I basically need to tell my kernel not to attempt to clear the local apic, which it does, and hence everytime i shutdown im left with an unclean shutdown. The step is carried out after unmounting the filesystems and (probably) during halting the system.

The reason why i need to disable this step is coz I have disabled the APIC as well as the local APIC.

Thanx

you have not mentioned what distro you are using but the script can be read with a text editor and is likely to be system V script located here

/etc/rc.d/rc6.d

thanks for the reply. Im currently using FC6. Can you tell me which script in /etc/rc.d/rc6.d/ to play around with?

no sorry.

however, you can run a kernel parameter at bootup to stop apic starting in the first place.

noapic added to the grub kernel line should work?

eg kernel /boot/grub/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda noapic

I've already added the noapic and nolapic kernel parameters : without these linux wouldn't boot. THis is where im left clueless, since the apic is disabled, why is the kernel trying to clear the local apic on shutdown? Thanx

more specifically, how do i alter the tasks that are carried out in the halt(/sbin/halt) command?

I understand your question but lets do it differently.

you have a kernel parameter (or cheatcode) that works because it it built into the kernel or built as a module.

I found mine here (lots of them as well)

/boot/config.....open with a text editor as a normal user NOT root.

use find to search for apic and its under Processor type and features....fair enough....mine is compiled in rather than module.

You could consider reading your distos dox and compiling a kernel with that switch off that is the config file with root mode in /usr/src/whereis your kernel version/ change config for each to
is not set (in lieu of =y OR =m)

keep a backup of your old kernel and modify your grub or lilo so that it does not default (initially) to your new kernel until you have debugged it

hey thanx for the soln. I checked my /boot/config file and found three apic option all set to y. Im gonna work on recompiling my kernel. thanx again mate