Installed kernel 2.6.8.1 blank screen after grub

[nyblueguy]

I just installed and booted to my new kernel. I load into grub and select the new version 2.6.8.1 and then it starts to load for a second and then goes to a blank screen with a cursor at the bottom.

I can still boot into the old kernel without any issues. Thanks,

[spencerf]

boot into the old kernel then post the output of of:

ls /boot

AND

less /boot/grub/menu.lst

[nyblueguy]

config-2.4.27-2-386 initrd.img-2.4.27-2-386 vmlinuz-2.4.27-2-386
config-2.6.8.1 System.map-2.4.27-2-386 vmlinuz-2.6.8.1
grub System.map-2.6.8.1




# menu.lst - See: grub(, info grub, update-grub(
# grub-install(, grub-floppy(,
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 5

# Pretty colours
color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specifiv kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
# kopt=root=/dev/hda5 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,4)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery mode) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## ## End Default Options ##

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.8.1
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.8.1 root=/dev/hda5 ro
savedefault
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.8.1 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.8.1 root=/dev/hda5 ro single
savedefault
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-2-386
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.27-2-386 root=/dev/hda5 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.4.27-2-386
savedefault
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-2-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.27-2-386 root=/dev/hda5 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.4.27-2-386
savedefault
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda2
title Windows NT/2000/XP
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

================================================== ========

[spencerf]

how did you install your new kernel because you don't have the 2.6 equivalent of your 2.4
this

initrd.img-2.4.27-2-386

I think you should have something like initrd.img-2.6.8.1-2-386? Not sure though I don't use Debian but if you had your distro automatically install the kernel then usually its a modularized kernel and it requires the initrd.img file.

[nyblueguy]

I started over running kernel 2.4.27. Do I need to upgrade to a lower version of 2.6.x or can I upgrade directly to 2.6.8.1?

also do you have a nice guide I can follow. I have tried this three times and ended up re-installing cause I am totally new.

Thanks,

[djhobo9]

I'm assuming this 2.6.8.1 you're speaking of is a custom-compiled kernel? In that case:
http://www.falkotimme.com/howtos/deb...el2.6_compile/
is the best tutorial for building an installing a new Debian kernel I've seen. Just make sure to pay attention towards the end with respect to the initrd image. You can also ignore the wget command that tutorial uses at the beginning to get a kernel source tree--you're just as well off using the debian 2.6.8 kernel-source package.

Seems like you've already figured out most of what's in this tutorial, but the ending part is probably what will fix your problem. Good luck!

[nyblueguy]

Getting

Package ncurses-dev is a virtual package provided by:
libncurses5-dev 5.5-1.1
You should explicitly select one to install
\E: Package ncurses-dev has no installation candidate


i assume it is a version issue. what should i explicitly request?

[djhobo9]

Ahh sorry I should have mentioned that...

apt-get install libncurses5-dev

as root should do it. That tutorial is from a while ago, but is still very valid in every other way.

***However please note that that tutorial is for compiling your own kernel --which is what I think you are trying to do here... I assume this because installing the generic Debian 2.6.xx kernel package (not a custom one) should've taken care of your initrd problem on its own (i.e. it should've booted with no problem). If you're not trying to compile your own kernel here, please let me know...

[nyblueguy]

after running the command to make the package i got some errors. what does this mean? Is there any way to install a kernel without compiling it yourself? I thought this was the only way. Anyway i am learning a lot screwing it up!

{standard input}: Assembler messages:
{standard input}:771: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
{standard input}:772: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
{standard input}:971: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
{standard input}:972: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
{standard input}:1051: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
{standard input}:1052: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
{standard input}:1147: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
{standard input}:1148: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
{standard input}:1157: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
{standard input}:1169: Error: suffix or operands invalid for `mov'
make[2]: *** [arch/i386/kernel/process.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [arch/i386/kernel] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.11.7'
make: *** [debian/stamp-build-kernel] Error 2

[farslayer]

why not start with a pre-packaged kernel from Debian and then move to a custom compiled kernel ?

apt-get install kernel-image-2.6-686

that should put you at kernel 2.6.8-3-686