Black screen when booting new 2.6.17 kernel

Chikne · 07-27-2006, 07:37 AM

Hi guys,

I configured and compiled my new 2.6.17 kernel last night, installed it, and when I went to boot it the screen just goes black after decompressing the kernel. I can still hear some hard drive activity so it seems like the rest goes fine.
Note that when installing the kernel I didn't change the symbolinc links pointing to System.map and .config.... Could that be the problem???

Thanks a lot!!!

kilgoretrout · 07-27-2006, 10:14 AM

I don't think that's your problem. If you are using a proprietary binary driver from nvidia or ati, they have to be recompiled whenever you change your kernel. That's the most likely explanation.

konsolebox · 07-27-2006, 10:19 AM

are you using an initrd when booting? you probably need to update the modules inside it:

Code:

mkinitrd -o initrd 2.6.17

Chikne · 07-27-2006, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kilgoretrout

I don't think that's your problem. If you are using a proprietary binary driver from nvidia or ati, they have to be recompiled whenever you change your kernel. That's the most likely explanation.

ok thanks but can you include the driver even if your kernel isn't compiled and running yet? Could you tell me how you do this please?

thanks

Chikne · 07-27-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by konsolebox

are you using an initrd when booting? you probably need to update the modules inside it:

Code:

mkinitrd -o initrd 2.6.17

Hi, I'm using lilo when booting, what is initrd???

kilgoretrout · 07-27-2006, 11:54 AM

You install the kernel then recompile the graphics driver if you are using the nvidia or ati driver. Which graphics card and driver are you using?

Edit: I reread your inital post and it seems you are not even getting to a command line login. In that case, you likely left some needed drivers/modules out of your kernel or you need to update your initrd per the above post, assuming you have apropriate module support compiled in your kernel. If you are using the nvidia or ati drivers, you will then boot to a command line login where you can login as root and reinstall your graphics driver.

konsolebox · 07-27-2006, 04:43 PM

Initrd is the first fs that's loaded by a bootloader like lilo. It's a ramfs image that's loaded to the memory at boot and is read like an ordinary filesystem. It's optional but it's most useful for systems with complicated boot devices just like network bootdisks.

Take a look at these links for more info.

http://www.tldp.org/LDP/Linux-Filesy...ml/initrd.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initrd

It's also called init-ramfs btw.

Chikne · 07-28-2006, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by konsolebox

Initrd is the first fs that's loaded by a bootloader like lilo. It's a ramfs image that's loaded to the memory at boot and is read like an ordinary filesystem. It's optional but it's most useful for systems with complicated boot devices just like network bootdisks.

Take a look at these links for more info.

http://www.tldp.org/LDP/Linux-Filesy...ml/initrd.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initrd

It's also called init-ramfs btw.

Thanks for that!!!!!

Ok, problem solved!!! I think I made a mistake when configuring the thingy. Now it works I can boot on the new kernel and stuff but I get another problem .... so will make another post