Dear all,

I have just installed Ubuntu 14.04 on my Alienware 14.

As soon as I select the Linux option on my grub, I get the error I included in the attached pictures. I include 3 pictures of the same error, on 3 different occasions.

Any idea of what is wrong?

Thanks.

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Hi:

Congratulations on installing Linux on your Alienware.-

I don't have any experience with Alienware sorry.

When your Grub Menu shows is Ubuntu the first choice and than the second choice is your Alienware OS?
It could be a partitioning issue but I'm not certain. I'll have to find out what that code # and message means--

What model is your Alienware laptop? (So I can look it up)

Hello Ztcoracat: Thanks!

My model is given on the original post. It is the Alienware 14, with original Windows 7 installed and the i8 processor.

Thanks,

Is this your laptop?
http://www.theverge.com/products/alienware-14/7148

Did you create a "EXT" /journaling file partition for Ubuntu and a swap partition as well?

I looked up the error message and it's related to kernel panic.

Basically kernel panic is where the kernel rolls over and dies.
If in fact that is what's going on with your laptop there are things you can do to recover from that.

From what I understand reinstalling the kernel is probably the best bet when no other major system modifications have taken place recently. Another thing it could be is Grub (the bootloader) may have a configuration error.
I (think) that happens from repartitioning. (changes the order of your partitions)

I really think that you are going to need the help of more experienced members if it's really kernel panic.

Do you by any chance have an external USB device plugged in when trying to boot? This looks like the kernel has problems with a faulty USB device.

Yes, yes it is

No, I did not. I basically re-sized Window's partition, to make room for Ubuntu...

Do you think this could pose a problem?

I should have mentioned this: after that error comes out, Ubuntu stills manages to boot and it works 0k.

Glad that's your exact laptop-

Shrinking your Window's partition was a good practice however the swap partition is important as it holds tmp memory pages. A server can boot without a swap partition as long as there is enough RAM.
Not having a swap partition could be posing a problem, yes:-

When I installed Ubunutu I allocated 20 GB for my EXT4 /journaling file system's partition.
Than I created another new partition and allocated a 1 GB for the swap.

Post the output of this command so we can see what is going on with your system. Run this command as "root".

"I should have mentioned this: after that error comes out, Ubuntu stills manages to boot and it works 0k."

Hehehehe
Not sure why but I found it amusing.

It is possible that some init command thinks there should be a usb.
Or,
Some actual usb device attached that has storage or maybe phone or who knows. It thinks there should be data on that device.

Well, the problem has been solved.

The problem lies on the actual Alienware.

See attached picture.

The folks from Alienware include a black place-holder for the memory card, when starting, Ubuntu tries to check it ( I guess) and it can't, because it is not a real memory card, so it yields the error.

Yes: I tried booting without it, and no errors

So... dear Alienware buddies... do something xD

\m/

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If that place-holder doesn't have any functionality I wouldn't keep it plugged into that port.
As far as telling Ubuntu not to check it's part of the initialization boot process.
AFAIK your BIOS is where you would look for the boot sequence.

First my PC looks at the CDROM drive and if a DVD isn't present it goes to the HDD than the usb and so forth.

Your motherboard book should tell you how to get into the BIOS. If not when your laptop first starts up the splash
screen should say which key to depress for BIOS. Mine is F2.

I'm not entirely sure if "usb" can be disabled in the BIOS from being seen, sorry.
That might not be practical because you may need to use a pendrive or external HDD or other device in the future.
Maybe TobiSGD or jefro will know more:-

http://www.whitecanyon.com/how-to-change-boot-order

Why?

I mean, besides the obvious reason: to avoid this error.

Would this black place-holder, somehow damage the actual reader? I mean, it does try to read it, but then it finds the black place-holder...

Because it's not performing any tasks except generating an error for your machine.

Now, if Alienware provides information/documentation on that place holder and indeed it really does have some kind of functionality (don't think it does) than by all means keep it there.

No, I don't think it would damage the reader, if anything it will keep out dust which, BTW is the enemy.