Hello,

I just used up2date to get the most recent kernel for redhat 8. When I reboot the computer the boot halts and I'm unable to run even a command line. Here are the last three messages:

*****************************************
EXT2-fs: unable to read superblock

isofs_read_super : bread failed, dev = 09:02, iso_blknum=16, block=32

Kernel Panic : VFS : Unable to mount root fs on 09:02

*****************************************

I'm using a Dell Inspiron 4000 800Mhz, 40GB, 256Meg, BIOS A20.
The machine dual boots w/ Win2K using Paragon bootmanager.

Is there a way to back down to the old kernel? Is there any type of emergency boot mode?

I'm a newbie and really stuck! Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

This is a common problem and it has only a few causes. First, check the device XX:YY against the list of device codes; is it the correct root device? If not, you probably didn't do an rdev -R, or you did it on the wrong image. If the device code is correct, then check carefully the device drivers compiled into your kernel. Make sure it has floppy disk, ramdisk and ext2 filesystem support built-in.
copied from http://www.csse.uwa.edu.au/programmi...k-HOWTO-7.html

I've found a temporary solution to this. If I understand correctly, it looks like the boot loader thought the root partion was on a raid device (09:02). Weird. I'm able to boot the new kernel by pressing F2 when booting and manually entering the root parameter:

root=/dev/hda3

Now I just need to figure out where to put this so that I don't have to manually enter it each time. I thought it might be grub.conf, but that doesn't seem to do it and I can't find etc/lilo.conf. Does anyone know how do to this? Am I headed in the right direction?

Also, how can I determine which bootloader the OS is actually using?

Thanks again,
Joe