My Ubuntu 9.10 will not load anymore after installing the updates from the Update Manager. I get the message after restarting under the heading: [1.469482] Kernel panic- not syncing : VFS : Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block (8,2). I am very surprised that this will happen especially after installing the security updates from the Update Manager. Is there a way I can still save my Ubuntu?

Boot into 'Rescue Mode' and try:

I tried that method but it did not work. Thanks anyway.

What about it didn't work? What happened?

Evo2.

This error means that your kernel needs an initrd image, but it's not present. Is there any other kernels on your computer? If there is, then boot it, go to /boot directory and create initrd image with mkinitramfs command (read man mkinitramfs before).
If you haven't got any other kernels, than you should boot from live cd, then change root to your system root with chroot command, and create initrd image in /boot directory.

Boot to the previous kernel that was working, and then sort out why the new one will not boot correctly (maybe there is something wrong with grub so check your grub.cfg).

I am still a newbie to Linux and I installed Ubuntu 9.10 when it first came out. Everything was working fine until a few days ago when I downloaded the updates from the update manager. It was after rebooting that my Ubuntu would not reload any more with that error message. My command line ability is still very shaky but I did attempt to follow some suggestion from roach7711x but that did not solve my problem. I don't have a live CD because I installed Ubuntu through Wubi. I did a clean install trough Wubi again and my Ubuntu is now working. I lost a few files in the process but most of my other files were saved in another partition. I thank everybody who helped me with suggestions. Although some were unfamiliar to me, it gives me a unique opportunity to learn Linux better.

Hi,

What type of graphic card are you using?

I don't have a graphic card. I use the on-board graphic.

Hi mighty hot,

I am not sure this will work or not but you can try this.

1. Select recovery mode from the boot menu.
2. Select login as root from the menu in recovery mode.
3. Type this command:

sudo apt-get remove xorg-driver-fglrx
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

4. Exit

exit

5. Now select Resume normal boot from menu.

Thanks for your suggestions bluewind. I already did a clean install of my Ubuntu and everything works fine now. Most of my important files were installed in another partition in my HD, so I actually lost very little minor files during the re-install.