Kernel Panic

[VisualSolution]

Below is the error we get - we can't get the computer to boot completely it gives this error and we are 'done' PLEASE Advise - any help much appreciated!!!


ERROR: /bin/insmod exited abnormally
Loading jbd module
Journalled Block Device drive loaded
Loading ext3 module
Mounting/proc filesystem
Creating root device
Mounting root filesystem
Mount: error 19 mounting ext3
pivotroot: pivot_root(/sysroot,/sysroot/initrd) failed:2
Freeing unused kernel memory: 244k freed
Kernel Panic: No init found. Try passing init=option to kernel.

[Dolda2000]

Can you please describe your partition layout, and tell us what distro and boot loader you're using?

[VisualSolution]

Our partitions are laid out like:
All are on the /dev/sda
Mount Point Size Type
Sda1 /boot 47 ext3
Sda2 swap 2047
Sda3 /usr 49160 ext3
Sda4 18662 extended
Sda5 /home 17979 ext3
Sda6 / 384 ext3
Sda7 /var 259 ext3

We are using the GRUB bootloader version 0.90
Linux is Version 2.4.9-e.12
FYI:
I tried to use the installation disk after completing a non-bootable "bad" installation utilizing the 'Linux rescue' command at the prompt. I get a message that states there are no Linux partitions! We have used the Linux DD command so that we could install the disk drivers and the disks appear in the setup application correctly. It almost appears that the drivers are not staying loaded or the system is not saving the configuration.

[Dolda2000]

Indeed; it seems that the initrd doesn't contain the SCSI driver. My suggestion is as follows: Get a LiveCD distro like Knoppix (which is bound to have a SCSI driver, or at least I hope so =) ), boot from it, mount the Linux root partition, extract the correct SCSI driver modules from /lib/modules/<kernel version>/kernel/drivers/scsi. Make sure that you get them from the hard drive and not Knoppix' SCSI drivers, since Knoppix' drivers will be incompatible. Then get the initrd from the boot partition, unzip it, mount it through a loop device, put the SCSI drivers, and modify /linuxrc on the initrd to load them. Then unmount the initrd, rezip it and copy it back to the boot partition, reboot and rejoice if it works. I don't know how experienced you are with Linux, but just reply back if there's something that you don't know how to do.

[daveo]

Below is the error we get - we can't get the computer to boot completely it gives this error and we are 'done' PLEASE Advise - any help much appreciated!!!


ERROR: /bin/insmod exited abnormally
Loading jbd module
Journalled Block Device drive loaded
Loading ext3 module
Mounting/proc filesystem
Creating root device
Mounting root filesystem
Mount: error 19 mounting ext3
pivotroot: pivot_root(/sysroot,/sysroot/initrd) failed:2
Freeing unused kernel memory: 244k freed
Kernel Panic: No init found. Try passing init=option to kernel.

Do you have filesystem support added to te kernel as a module? It seems like that you didn't burn them into the kernel ..?

[Dolda2000]

I don't think he made his own kernel at all. Or am I wrong?
In any case, it isn't the filesystem module that's missing. errno = 19 is ENODEV, so it's the device drivers that are missing.