[SOLVED] "Initramfs unpacking failed" after Debian update

PhilDHD · 04-10-2016, 04:20 AM

I installed Debian about a month ago - I think I have Debian 9.2.

Yesterday, when prompted, I installed Debian update packages. On start today I get the errors:

Code:

Initramfs unpacking failed: broken padding
Failed to execute /init (error -2)
Kernel panic - not syncing: No working init found. Try passing init = option to kernel. See Linux Documentation/init.txt for guidance.
CPU: 0 PID: 1 Comm: swapper/0 Not tainted 3.16.0-4-686-pae #1 Debian 3.16.7-ckt25-1
Hardware name: BIOSTAR Group G41D3...Call Trace...

I have had some crashes lately which Memtest86 suggest these are due to bad memory. I will have a new memory stick arriving tomorrow.

I assume this problem is related to yesterday's update.

I read the init.txt but it is beyond my level of understanding.

I searched for a solution but found nothing that seemed to help my situation. One Ubuntu answer suggested loading with older kernel but I cannot find this option on the Debian grub menu.

I have a Debian install CD and can start in recovery mode (i just have no idea what to do at that stage). I am writing this on a friend's computer.

What should I do?

Thanks in advance of any response. Phil

descendant_command · 04-10-2016, 04:30 AM

Replace your bad ram first.

PhilDHD · 04-10-2016, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by descendant_command

Replace your bad ram first.

OK, I will return tomorrow.

Thanks.

PhilDHD · 04-11-2016, 04:20 AM

And yes the new ram made the problem go away. No errors in memtest86 and the pc starts up fine.

Thanks for your time descendant_command.