Hey my name is Hal and I'm really eager to get into linux. So I decided to do a little research on the best linux distro to use as a newbie. I ended up going withy Knoppix 3.6. I downloaded the iso from their website, and my cdrom has been malfunctioning for a while so i couldn't boot it from a cd. I then found a program called isoemu which let me boot right from the iso i did this got into the first screen where it says boot:/ or something like that (sorry for the ambiguity Im really really new at this) and i tried a few commands and i get the same answer for all of them kernal panic:VFS:Unable to mount root fs on 01:01. Somebody please give me some direction. Thanks

Hey there. First, its generally a good idea to describe your problem briefly in the title, so those with the revelant knowledge can come to help!

From experience, it is _always_ easier to install linux as a newbie with a functioning cd drive. It is generally complicated and difficult, even for those who know what they are doing, to do so without a cd rom drive!

The boot:/ menu is what knoppix gives you so you can provide options for boot time. There is usually something you can type to get a list and description of all options.

It seems knoppix is having difficulty mounting (i.e. making available) the Virtual File System, which is essential for boot.

If you could copy the output a few lines above and below (if there is any) and post it here, it should give us a better idea of what is going on.

Hope that helped a little,

Rhys

Hey Thanks for replying. Yes when i first boot into knoppix it tells me that i can press f2 or f3 to get a list of options/commands with descriptions of what they do. So i tried a few of them, i would type them into the prompt and press enter. The screen would then go go blank. In a few seconds Tux the penguin appeared at the top of the screen and under him was the blinking typing cursor. Nothing would happen for another few seconds and then this line would show up right under tux:kernal panic:VFS:Unable to mount root fs on 01:01. Also yhe same would happen even if i didn't choose any of those commands and just pressed enter. Hope that makes sense. Thanks Again

Bump- Im really sorry if bumping is against the rules, but i really need help- i have no idea what to do.

I have found that the most current versions of knoppix are not the best with old computers. You need an older live-cd that uses older 2.4 kernels. I always recommend the knoppix-std live cd because it is excellent with older computers. Try it out and let me know how it goes.

Do I understand you correctly. You are booting off of the .iso that is sitting on your HD? Are you already running as OS like windows? I don't think that you are going to be able to run Knoppix like that. The hard drive is already in use by that .iso reading app so Knoppix is not going to be able to mount it. Knoppix installs itself into virtual memory, if you only have alittle it will have to swap. In short it needs access to the HD.

That live CD was made to be booted from the CD drive. It then looks at your machine and mounts all of your HDs, optical drives, floppy etc.

I doubt if you can run Knoppix that way.
Or did I misunderstand?

No you definitely didn't misunderstand. it was always in the back of mind that the reason none of it was working was because of the unorthodox method I was using. Now after that post I'm almost positive that's the problem. Anyway I have another computer with a functioning cdrom drive so i can use that one. Thanks for your help. O and fatblueduck in case that isnt what the problem is I started the knoppix std download. really guys thanks for all your help. If you any more advice please dont hesitate to send it my way.

Hi,

The way you are booting Knoppix is certainly not one I have seen before, but I get the idea of what you are trying to do. I think you are right, the best way to do it is the orthodox way, i.e. with a functioning cdrom drive. The errors you are getting would be difficult to fix for someone with lots of Linux experience, and access to your box, so I recommend going out and getting a new cdrom drive (really not very expensive at all) and having another go.

Good luck, and if you need any more help, please feel free to post.

Rhys