Dell Dimension 4700 kernel panic problems
 

I bought a junk Dell Dimension 4700, tried to load Ubuntu, Lubuntu and/or Xubuntu from a DVD disk

Up comes a kernel panic message; wont boot beyond that

With Xubuntu it comes up with a menu of boot options, and allows a memory test, which reveals ECC is disabled. No clues given, how to enable it, and I doubt its relevance anyway.

Any suggestions, how I can get past the kernel panic message, would be appreciated

A consumer grade machine like that likely wouldn't have ECC memory installed anyway (it's more for higher end servers and workstations). Can you try booting off the Ubuntu advanced install or server disk in failsafe mode? Chances are, Ubuntu is having some sort of problem with one of the hardware components on the system. If you can do a failsafe boot maybe you can get some additional diagnostic information. Can you tell us at what point in the boot the kernel panic occurs? Is it before or after the init program is run?

kernel probb...
 

It must be after the init program is run, because it is telling me the classic message, "Kernel panic - not syncing: attempted to kill init!

This comes after trying to boot/load Xubuntu. Cursor blips @ bottom of message but wont accept any keyboard input. The only way forward is to unplug PC and re-switch-on.

I havent yet found a way of getting into safe mode.

Thanx for very speedy reply

Hmmm ... not sure if init has really been loaded. A couple quick questions?

- Have you verified the checksums of the iso files that you used to burn the disks?
- Can you test the disks out in another machine to make sure that they're good?
- Can you copy down and post a few of the lines above the kernel panic message?

I didnt verify the checksum of ISO files... thats a bit beyond me

Erratum: I am using Lubuntu disk most, not Xubuntu. It was downloaded @ local library on a good machine, and the files are listed if you click "explore" in the menu

I have no computer with CD or DVD drive @ home right now

All installation attempts result in this:-

[0.232000] [<c1408bbb>] ? __class_register+0x12b/0x1d0
[0.232000] [<c1408ca4>] ? __class_create+0x44/0x70
[0.232000] [<c19ff75f>] ? intel_iommu_init+0x3c8/0x3c8
[0.232000] [<cl9ff7d1>] defreq_init+0x72/0xab
[0.232000] [<c1002122>] do_one_initcall+0xd2/0x190
[0.232000] [<c11ceceb>] ? __proc_create+0x9b/0xd0
[0.232000] [<c10730e8>] ? parameq+0x18/0x70
[0.232000] [<c1073379>] ? parse_args+0x239/0x4200
[0.232000] [<c1090e8f>] ? __wake_up+0x3f/0x50
[0.232000] [<c19aec46>] kernel_init_freeable+0x14f/0x1e6
[0.232000] [<c19ae524>] ? do_early_param+0x78/0x78
[0.232000] [<c1641c00>] kernel_init+0x10/0x100
[0.232000] [<c1659ab7>] ret_from_kernel_thread+0x1b/0x28
[0.232000] [<c1641bf0>] ?rest_init+0x70/0x70
[0.232000] Code: 74 05 e8 c6 d1 4e 00 8b 07 64 03 05 04 21 a8 c1 8b c1 8b 50 04 8
8b 45 f0 c7 0e 0r 94 c0 84 c0 74 cb 03 5f 14 0f
[0.232000] [<c11625be>] kmem_cache_alloc+0x4e/0x110 SS:ESP 0068:de097e
c
[0.232000] CR2: 0000000000000004
[0.232000] ---[ end trace f2a0714e834cd0f6 ]
[0.232000] Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init! exit code=0x0000009
[[0.232000]

..........(and then the blipping cursor which won't accept any input)

thanx v. much for prompt help. Going out for a couple of hours now. c.u.soon

Not much help there, I am afraid. I note that the Dimension 4700 is a pretty old system (Pentium 4 era). How much memory (RAM) is installed? Are there any peripheral PCI or PCI express cards installed. If so, the auto hardware detection may be having trouble with them, and it may be desirable to remove them during the install.

My best suggestion at this point is to burn an Ubuntu server install disk or the network install disk, which require fewer resources and IIRC do not attempt to load up a graphical desktop. You might have a bit more luck with these, and you can always add the graphical desktop later.

I can get into boot menu screens for Lubuntu and Xubuntu. Worked out how to use the F6 and corresponding command line. Tried adjusting screen resolution. Used "-- vga=xxx" according to instructions but get a blank screen each time, not even the pile of data I copied for you. I dont know if I should be typing in a VESA hex-number instead of the 3-digit one

Also, I cant trace whether my server is 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit,... but I must have used the relevant 3 digit number by now, in my efforts.