I have a machine running sarge 2.6.8-2-686 with no complaints.

Trying to install an SMP kernel to use both processors I get a funny error during installation:

dpkg-deb (subprocess): short read in buffer_copy (failed to write to pipe in copy)
dpkg-deb: sub process paste returned error exit statud 2
dpkg: error processing kernel image
short read in buffer_copy (backend dpkg-deb during

`./lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686-SMP/kernel/sound/drivers/op14/snd-op14-synth.ko')

It then goes on to install the kernel and update grub

However when booting this kernel you get this:

VFS: cannot oopen root device "hdb1" or unknown block(0,0)
please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel panic: VHS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown block(0,0)

I am at a loss to figure out what is causing this. I don't really know what a short read would do during a kernel install, or how an error in a sound driver would be related to unknown block (0,0)

2.6.8-3-686-SMP actually installs without that error or the kernel panic, but when booting it just gets hung up with some inode weirdness which I posted about here:


Any help at all will be appreciated, machine has been running fine without SMP, would just like to get the SMP kernel up and running!

appreciatively,

Emerson

Did you compile with initrd support?
fakeroot make-kpkg clean
fakeroot make-kpkg --initrd --append_to_version -test linux_image

For the error on short read, try to do a apt-get update?

Both kernels are stock debian Sarge kernels-- didn't recompile them.
Do you think that could actually fix the prob !?

thanks,

Emerson

Well, I think (can't remember sarge..) stock sarge kernels use initrd and when installed, the initrd is re-generated.
Also you are moving from kernel 2.6XXXX to 2.6XXXX-SMP right? Exactly the same, only with SMP. So the kernel configuratin should be the same and then if it worked on the nonSMP, it _should_ work on SMP.

A side question, why don't you try etch? It has a newer kernel and the new udev. If you do it, I suggest you to not upgrade but to take a network install cd from debian.org (100Meg) and continue your install on the net (if your network device is common)

Can you try to add nolapic to your grub menu.lst line for this kernel?