CentOS install probelm - kernel panic
 

I am trying to install linux for the first time and am having no luck. I am trying to install CentOS 4.1.

I have a athlon processor (2400+?)
Gigabyte MB
512 MB RAM
30 GB blank, unformatted hard drive
2 cd drives

I put the disk in the computer and start my computer up. I boot from disk and get the main installation screen. When I press enter to install the OS, it starts going then about 10 seconds later I get this error:

RAMDISK: Compressed image found at block 0
invalid compressed format (err=2)
VFS: cannot open root device "<Null>" or unkown-block(3,3)
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(3,3)


All help is appreciated

Hello,
It seems that there is some problem with the cd's. Do some google work.
regards

I've been searching google. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about linux to find anything that helps me though.

what it looks like is it's trying to mount the root device in the ramdisk (that sounds like jargon, but it's trying to load the OS into the RAM, and can't seem to do it).....

You might have a bad burn with your cd... have you run the md5 check on her?

Re: CentOS install probelm - kernel panic
 

Even though you get to the initial screen, which is a good sign, you should check the media. Are you trying to install from CD-ROM or DVD-ROM media? When you boot up, do you get to the screen that asks if you want to check the media? Please do so. If it passes, please check each disk, if you're using CD-ROMs.

Is your RAM good? Have you had any previous problems with it? One way to test is with Knoppix (http://knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html),
You just download the latest CD-ROM iso, verify the MD5 checksum, cook it, and then boot using "knoppix memtest" parameters. This will test the RAM. Let us know how it goes.

Later,
Daniel

I got some CD's for Red Hat and they worked with no problem. It must have been a corrupt CD.

I am having a similiar problem, but it is not corrupt cd's. I am trying to install CentOS from Asterisk@home 2.8.1. I'll check the ram to be sure it is still all good.

you sure it isn't a bad burn? Have you tried more than one cd? Perhaps your install image is having trouble mounting the kernel in the vfs... which is what it seems by the kernel panic you're getting,

How'd the ram check come out?

Ok, newb here, but lemme say how I did my install just last night...

I dunno, call it being a little cautious, but on the initial boot up, I allowed and wanted it to check the media, no fun in having ugly errors pop up in an install.

Ran through it fine, in doing so, it checked it out and agreed it was good to continue.

I have ran into not only bad burns, bad factory cd's and what was a perfectly good and working cd rom or cd/r the day before, craps out on an install, granted, these have been primarily windows installs previously, but bad equipment is bad equipment, whether it's the h/w or s/w...

That is where I would begin my trouble shooting, good luck!

Well I finally got around to installing CentOS again (I had previously installed Red Hat from a know good burn). The installation was fine. I had not changed anything about the hardware between the two attempts, meaning the original CD's were definately bad.