Problem decompressing kernel

galapogos · 01-08-2009, 08:41 PM

Hi,

I'm trying to make a kernel that can boot up into as many laptops as possible, so I'm testing them on as many laptops as I can get my hands on. I have a particular Acer laptop that has problem decompressing the kernel. It shows "booting: ..." and the dots move along until a while after it just hangs there. Since this is before the kernel even loads, I don't see any kernel debug messages even.

I'm using LILO and have tried both kernels 2.6.22.19 and 2.6.27.7

What could be wrong?

Thanks!

kaz2100 · 01-11-2009, 07:44 AM

Hya,

A little bit more detailed information would help.

I guess you complied everything into kernel. Is your Acer new?

Happy Penguins!

galapogos · 01-11-2009, 09:01 AM

Yes, I have compiled everything I need into the kernel rather than as modules.

The Acer isn't new, but is relatively modern. SATA HDD, Centrino platform I believe. What else do you need to know?

kaz2100 · 01-13-2009, 01:00 AM

Hya,

Usually, Acer is less problematic. Anyway, you have everything in the kernel.

I need to figure out what I did when I had similar problem. Some memory in lilo config or ....? I am sure you did not see anything suspicious when you run lilo.

Happy Penguins!

galapogos · 01-13-2009, 02:53 AM

I didn't run lilo on the Acer, and I can't, since the kernel doesn't even load...

kaz2100 · 01-15-2009, 08:49 AM

Hya,

In that case, how did you set up MBR?

Happy Penguins!

galapogos · 01-15-2009, 09:05 AM

I ran LILO on another machine to set the MBR up. The entire disk image is meant to boot ideally from any machine that detects the drive as /dev/sda. Hence, I can't run LILO on every single machine and make a different version for every single machine. Think of it like a Linux rescue drive, or a LiveCD, except in a hard drive format.

kaz2100 · 01-21-2009, 04:41 PM

Hya,

OK.

I would check memory model (lilo and kernel), binary format (386, ....) and disk compatibility.

Happy Penguins!

galapogos · 01-21-2009, 07:31 PM

Hi kaz,

Not sure what you meant by memory model in lilo, do you mean if it's LBA32 or LINEAR? I originally had it on LBA32 as this was recommended, but I found out some compatibility problems with certain laptop BIOS from hp/Compaq(I kept seeing "9A" repeatedly filling up the screen upon bootup). I've since changed it to LINEAR which seems to be using an older CHS model, and this seems to solve the problem.

I'm not sure what you mean by binary format and disk compatibility though. Could you please elaborate? In my kernel configuration I have however chose the processor type to i386 instead of newer microarchitectures, for maximum compatibility.

Thanks!