fixing recursive fault but reboot is needed!

ev0child · n00b Joined: 24 Apr 2015 Posts: 8

could anyone give me some pointers on this? I'm studying for an assignment on computer platform, I've not had much experience with Linux platforms and we are currently learning how to dual boot Gentoo and XP on Virtual-box. Last night i managed a successful install for the first time using virtual-box on my laptop. today i deleted the machine (along with all files) and created a new machine. as i am to be assessed on my install i figured the more time i do it the better i will get at it. today i set up a new vm (exact same setup as previous) and used the exact same iso as previous but now the machine only lets me get as far as setting the option for the keyboard layout. i tried this 3 times with 3 new vm's and 3 different releases (all x86). i keep getting a load of hex-code after i choose my keyboard layout and the message "FIXING RECURSIVE FAULT BUT REBOOT IS NEEDED!". I have also tried to install on gentoo on my Virtual-box on my home PC using a fresh release of Gentoo and still keep getting the same result.

This is driving me crazy as my tutor isn't the best at explaining things well either.

thanks in advance

eccerr0r · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 2:36 pm Post subject:

If you're not in an OS class, you probably won't ever learn what happened here.

A fault happens when something bad happens, like it encounters something really bad (accesses invalid memory, usually). It will run some "fault handler code". A double fault happens if this fault handler code also access invalid memory. A recursive fault usually means that the fault happened more than once. The kernel tried to fix up the problem as best as it could (usually segregate the failing program) just so the machine can keep on going on.)

If this happens with a stock installation, usually this means bad hardware.

As Gentoo you're part "developer" you could have built something wrong.

Unfortunately there's not enough information to go on here to further debug this. Perhaps a complete dump of the faults would be helpful.
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Jaglover · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:32 pm Post subject:

It may be a VirtualBox setting causing this.
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cwr · Veteran Joined: 17 Dec 2005 Posts: 1969

Try installing a current Ubuntu - if that fails, it's a problem in your VirtualBox setup,
otherwise it's a problem with the Gentoo build. At least that will give you a direction
to go in.

Will

ev0child · n00b Joined: 24 Apr 2015 Posts: 8

I went through every release of Gentoo until I got a version that worked and eventually one worked

I got as far as installing kernel and it froze, now I have a new issue that I don't understand with a segfault at start-up when making tmpfs for /newroot. Thanks for your replies but I have no idea what it was, I now need to post a fresh topic with this new issue :cry:

I'm not enjoying this installing gentoo lark at all