How do I re-install after upgrade failed on dual-boot workstation?

Ask Fedora
1

background:
I have a dual-boot stand-alone workstation: Fedora + windows-7.
I am not an IT professional.

problem:
Last Thursday, I tried to upgrade (dnf system-upgrade …) from F-40 to F-41 by following the instructions here:
“Upgrading Fedora Linux Using DNF System Plugin :: Fedora Docs”. Something went wrong. No matter which grub menu Fedora option I chose, the boot hangs, never reaching a login screen, not even a console login. Even booting windows-7 often (not always) fails.

help needed:

  • I need to RE-install Fedora 41 without it affecting the windows-7 partition. I also want to preserve the /home partition.
  • A friend (retired IT professional) made an F-41 live USB for me. But we get lost in the screen after choosing time zone and keyboard. We don’t see how to RE-install on this dual-boot workstation. I have not been able to find help buttons, a user’s guide for that Anaconda, instructions, or any other significant help.
  • I read the Fedora Magazine article " Reimagining the Fedora Linux installer: Anaconda’s new Web UI" (“Reimagining the Fedora Linux installer: Anaconda's new Web UI - Fedora Magazine”). I like what it seems to offer. But I don’t see how to get that new Anaconda and use it to RE-install F-41 (not install F-42). How do I do that?
    If I can’t do the RE-install on this dual-boot system using the new Anaconda, then how do I do it?
2

I am not aware of an F41 installation with the new Anaconda.

Have you verified with the live ISO, if there is enough space on the /boot partition where the kernel gets stored? If there is space missing, it could be that the installation got interrupted.

With the live ISO you also have access to this partitions (you probably have to mount them manually). If the / & /home is space missing you could delete some files in the Download Folder.

3

I already know that there is not enough space; Anaconda tells me that. But notice that I emphasize that this is a RE-install, not a new install. I think the existing kernels (4 of them) are in /dev/sda3, partition type=“Linux”, size=524 MB, contents=“Ext4”. I want those old kernels REPLACED by the re-install. I assume some of the contents of partition /dev/sda6 (/bin, /var, and so on) should also be replaced.

So how do I get the Anaconda that I do have to overwrite what’s in /dev/sda3 (and /dev/sda6?), without it touching /dev/sda2 (the windows-7 partition) and preferably also not touching /dev/sda7 (where /home is). If it’s relevant, /dev/sda6 and /dev/sda7 are parts of /dev/sda5 (type=“Extended”, contents=“Extended Partition”).