A grubby problem!

ugg · n00b Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 20

Having a slight problem with grub now. It's not finding the kernel on boot but if I type kernel /bzImage it finds the kernel, but then if I type boot it starts up but then says "kernel panic: cannot boot root filesystem". This is very frustrating for a n00b like me so can anyone be of some assistance?

My grub.conf is

klieber · Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2002 3:41 pm Post subject:

Code Listing 16.12 in the Installation Guide should answer your questions.

--kurt
_________________
The problem with political jokes is that they get elected

ugg · n00b Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 20

Tried it as per the install guides first but that didn't work, then someone else recommended to do it as above, but that doesn't worth either

.

s003apr · Apprentice Joined: 04 Oct 2002 Posts: 162

Don't see why yours doesn't work, but just for kicks, consider trying the example setup from the install guide (ie. has /boot/grub instead of /grub and /boot/bzImage instead of /bzImage)

default 0
timeout 30
splashimage=(hd0,0)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title=My example Gentoo Linux
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/bzImage root=/dev/hda3

I also notieced that you have "/bzimage" and not "/bzImage" assuming grub is case sensitive the capital "i" could make a difference.

Those are the only suggestions I have that you can try, sorry. Your problem sounds strange though because it says it found the kernel, if these things really mattered I don't think it would find the kernel at all.

ugg · n00b Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 20

Thanks but already tried the ones from the install guide, and as for the lower case thing it's just because I typed it out quickly into the post, it's fine the the actual file.

chatgris · Guru Joined: 14 Oct 2002 Posts: 383 Location: Canada

try manually booting with

kernel /bzimage root=/dev/hda4

then boot

that should get you into gentoo...

I had that same problem =) turned out i hadn't linked menu.lst to /boot/grub...

s003apr · Apprentice Joined: 04 Oct 2002 Posts: 162

I looked into this and can't even find an error like this in the grub documentation. In fact, I'm not sure this is a grub problem.

You don't have a working boot floppy do you? I assume not.

Do you have any OS other than Gentoo on this comp that you can check to see if they boot?

ugg · n00b Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 20

ugg · n00b Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 20

ugg · n00b Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 20

If it helps, the exact error was

Kernel Panic:: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:04

s003apr · Apprentice Joined: 04 Oct 2002 Posts: 162

You might be able to avoid redoing everything. In fact, if you had started with a stage 2 or stage 3 and already have the tarball, you won't really have to download anything much.

Also I've never done this, but if bzImage is a bad kernel image you might just be able to make a new one (not sure, i might just be talking out my [ear]).

Also, I don't know if filesystem type can mess up Grub, but you might want to look into it (I know ext2 and ext3 work, but that's all i use).

OH, also look the error up on a search engine:
I found this link, maybe give this a try:
http://www.linuxchimp.com/stories.php?story=303

s003apr · Apprentice Joined: 04 Oct 2002 Posts: 162

Ahh, another link with the same solution, I guess you should try specifying your memory amount:
http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/rootfs_0803_install.html

Gav · n00b Joined: 10 Oct 2002 Posts: 65 Location: Surrey, UK

I have the same problem, well almost - I'm using a SCSI drive.

My root is sda6 and ext2 format yet I get the same Kernel Panic but with 08:06, even with the "linux mem=128M" addition

Do you think I may have somehow managed to not have ext2 support (perhaps as a module) in my Kernel? I've built the system from stage1, and it takes a few days - If I can't get this Gentoo install working (my 2nd attempt) then I'll be going back to Red Hat (well, perhaps try lilo first).

Gav · n00b Joined: 10 Oct 2002 Posts: 65 Location: Surrey, UK

A little thinking solved it. My last problem was indeed kernel related - I managed to forget to put in support for my SCSI chip - now it works!!

Next I have to learn more about gentoo and install all the server software I need...

SkuTheSnake · n00b Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Posts: 6

i have the same problem like ugg

-> if you make a link like described in the manual there is a symbolic link
between grub.conf and menu.lst you must boot manual , dont know why

if you make a normal link ln /... without the -s you get your old splashscreen back

try it and dont forget to mount your boot partition to boot if you make any changes

SkuTheSnake

ugg · n00b Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 20

In the end I used ftp to transfer my files off of the drive, then zero'd the drive and reinstalled gentoo. Booted first time! Only problem is a distinct lack of network, but that's just due to my rushing things so should be fixed soon.

Thanks for all your help!