From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Sat, 27 Jan 2001 19:14:31 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Sat, 27 Jan 2001 19:14:23 -0500 Received: from mail001.syd.optusnet.com.au ([203.2.75.244]:24518 "EHLO mail001.syd.optusnet.com.au") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id ; Sat, 27 Jan 2001 19:14:14 -0500 Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 10:14:04 +1000 Message-Id: <200101280014.f0S0E4702435@borogoves.yi.org> From: Derek Benson To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: kernel boot problems Reply-to: derek@borogoves.yi.org Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Ryan> Hello all, Hi Ryan> I was wondering if someone might be able to help me. I have Ryan> just compiled my kernel and set it up on a floppy to boot off a Ryan> disk. I have it then use an image file to uncompress and get Ryan> the filesystem off ,etc. Well when it boots it says it has Ryan> uncompressed the filesystem image and then gives me this: Ryan> Mounted Root (ext2 filesystem) readonly Freeing unused kernel Ryan> memory: 212K freed Warning: unable to open an initial console Ryan> Kernel panic: no init found. Try passing init= option to the Ryan> kernel. Ryan> I know that I have init on the image, so what could I be doing Ryan> wrong. It is probably something stupid that I am overlooking, Ryan> but I thank you in advance. This is commonly seen when your /etc/fstab is pointing to the wrong partion for root, or (I believe) on some older kernels where the location of the root partition is contained within the kernel or on the boot sector somewhere. (Forgive me for not being more explicit my memory fails me) Try man rdev for changeing these values. Of course as someone else has noted there could be other reasons, but if you are looking for something 'stupid' (believe me I've done this before too) then this could be it. Try passing 'root=/dev/hda2' or whatever (without the '') to the kernel at the boot prompt: lilo: linux root=/dev/hda1 single Replace linux above with the alias of your kernel. If you don't know what partiion root is on you can always cycle through the partitions consecutively. (I've done this before when breaking into linux boxes that I didn't build but had the job of maintaining). Once you have booted into single mode you can edit /etc/fstab to point to the right place. Or else if thats correct just boot up with linux root=blah and you'll be up and running! Hope this helps. derek - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/