Could not find kernel image : error message

belbrux · 02-24-2009, 01:02 PM

USB key cannot find kernel image : linux

I installed ubuntu 8.10 on a USB key with 2 different softwares :
-first: ubuntu software System->Administration->Create a startup disk
-second : unetbootin
My BIOS can boot on a USB key and I installed Ubuntu on 2 different keys.

When I boot on these USB keys I receive following message :
Searching for Boot Record from USB RMD-FDD .. OK
SYSLINUX 3.63 Debian-2008-07-15 CBIOS Copyright(C)1994-2008H.Peter Anvin
boot:
The PC does not go further.If I type ENTER key, I receive following message : Could not find kernel image : linux.

I have found the begining of the solution at the pendrivelinux site :
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/error-c...el-image-linux
My problem can probably be resolved with :
"3. If the syslinux.cfg file does exist and you still encountering the error,open the syslinux.cfg file with a text editor and make sure that the paths to your kernel and initrd files are correct."

If I verify the files on my key :
1)I have two syslinux.cfg files the first at /syslinux.cfg and the second at /syslinux/syslinux.cfg
2)I find a initrd.gz file at /casper/initrd.gz.
Why a .gz file which is a compressed file?

If I open syslinux.cfg with a text editor it gives:
include menu.cfg
default vesamenu.c32
prompt 0
timeout 300
gfx bootlogo

Can you help me to make the paths to kernel and initrd files correct ?
Thanks in advancve.

paulcsf · 06-22-2009, 12:53 AM

Here are some details from a Knoppix install that I have which worked...

File System:
/ - was 6.4 GB harddrive
/linux - a 1.9MB file which is the kernel compressed image.
/minirt.gz - a 1.2MB file which is the inird compressed image.
/syslinux.cfg - the boot config file
/boot.msg - text about boot options
/f2 - more text about boot options
/f3 - and more text about boot options
/... - lots of other files

I believe that's about it for important files.

Now, here is an excerpt of the syslinux.cfg file:

Code:

DEFAULT linux
APPEND ramdisk_size=100000 init=/etc/init lang=us apm=power-off vga=788 initrd=minirt.gz nomce loglevel=0 quiet BOOT_IMAGE=/cdrom/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX screen=800x600 depth=18
TIMEOUT 10
PROMPT 1
DISPLAY boot.msg
F1 boot.msg
F2 f2
F3 f3
LABEL knoppix
KERNEL linux
APPEND ramdisk_size=100000 init=/etc/init lang=us apm=power-off vga=788 initrd=minirt.gz nomce loglevel=0 quiet BOOT_IMAGE=knoppix screen=800x600 depth=18

There is a lot of un-necessary stuff there, but the key points are KERNEL linux which tells syslinux what and where the kernel is. APPEND initrd=minirt.gz tells syslinux what and where the initial ram disk is, which is unzips and provides for the kernel.

/etc/init isn't valid until the ram disk is ready, and /cdrom/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX isn't valid until the ram disk and init have setup the unionfs.

Hope it helps, Paulcsf.