system not booting after kernel compilation

[PeterMas]

Hi,

I had a Slackware 12 system and I've recompiled a newer kernel version. After installing it, the system is not booting any more. As I don't want to reinstall everything and lose existing information, I need to know what can be done to restore my system.

Any help would be highly appreciated.

[MikeTbob]

Hello and Welcome.
Did you have a different Kernel working before you compiled your own? You can add the old kernel to grub and use that to boot with.

[Freston]

You can add the old kernel to grub and use that to boot with.

Slackware uses lilo, but other than that it's a good point. Did you (PeterMas) not keep the old kernel in your lilo.conf? That would have been the safest choice.

Anyway, your system should still be rescuable (<=that should be a word). Assuming you have only your new kernel entry in lilo.conf, do this:

Boot up the Slackware install CD/DVD. At the prompt, mount your root partition. That is probably /dev/hda1 or /dev/sda1

mount /dev/hda1 /mnt

Now change your root directory (because you where running from the CD/DVD and you want to run from the hard drive)

chroot /mnt

Voila! You're working on the hard drive again. Edit lilo.conf to restore your old kernel:

vim /etc/lilo.conf

And now finish it by running lilo. Don't forget this!

lilo

Reboot

reboot

And you should be done.

[MikeTbob]

Thanks for the info regarding Lilo, Freston. I've never used Slack.

[PeterMas]

Thank you, Freston. I followed your instructions exactly and everything worked great!

Indeed, Slackware uses lilo.