custom kernel does not boot

coyopil · 01-10-2006, 06:25 AM

I compiled kernel 2.6.15 without initrd, and I get a kernel panic:

kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: unable to mount root fs on unknown-block (3,5)

I have only ext2 partitions so i don't see the reason why this happens.
Any suggestions?

gilead · 01-10-2006, 06:46 AM

It's not which file system you choose that determines whether you need an initial RAM disk, it's whether the file system support is compiled in the kernel or as a module. This sounds like you don't have initrd set up and you have your kernel set up with ext2 as a module.

The way around this is to either keep your current kernel and re-build your initrd, or you can recompile your kernel with ext2 in the kernel and not as a module.

coyopil · 01-10-2006, 06:59 AM

You're right. I thought i had it compiled in but missed the dot and looked at the v on extended attributes below it in qtconfig

coyopil · 01-10-2006, 01:46 PM

Now I have ext2 in the kernel and I get the same kernel panic error at boot.
Anybody understand any of this? I have only ext2 partitions...

Aurin · 01-10-2006, 01:51 PM

Are you using a SATA drive?

coyopil · 01-10-2006, 04:41 PM

No, an ordinary IDE 40 gb drive. 1 HD, 2 cdroms (DVDreader and CDburner)

nx5000 · 01-11-2006, 03:57 AM

Maybe you forgot something with IDE?
Have a look at
make menuconfig
an search (/) for
[^a-z]ide

May help you, I have this:

Code:

BLK_DEV_IDE = y
BLK_DEV_IDEPCI = y
BLK_DEV_IDEDMA_PCI = y
BLK_DEV_IDEDISK = y
BLK_DEV_IDECD = y

coyopil · 01-11-2006, 03:15 PM

hm, it wasn't in the kernel..

Incredible, this was the config from kernel.org
--how could they not include that?

no more questions about this until I've scrutinized the config file.

Come to think of it i have everything working with 2.4.27...

gilead · 01-11-2006, 04:46 PM

If you still have it, copy your old .config file into the source directory for your new kernel after you've run `make mrproper` and then run `make oldconfig`. It will use your old settings and then prompt you for the new settings specific to the new kernel.

coyopil · 01-11-2006, 05:24 PM

yes, thanks, I could do that.
I'm using the debian 2.4.27-k7 kernel now, thought I would drop the initrd.

coyopil · 01-12-2006, 01:01 PM

I got 2.6.15 running but went back to 2.4.27 as i still cannot get my tv card working with 2.6.
Thought maybe it would be better with in-kernel support for mppe for instance but newer is just not always better.