the shop. Normally my solution would be to use my OSX install CD to boot from but that is also in the shop, in the computer's cd drive. All my friends are Linux or Windows users so I don't really have a lot of options. I guess what I should do is just go tomorrow and ask for my cd back.

The thing that bites is i technically do have Jaguar on my UFS partition (partition 0 or whatever) but for some reason I can only ever run it immediately after re-installing the OS which takes, you know, about 2 hrs or so. Right now I'm wishing I had selected the HFS option when I set this computer up