Can't boot past splash, timed out waiting for device

[megavolt]

@Kelltech

Sadly I will agree it has died. I opened up and checked, all connections seem good.

Happens… hope you have backup…

@Kelltech

Perhaps a question for a new thread, or else I can search tomorrow, can I create a new /home on the existing SSD, or do I need to wipe it and start fresh?

Create a home folder and add a user when in chroot:

useradd -m <username>
passwd <username>

[Kelltech]

Well, for backup I always have current Timeshift, but if that drive is dead maybe its no good. All important stuff syncs with my Nextcloud server though.

[Kelltech]

Thank you both for all of your patient help. You helped me solve problems, identify a faulty drive, and I learnt more about navigating around from a live boot with chroot.

At the end, there was nothing that would let me in. After chroot, I changed password, create a new user but still could not sign in. And then realized all of my docs and data are on the dead hdd, so with nothing to lose I wiped and decided to give KDE a try.