Compiling linux kernel 2.6.26 for Dell Latitude D620
 

I am trying to install the kernel version 2.6.26 for my Dell Latitude D620 but have run into problems. The kernel compiles and installs fine, but when I try to boot from the kernel, the boot process gets stuck. Following is the output in /var/log/messages:


The lspci output is


Before this, I tried compiling 2.6.29.6 version of kernel and it worked fine without any problems. But I have to use 2.6.26 or lower version for my project. This is the first time I am fiddling with kernel compilation and I will appreciate if someone can bail me out!

.config file
 

The .config file that I used for my kernel compilation is as follows:

The .config file I used for my kernel compilation is as below:

Second half

First thing you need to know. open a terminal and type uname -a and post it.
I could care less what machine you are using. then post the distro.
down load a complete kernel source and open the read me file.
If using a Debian system like Ubuntu. then google ubuntu how to build kernel.
And last but not least please explain what it is not doing.

I built and installed a kernel and now my machine will not boot?
did you need an initrd.img because your kernel is not loading HAL
without HAL you have no hardware layer.
make your kernel mrproper and then use your original /boot/.config then do a make oldconfig then answer questions use default answer if you do not know. then make, make install, make modules_install.
if using debian Ubuntu the scripts are set up for and initrid image. please run lilo if using lilo

If using grub please edit the /boot/grub/menu.1st file to load your new kernel and initrd.img.
good luck.

Thanks for your reply.

I am using Fedora Core 11 as my distro. My machine has a intel centrino duo T2300 processor.


I had followed all the steps you mentioned. I used a HOWTO guide (http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/K...ild-HOWTO.html) and the README that came with kernel source for kernel compilation. I had used my working .config file from /usr/src/kernel/ directory. I need the initrd file and so I did make it and its placed as required in the /boot/ directory. But while booting, the screen says: 'Decompressing the kernel' and then just gets stuck on a blank screen.

The above steps worked perfectly when I tried to compile 2.6.29.6 version of the kernel.

You mentioned that my HAL is not loading. Do you think it has got to do with my .config file?

did you point your grub to the new initrd.img if it goes blank how long is it blank.
did you do a make oldconfig. why? well it uses the old config. I have had them go blank because the grub did not say vga=normal but after a minute or less it will boot.
the cool splash screen you get from booting is built in to the initrd img

Yes, I did do make oldconfig using the working config file in /usr/src/kernels/kernel-vesion/ (same as in /boot/), to make sure that I don't miss out any configuration. The grub does point to the initrd file. But the screen goes blank indefinitely during boot (I waited for around 5 minutes).

only time I have seen that was when grub was loading the wrong harddrive . Otherwise looking for the kernel on another drive or partition.
also look at this. I am lost. more info

Okay I finally got it working, but not in a straight enough fashion! I did a fresh install on my laptop with the Fedora Core 9 dvd which came with kernel version 2.6.25.X and then compiled the 2.6.26 kernel on top of that. And it worked without any glitch. Somehow it looks like compiling an older version of the kernel when you are booted with the newer version doesn't work. May be that's the reason why initially when I tried compiling 2.6.29.6 when I was booted in 2.6.27 worked fine, but compiling 2.6.26 didn't! Any ideas about this?

symlinks the new kernel has a different branch 2.6.27 has changed it to a link for the i386.
wait till you see the 2.6.28 kernel . A /usr/src/linux-2.6.27.27 /arch/i386 is linked to x86 and the 2.6.27.31 and up is . /usr/src/linux-2.6.27.31/arch/x86 is a big change in the symlinks. theses links are then linked to your /usr/include/asm now look what your asm folder is linked to in the newer kernel not i386 but x86. so the header files. this causes a lot of problems this is why when you read the kernel read me they tell you to build out side. now in the new 2.6.29 and 2.6.30 kernels .
so the real problem is the symlink from /usr/include/asm symlinked to i386 headers. and the newer kernel is symlinked to x86 the build scripts are different in the different version.
hope this helps.