Linux rookie here so please bear with me. Somehow a file got corrupted during a power outage as I am getting a system freeze during bootup. The last message is:

"kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init!"

Okay so I believe I need to boot up with the installation DVD and run the rescue mode (linux rescue) and use fsck? According to this site (http://www.redhat.com/advice/tips/rescue_mode.html), I shouldn't have the rescue mode mount the partitions to /mnt/sysimage:

"5. Linux notes that the rescue mode will attempt to mount your existing partitions under /mnt/sysimage directory. You should select the Skip button because if you are trying to fix a file system problem (most file system tools do not work on mounted file systems for security reasons)."

First off, is that true for fsck? I've seen some walkthroughs where an fsck is done on a mounted drive.

I ask because I'm having trouble using using the rescue when it doesn't mount my partitions. After I choose 'Skip' when it ask to mount my paritions, I get sent to the command prompt. How do I determine what to fsck? When I did 'fsck /dev/sda1' which is where my / partition is normally, I got an error message about not being able to find /etc/fstab. That file exists if I have the rescue mount my partitions to /mnt/sysimage (it's under /mnt/sysimage/etc/fstab). That file doesn't exist using the root environment of the rescue CD. So how and what do I run fsck on if I am don't mount my partitions? I'm really confused.

Here's info on the system taken from a working system with identical build:

[root@localhost ~]# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 1499.9 GB, 1499968045056 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 182360 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 13 104391 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 14 182360 1464702277+ 8e Linux LVM

[root@localhost ~]# cat /etc/fstab
/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 / ext3 defaults 1 1
LABEL=/boot /boot ext3 defaults 1 2
none /dev/pts devpts gid=5,mode=620 0 0
none /dev/shm tmpfs defaults 0 0
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
none /sys sysfs defaults 0 0
/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol01 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/hda /media/cdrom auto pamconsole,exec,noauto,m anaged 0 0



Also do I need to run fsck on /dev/sdaX or on a /dev/VolGroup00/LogVol0X?

Thanks for any help!!!

Try this:
Those two commands will fsck both of your partitions. You'll want to run fsck on an unmounted partition so that it will be able to fix them if it comes across any errors.

Also, could you post the output of a mount command from that second machine?

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http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=432881