Can't boot new install past initrd

ggriffin · n00b Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 6

I am in the process of installing gentoo on a GHz Athlon, using the newest stable genkernel and vanilla sources. Everything in the install process seemed to go smoothly, except when I first booted it doesn't seen to get past the initrd. I get:

Step 4a: Mounting root
Mount: Mounting /dev/hda3 on /newroot failed: Invalid argument
could not mount specified ROOT, try again
Root block device unspecified or not detected
Please specify a device to boot, or "shell" for a shell

Then it just hangs there. /dev/hda3 is my root partition. I have set up grub like this:

root(hd0,0)
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/kernel-2.4.24 root=/dev/ram0 real_root=/dev/hda3 init=linuxrc
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd-2.4.24

This is the first time I have used the new version of genkernel, where you needed to specify the ramdisk as root. If somebody can spot what I'm doing wrong I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

edomaur · n00b Joined: 19 Sep 2002 Posts: 73 Location: Switzerland

Well... I have the very same problem, with the same params and all.

Selecting "no bootsplash" and making before genkernel a checkup of all the possible cached things doesn't help. Have tried all yesterday evening with no success at all.

(it s*** because my box is now broken and it was only a routine update of kernel)
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didi666 · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:06 am Post subject:

seems the new beta genkernel release was really a BAD idea

look here for a possible solution:
https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=126008

edomaur · n00b Joined: 19 Sep 2002 Posts: 73 Location: Switzerland

shmattie · n00b Joined: 20 Sep 2003 Posts: 16

I am also having the same exact problem. I let genkernel build everything. I have a guess that maybe it didn't build reiser support into the kernel. I am probably way wrong, but other than that I have no idea. I will try rebuilding my kernel and specifically put that in there. I will post my results, hopefully it will be tomorrow.

jef0113 · n00b Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 37 Location: Be

i had the same problem , i didn't have support for reiserfs
recompiled my kernel whit reiserfs support and everythings working great again

check if your kernel has support for your file system

jef

FragKing · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:12 am Post subject:

jef0113: Thanks for the tip... will check that in the evening

shmattie · n00b Joined: 20 Sep 2003 Posts: 16

I just recompiled with reiserfs support turned on and still have the same problems. Anyone have any other ideas?

Corw|n of Amber · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:29 pm Post subject:

Yes. get rid of the initrd line in grub.conf. It WILL work.

I've had the exact same problem.
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scawa · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:54 pm Post subject:

What if I want initrd in grub????

This is a hack solution and doesn't solve the real problem.
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Corw|n of Amber · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:04 pm Post subject:

Then you'll have to build your initrd by hand.
Or switch from The One And Only Real Fast FS (reiser) to another one (possibly XFS, no idea whether it's faster or not).
Or using the initrd that comes with the bootsplash package, I think I remember it works (can't check from here)...
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shmattie · n00b Joined: 20 Sep 2003 Posts: 16

I tried removing the initrd line and had no success. Anyone else have any ideas?

ggriffin · n00b Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 6

Thanks for all the suggestions. I just emerged genkernel 2.0 and installed my kernel that way. I am not sure what exactly genkernel 3.0 would have given me, but I'm perfectly happy with 2.0. I will keep my eye on the forums to see when it is safe to upgrade back to the latest stable release of genkernel. Hopefully it won't be that long.

Glenn

shmattie · n00b Joined: 20 Sep 2003 Posts: 16

I found out what my problem was. I had printed the install instructions a little while back and they have changed. The big place where I noticed a change was in the grub.conf file. I had to add root=/dev/ram0 real_root=/dev/hda3 init=/linuxrc to my kernel line. I kept in my initrd line. Everything is working prefectly now. Hope this helps and thanks to everyone for your help.

mxc · Guru Joined: 05 Mar 2003 Posts: 442 Location: South Africa

I am using the insturctions outlined above from the install manual and I still get the same problem reported here. Anyone got a way to fix this?

green sun · Guru Joined: 04 Nov 2002 Posts: 325 Location: Wista, MA

mxc · Guru Joined: 05 Mar 2003 Posts: 442 Location: South Africa

thanks - I have that in my grub.conf file. It has something to do with the mount command as if I choose the shell option once it fails on step 4a. If I type in mount /dev/hda3 / I get invalid argument errors just like the error report in step 4a.