LinuxQuestions.org - Startup problem: "VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:03"

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Startup problem: "VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:03"

Greetings,

I don't have any background in troubleshooting linux. My experience is only about working on a running system.

I have a linux installation that used to work (afaik). When I start the computer, it get stuck with some errors and finally this line :

Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:03

I have basically no idea what to do, when browsing this forum, proposed solutions and tests are from command line, but I don't reach the prompt.

What should I do now ?

Thanks,

Daniel

It sounds like your partitons may have changed. Did you repartition your drives?
Could you provide more information, such as the distro you are using? Did you just upgrade? Are you multibooting with windows, etc.

The most likely cause is when the device names of partitions have been changed, and grub wasn't updated. Grub looks for the root partition at the wrong place. Reply whether you have a live distro, a rescue disk or your install disk. It will help deternmine how to proceed.

I'm missing the machine history, I just got this computer to set up a svn server on it.

What I know : Debian only installed, one partition. When I boot the system, it ends up on this line :

Code:

Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:03

It's ok to clear the all system and set up a new one, so I downloaded last stable debian bootable network install disc. The process is really slow and I keep getting the following four lines (xxxxx being the same for one set of four lines). I tried to stick to default installation as I'm far from being a guru. The only choice I made was to pick LVM partitioning.

Code:

hda: dma_intr: status=0x51 { DriveReadySeekComplete Error }

hda: dma_intr: error=0x40 { Uncorrectable Error }, LBAsect=xxxxxx, sector=xxxxxx

ide_ failed opcode was: unknown

end_request: I/O error, dev hda, sector xxxxx

The process raise an error when I reach the partition utility. The error is (translated form french) :

Code:

Impossible to create a file system

Creation of file system ext3 in partition n°1 of LVM volume group, root volume has failed.

In the console, I also have the following lines :

Code:

partman: Warning: could not erase sector 0: Attempt to write block from filesystem resulted in short write

Code:

partman: Warning, had trouble writing out superblocks.

Thanks,

Daniel

Power down the computer, and reseat the cables to the drive. Sometimes drives will settle down after a few seconds, but if these messages persist, you may need to replace the hard drive.

Thanks a lot for your help and suggestions. I'll try the "cable trick" and then go for a new hard drive.