Problems INITializing Slackware 9.1
 

:newbie:

First some background: My total number of hours using linux is less than 20. I just installed Slackware 9.1 in an old PC (Pentium MMX 200 MHz, RAM 128MB, hda=12GB, hdb=3.5GB). The main purpose of this computer is to receive data through SSH. Hence the system was partitioned in the following way:
- hdb
3GB: \ (ext2)
0.5GB: swap
- hda
12GB: \home (ext2)

I installed common packages plus some individual things that sounded interesting. And the installation seemed to be alright (no error messages at all).

After the initial boot part, my computer shows a LILO (v. 22.5.7.2) red box having "Linux" as the only option. Also a "boot:" prompt is displayed. After selecting it, linux starts booting. However after some time I get the following consecutive three lines:
Freeing unused kernel memory (...)
Warning: Unable to open an initial console
Kernel panic: No init found. Try passing init= option to kernel

Well, after reading a post from Tinkster (at Linux-Newbie > Xfree86 - Blank and lost) I tried using (in the "boot:" prompt):
linux init=3 [Enter key pressed]
linux -init=3 [Enter key pressed]
Linux init=3 [Enter key pressed]
Linux -init=3 [Enter key pressed]
Linux failsafe [Enter key pressed]

However I still get the Kernel panic (with the respective blinking Caps and Scroll LEDs).

Does anyone have any ideas on what I could try? Did any of my "init" tentatives make sense? Any obvious dumb step in the installation?

Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Davi

Hello again! :)

This suggests that the /dev filesystem is faulty/missing.

Are you sure your installation was all succesful?

Which "mode" did you chose? Full?

What was the partitioning scheme you chose?

How big is which partition, which filesystem type
did you pick for which partition? :)


Cheers,
Tink

Hello there, :)

Two hard disks (3.5GB and 12GB). The main purpose of this computer is to receive data through SSH. Hence the system was partitioned in the following way:

- hdb
3GB: "\" (ext2*)
0.5GB: "swap"

- hda
12GB: "\home" (ext2*)

Before starting the installation, I made the partitions using fdisk - in the prompt (booting from the CD).
Inside the graphical part (before the installation wizard itself) I used the partition option to select the "\" and "\home" placements.

I installed common packages plus some individual things that sounded interesting. And the installation seemed to be alright (no error messages at all).

* - I selected ext2 since Slackware described it as "fast and stable"...

Do you think that it would be easier to simply re-install and do it Full?

It strikes me as odd I have to say.

I'd really suggest doing it again in this
case since you didn't put too much effort
into it so far :} ... and if I may make a
recommendation: choose ReiserFS or ext3
instead of ext2 ... they are journaling file-
systems and a "checkdisk" like scenario
will be a thing of the future. Personally
I've been using Reiser exclusively for
over three years, no problems whatsoever,
and it's faster than ext if you ask me ;)

And since it's a Linux only box, put
lilo in the MBR for good measure.


Cheers,
Tink