Hello. I'm new to this liunx thing. I've got the Linux Mandrake 9.0 version and red hat 8.0. My problem is that when i'm trying to install any of this versions of linux i get a "kernel panic".
I think i know where the fault is because in both versions it stops with this "kernel panic" when trying to load pcmcia slots on my laptop. In BOTH versions. And whats really bothering me is that my laptop is brand new. AMD 1800+ (1.6GHz) Packard bell.
I could really need some expert help on this so that i can try out linux. . .I've tryed to run "no probe" mode and all the other installation modes without succeeding. Is there any way the kernel can skip this pcmcia slots from loading at all?? Please help me. . .

Kenneth

what is the kernel panic message displayed ?

Well I'd start at the following site to look for specific information on your laptop (or a similar laptop) which might help. http://www.linux-laptop.net

Is it possible to disable the pcmcia in the bios just to get past the install stage?

It says something like: "Bank: 00000003...... " and then a hole lot of numbers. I dont have the hole nr here. I can get it on tirsday. . .is that relevant??

It is not possible to do that from BIOS no!!! The BIOS on this comp sucks!

a google search with the exact message can prove helpful

another thing ... there is a way i can think of ... don't know if it will work ... try at ur own risk

u must be getting a kernel panic when u r booting ur system
before that u will be having a bootloader screen , i assume its grub
at grub instead of normal booting enter single user mode, this will get u a root shell. descend into /usr/src/linux and recompile ur kernel and disable kernel support for pcmcia ... that way kernel will not try to initialize them since it will no longer support them ... if u really do try this then pls let me know too if it worked or not

Yes the kernel panic is under booting. . .I use lilo i think, so what should i boot with then to get this single user mode?? Doesn't "single user mode" boot from kernel?? I've been asking around and some people says that there is a way to stop the kernel in the middle of booting by pressing the "i" button or something. Is that bullshit or what. . ??? I've tried it out but nothing happens. . .(by the way, Thanks for you help so far

pressing i will get you into interactive mode while booting and linux will ask for your permission before starting any service/deamon and this works by pressing i just before that scroll of [OK] and [FAILED] begins
i dont know if single user option exists with lilo
but in grub u need to press e (for edit) while at the grub screen . If you had set a bootloader password while installation, it will ask you for that password.

Which version of linux are you talking about?? I think you can choose what kind of boot loader you want to use during installation. (in mandrake 9.0) What can i edit with this "Pressing e" button? What the kernel should start?? or what??

i am using redhat 7.2 and 8.0
that e option is meant for editing the booting parameters but it is possible to get a root shell through that and happens to be a trivial hacking method for a system which u can physically access.
yes it is possible to choose ur bootloader during installation and this e option is definitely available with grub but i have no idea about lilo so just try pressing e (may b more than once ) at ur bootloader screen

Do i get this question if i want to disable the pcmcia slots? Or do i have to enter several lines with linux commands in the terminal? Is it like a step by step confirmation maybe?? Anyway, i'm checking it out on tuesday or wed cause then i'm going back home form my x-mas vacation. . So i'll let you know if it works then

Hey coolwind. Now i can say that this thing with the "e" option did not work. I don't know what i should do now, and that "pressing i" button during booting kernel - I never get so far down the kernel to press i. The error appears before that, right after the pnp check. . . The message:
Bank 3: b40000000000083b at 00000001fc 000363
Kernel Panic - Unable to continue. I guess this means i can not run linux on my comp then. Thats a shame!! Thanks for your help. . .

Hello Kenneth - Not to worry!


You need to boot from your boot disk and at the boot prompt pass kernel options to prevent the Kernel Panic
boot: linux nomce OR
boot: linux noisapnp

If these don't work you may have to try out other options

Then after logging in as root edit the /etc/grub.conf file and add these options at the end of the kernel line
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.18-14 ro root=LABEL=/ hdc=ide-scsi pci=off nomce

I had to use pci=off as well

Thank smartes . . .It helped!!!