Unable to mount filesystem as read-write in recovery mode

Question

I deleted two unused user accounts. Now I am unable to login even into my own account. I rebooted in recovery mode in the root shell and tried to restore the back-up of /etc/passwd. However, the filesystem is read-only!

I can only access root shell via recovery.

Can you help me?

@Jobin There is [an existing bug](https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/friendly-recovery/+bug/996454) for this. You may want to add your vote (the green writing near the top-left of the bug page). — Paddy Landau, Feb 12 '13 at 16:59
Thanks @PaddyLandau. Thought it was a security measure rather than a bug. Marked it as it affects me too :) — jobin, Feb 12 '13 at 17:06

score 37 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 16 '17 at 02:16

37

If I am not wrong, the filesystem is mounted read-only by default in Recovery mode. To mount it as read-write, go the recovery mode and choose root. Now type the following command:

mount -o rw,remount /

Note the spaces, you'll get an error if you ignore the spaces, or add extra ones too. And then you can copy as you tried earlier.

edited Mar 16 '17 at 02:16

muru

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answered Feb 12 '13 at 14:14

jobin

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If your home is on an extra partition, you may also need the command `mount --all`. – Paddy Landau Feb 12 '13 at 21:20
Any tips for "mount: special device remount does not exist"? – user319862 Apr 16 '17 at 00:11
Figured it out. Enabling network sets filesystem to read/write – user319862 Apr 16 '17 at 00:19

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

Recently on my Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, I encountered error "System is running in low-graphics mode" and there is no way you can login or proceed beyond this error screen.

For me this happened when I renamed /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d directory while I was trying to solve one of the graphics related problems.

Workaround:

On the error window, press ctrl+alt+f3 to get to the console. Here the filesystem is mounted but in read-only mode so you can't edit to rename the directory back for correction.

To mount the filesystem in read-write mode, use following command

Command: mount -o rw,remount /

It would mount the filesystem in read-write mode. Now you can correct the name of the directory using mv command. Then, use exit command and Press Alt + → multiple times till you get to the UI again.

If required, reboot the system using reboot command, now you should be able to login as usual.

Unable to mount filesystem as read-write in recovery mode

2 Answers2

Workaround:

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