Error after loading Ubuntu from GRUB

rapaport · 08-04-2005, 05:18 PM

When I installed ubuntu: i received the following error after finishing the initial installation and attemption to finish by opening ubuntu in GRUB.
Code:

Code:

Pivot_root: no such file or directory 
/sbin/init: 428 : cannot open dev/consoles no such file 
Kernel panic - not syncing: attempted to kill init

That's where I'm at. GRUB installed fine and I can still access windows XP but no Ubuntu. Just before the error the prompt recognizes USB hard drive compatibility and then i get the above error.

damicatz · 08-04-2005, 06:46 PM

Are you trying to boot off a USB hard-drive?

rapaport · 08-04-2005, 06:56 PM

Yes, Ubuntu is installed on a Maxtor 40GB formally internal, now external.

GRUB is installed on the MBR.

rapaport · 08-04-2005, 10:17 PM

I repeated the installation of Ubuntu and reached the exact same point.
Specific things I did during install:

chose to mount to "/"
default options
partitioned 8.5GB U: drive in windows as FAT32
-during Ubuntu i switched drive to ext3
the first intall completes with a successful GRUB install to mbr.
then, when I reboot, GRUB appears and I choose to install the first listing for ubuntu
it ran a prompt and stopped at the same point...
the post with the three lines of error code followed "starting ubuntu..."

so it went:

Code:

Starting Ubuntu... 
Pivot_root: no such file or directory 
/sbin/init: 428 : cannot open dev/consoles no such file 
Kernel panic - not syncing: attempted to kill init

also, on a Hebrew website there was code box suggesting I boot ubuntu from the live cd and edit line 429 of

Code:

/sbin/init
dev/console to /dev/console
save changes
unmount

anyone awhere of this fix?

damicatz · 08-05-2005, 11:33 AM

I don't have much experience with Ubuntu or it's installation process so I can't help you there. Hopefully one of our Ubuntu users will have an answer.

I am tempted to say that this could be because you are booting off a USB hard-drive but provided your BIOS supports it, Linux should be able to boot off a USB hard-drive with no issues.

Are you also booting Windows XP off your USB Hard-Drive?

rapaport · 08-05-2005, 12:38 PM

No, Windows boots from the internal HD in my notebook. I'm trying to install Ubuntu to a 40GB external usb hard drive.

I've found some instructions from the Ubuntu forums suggesting I try to install in Expert mode and make changes to some lines of code before finishing the install. I'll post the links here and respond after I try to reinstall Ubuntu.

Well, the ubuntu forums are giving me issues but by typing "usb install" and "pivot_root" you should be able to find the instructions for booting from a USB and the necessary changes to Ubuntu's default configuration.

After reinstalling Ubuntu and editing initrd.img to boot from the USB i still receive the same error as posted above with more intermittent code between "Starting Ubuntu" and "Kernel panic"

the new lines are

Code:

Starting Ubuntu... 
SGI XFS ...  no debug enabled
SGI XFS Quota Management System
Pivot_root: no such file or directory 
/sbin/init: 428 : cannot open dev/consoles no such file 
Kernel panic - not syncing: attempted to kill init

ngmlinux · 01-22-2006, 08:45 PM

I get this same error trying to boot from a HD (after 2 re-installs) and I do not have any flash drives connected. I'm simply trying to boot the OS from a hard disk. I can't say I've had much luck with Ubuntu.

~Chimera~ · 06-09-2008, 05:27 AM

I'm looking at doing the same thing and multiple forums that I've seen said to place GRUB on the external drive. Otherwise you get an error when trying to boot the on board OS without the external drive connected. Just a thought...