I had a perfectly OK Redhat Linux 7.2 installation on a machine, when some idiot went and deleted a whole bunch of files from /dev (ok ok, yes it was me!).

After days spent on the net I managed to fix a couple of things using fsck and creating a new /dev/null file, but when I boot I get "Warning: Unable to open an initial console". Therefore, I cannot get to the command line to do anything further.

Although I've set bios to boot from the CD, it won't boot from the Redhat CD. I suspect the CDRom as we've had this issue before. However, I think it can actually read the CD.

I can boot from either the HD, or from my rescue diskette - which allows me to specific options at the boot prompt.

Is there any way that I could re-install (or preferably, repair) using a null modem cable to the serial port, and a CDRom on a different machine?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

MTIA, Max Hugen

Use a floppy to start the install.

There is a diskette image on the first CD in the images directory called boot.img

Instructions at:
http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/l...EPS-MAKE-DISKS

Hi David

Thanks so much for your help.... I've booted and I'm now in the RedHat Setup.

Although I don't find Linux any easier than Windows when something goes wrong, the help from the open source 'community' is fantastic!

Have a great day!

Cheers, Max

Glad to help!

I agree with you in some respects but you can't beat linux for security and reliabilty.

My best tip is do as I have done - Buy a KVM switch and boot up 2 systems one RedHat 8 and one XP.

My redhat system is also set to dual boot into other linux OS's for testing purposes and to remain some of the function that came with RH 7 (that is actually a slightly incorrect statement as the only problem I have is with running mod_perl andI am reluctant to downgrade my version of Apache that comes with RH 8)

Anyway - I mustn't ramble on - I have to go to work in 8 hours!

Hi David

Yes, I agree that Linux has many advantages, not least of which is that the source code is available to all the experts!

I do use a KVM in my development office, so I can swap around my PCs easily. I also have 3 Linux internet servers at an ISP, as we develop web apps using JSP/Java, Oracle etc.

We're using the latest versions on Apache and Tomcat, and I've just received a new test server, on which I'm going to try out JBoss. Also MySQL, as Oracle is too expensive for most of the apps I do. Besides, it's also open source - of which I've become a big fan over the last 2 years!

Again, thanks for your help!

Cheers, Max
Hugen Enterprises Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia
www.hugen.com.au