Booting of the Kernel freezes (hot to get to a root prompt?)
 

I get the infamous KERNEL PANIC NOT SYNCING ATTEMPTED TO KILL INIT!
and it just sits there.

How do I break out of this and get to a root/kernel prompt so I can run some commands?

Error Stack:
UNCOMRESSING LINUX
BOOTING THE KERNEL
FILE DESCRIPTER 3 LEFT OPEN
EXT3-FS: ERROR LOADING JOURNAL
MOUNT: ERROR 22 MOUNTING EXT3
UMOUNT /INITRD DEV FAILED
KERNEL PANIC.

tks in advance

what distro?

are you booting just the kernel?

I believe redhat 4.xxx
Yes, booting at the kernel (normal startup) and freezes..i.e. UNCOMPRESSING KERNEL..then panics

I want to get to the root prompt # and do a filesystem check

Do you have access to cd drive ;
if you do then get the 1st cd and boot into rescue mode
you will get the prompt that u want.

no other option? got to find media....sheesh

do u get to grub
if you do
edit the kernel line
add single at the end of that line

you will enter single user mode

I am not a Linux admin...just have a few box's...so, not sure what GRUB is....

GRUB is the screen that shows up first when u boot your computer. it is the screen that comes up right after BIOS and POST.
It lets you choose which installed linux kernel you want to boot from..

I get a bootup screen, gives me 5sec then goes into it...do I need to hit F2 ctrl c or something and edit?

press any key at the boot screen (it is called GRUB)
then read the instruction . they are in clear text.
mostly e to edit the line . then go to the kernel line and add the word single at the end.

i hope this help