System won't boot after distro upgrade

scaryfast · 01-14-2010, 05:19 AM

Hi all

I've just attempted a distro upgrade (to 9.10) and have been left with a machine in an unbootable state.

I tried using a recovery boot through Grub and can see that the boot process hangs after outputting:

Code:

swap: waiting for UUID=$random-string$

If I ESC to get a prompt, I get:

Code:

General error mounting filesystems

I can't run dpkg-reconfigure as I get a read-only filesystem error.

Can anybody help?

syg00 · 01-14-2010, 05:50 AM

Rule #1: Don't upgrade Ubuntu (re-install the new level)
Rule #2: Don't use UUID.
Rule #3: try to drag the Ubuntu devs into the real world.

I've got a few more in relation to Ubuntu - hopefully I'll get to chat to a few of their devs next week.

Try fixing fstab - maybe even remove the swap entry to see if it'll boot. Also check the boot parms for hibernate.

scaryfast · 01-14-2010, 07:33 AM

I always have problems after an upgrade. I don't know what possesses me to keep trying it. Stupid really.

It looks like the upgrade reformats/remakes the swap which gives it a new UUID. The UUID in /etc/fstab is then wrong and needs updating:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=729164

I also needed to remount my drive to edit fstab:

Code:

mount -o rw,remount /dev/sda1

Thanks.