Hi,

I have fedora core (2.6.9-1.667smp) installed on my dell machine. I am unable to boot it and am getting the following error

EXT3-fs error(device dm-0 : ext3-find-entry : readiing directory #2 offset 0
mount: error 2 - mounting none
WARNING : cant access (null)
exec of init (null) failed!!!!:14
kernel panic - not syncing: Attempting to kill init!.

I have some important stuff running on it. Please let me know whats the best way to fix this problem.

Not sure how to fix that error but I would try to copy off the data before trying some fixes. Boot with like a knoppix cd and mount the partitions as read-only. If they mount then copy the needed files to an external usb drive.

Found a few post here on the subject. Its an issue with lvm partitioned drives. Check out this for a start. You need to know exactly the name of the lvm to fix.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=403277

Brian1

I read the post. I do not know the lvm name . I plan to reinstall a completely new kernel from a CD download. How long will that take? Since I have not installed any kernel before where do I get the installation guide for fedora 4?

When you mean a new kernel are you going to reinstall the system or have you fixed the error?
Depends on which kernel download you have? Is it an rpm or a source tar.gz?
If rpm you do the command as root ' rpm -Uvh *name_of_rpm*.rpm '
Example: rpm -ivh kernel-2.6.14.3.rpm

If you have the source then do this way on a fedora OS.
Extract the source file in /usr/src
run command ' ln -s linux-*version-number* linux ' Example ' ln -s linux-2.6.13.rc4 linux '
cd to /usr/src/linux
copy config-2.6.9**** from /boot to /usr/src/linux
run command ' make xconfig '
Select File > Load from above and select the file you copied from /boot
Selcet File > Save
Select File > Quit
run the command ' make ' This builds the kernel and modules
run the command ' make modules_install ' This install modules in /lib/modules/
run the command ' make install ' This install the need config in /boot/grub/grub.conf
reboot and select the new kernel.

Brian1

I have not fixed the error. I have fedora 2 on the machine which I havent been able to boot at all. So I am downloading the ISO's of fedora 4 , will burn it on the CD and install fedora 4 on the machine which has fedora 2. Does the procedure you mentioned hold good?

Not sure what will happen when you install fc4 over fc2 that you wish not to destroy the data on. You might be able to do a upgrade that does not alter the partition table or erases the contents. It should work fine but a backup is the best thing to do. I would pull the drive and put it in the other computer and see if you can mount th partitions and copy of needed data and then put back in the orginal computer. Then install and not use LVM this time.

You can do either above to install a new kernel. The later is for the latest one that allows you to only compile the kernel with what you only need. This can make a very small kernel and sometimes faster. The first is a default standard precompiled kernel based on the most popular items needed.

Brian1

I have only 1 linux machine. Is it possible to copy the data off that on a windows machine?? I dont see how that is possible but I would like to know if I could do it. If not I could just wipe out my data and install fedora core 4. That should be possible right?

Not sure if windows can read a linux lvm partition. Only other choice in not losing the data is to install linux on a new harddrive. Make the new one a slave and install linux on it. Then once the install is done see if you can get to the other partitions. Only other option is reinstall the Distro but do not format the partitions. This way you may have a chance in not deleting your data. Once you have the system back up I would shrink a partition or if you have free drive space create one using the fat32 format so any OS can see the partition and put your needed data there. If one fails at least it can be seen with a simply dos boot floppy disc. You might invest in an external USB harddrive and copy of needed files to it for storage and backup.

Brian1