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Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005 01:47:13 +0000
From: Chris Hodgins <chodgins@cis.strath.ac.uk>
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To: Mike Jeays <Mike.Jeays@rogers.com>
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cc: aklist_061666 <aklist_061666@enigmedia.com>
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Subject: Re: can't reboot after messing up my rc.conf file
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Mike Jeays wrote:
> On Wed, 2005-02-16 at 13:42, aklist_061666 wrote:
> 
>>Hi All:
>>
>>I was editing my rc.conf file and left off a quote mark, and now when I try 
>>to reboot I get an error and am prompted to drop into shell to fix it.
>>
>>The default prompt is /bin/sh, and if I hit return I get a prompt.
>>
>>How can I edit the file while I'm in that prompt? VI doesn't work...is there 
>>another text editor I can use to fix the file?
>>
>>TIA 
>>
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> 
> 
> /bin/ed
> 
> Be prepared with a printed manual and a wet towel for your head!
> 
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> 

Or you could just simply:
# /bin/mv /etc/rc.conf /etc/rc.conf.bad
# /bin/echo "<variable>=<value>" >> /etc/rc.conf

This will give you a nice new rc.conf that you can edit once you are up 
and running again.

HTH
Chris