Blank screen for long time after GRUB selection [FIXED]
 

Hi,

I recompiled a 2.6.9-gentoo-r1 kernel with the bare essentials for a framebuffer freevo box. After selecting the new kernel, this message is displayed -->

root (hd0,0)
Filesystem type is reiserfs, partition type 0x83
kernel /kernel-2.6.9-freevo3 root=/dev/hda2 video=matroxfb:vesa:0x118
[Linux-bzImage, setup=0x1200, size=0x1968b5]

Then, the system just sits there for two minutes, twenty seconds (i timed it once) before starting the system bootup. After that, I see the uncompressing kernel message and the system boots perfectly (in hi-res framebuffer mode).

I removed the entry (video=matroxfb:vesa:0x118) from my grub.conf. This didn't change anything -- the exact same delay after grub selection happened.

Also, the stock 2.6.9-gentoo-r1 kernel does not cause such delay -- in fact, there is probably under a 1 second delay (probably instant). I know I could run compare every single difference in the .config of the stock kernel that doesn't have the problem and my current kernel, but that is like at least 150 changes -- Since it takes around 3 minutes just to boot my machine, running through each possible kernel config would be a headache.

I really have know idea what could possibly be causing the problem, especially since the stock .config kernel boots just fine. I also read that in another forum that it possibly could be checking for unused ide channels so I shut the unused channels off in BIOS -- this didn't fix the problem.

My only guess is that I dropped some piece of kernel that is needed, but I don't know where to start since everything seems to be working after everything boots up.

Does anybody know what's up? Did I disable a kernel option I need? Is there a log I check to see what is going on between Grub and normal bootup?

[hardware disclosure -- A7N266 nForce mobo, matrox g400, nuth'n else special]

Probably some disabled kernel option. Happened to me once. I was related to some option left unchecked in the kernel configuration process. Don't remember actually which one, but it had something to do with the framebuffer console. So check in that.

[Fixed]
 

I fixed the problem. The problem was the kernel selection -->
Device Drivers-->Graphics Support-->Console display driver support--> Video mode selection support[*]
THIS SHOULD NOT BE SELECTED WHEN BOOTING WITH matroxfb OTHERWISE IT WILL CAUSE THE DELAY EXPLAINED ABOVE.

Thanks for everybody that contemplated my problem.