I tried to upgrade from Slackware 10.2 to the current version. The followed these instructions (http://www.brunolinux.com/03-Install...re/Swaret.html) exactly, when I rebooted it was fine. But then removed alsa from the EXCLUDE line because I got errors stating alsa and libc didn't get along. I also removed "kernel" from the EXCLUDE because I wanted to upgrad the kernel afterall. When I rebooted this time it boots into RL3 and has the blinking cursor for me to sign in, except it wont take any keyboard input. Am I hosed? I have a Slax CD I can boot into and try to fix it, but I'm not sure what to fix when I'm in with the Slax CD, I tried to run swaret again but it didn't like the fact that the HD was not /mnt/hda1 and didn't want to update anything.


Any help would be greatly appreciated!

j

I don't know a lot about swaret ...I just don't get along well with things that try and configure my computer for me. It sounds like you might have removed your kernel maybe? An easy fix would be to boot form the slackware CD and get back into the installation screen. Set up your target drive (without formatting!) and then move on to the package selection. Use expert mode and only select the kernel to install (kernel image, not the source). Once this is finished, go into the configure section and reinstall lilo. Should hopefully help you get back into your system at least. You might need to repair more damage from swaret once you're in.

regards,
...drkstr

I agree with drkstr here. Always EXCLUDE alsa and kernel. The kernel is excluded because if the kernel is upgraded, you might replace your current kernel or change the location of the kernel on the drive. LILO depends on knowing exactly where the kernel is. Exclude ALSA because those are modules, will wipe out your current sound modules and replace them with modules that are probably incompatible with your current kernel if you recompiled it yourself.

Ok I booted up with Disc 1 of my Slackware 10.2 Cd. I did the target drive to /dev/hda1, no format. for packages i deselected all the packages and went to the EXPERT menu, it thinks for a second that comes back with a screen full of this:

SHIFT: can't shift that many.


Ive tried this several times and can't get past that error.

backup a step, when I get to the PACKAGE SERIES SELECTION screen, do I deselect all packages? Or should I leave the A(Base Linux System) package as the only one to install

Ok I selected the A package then went expert and only install the Kernel and the Kernel modules. When it booted up it gave a weird error, so I looked through all my discs/diskettes and fond my boot disk so I was able to boot up and looks like everything is fine. but I need to work on the lilo.conf and see if I can get it to boot without a boot disk.

Is there anything I can check to make sure the kernel is fine and that it just didn't boot the kernel from the floppy?

What weird error might that be? Did you go through the entire configuration process where you select the kernel to use (usually bare.i from CD) You will also need to reinstall lilo by going though the rest of the configuration. If you do not reinstall lilo, nothing will happen.

Maybe try taking out the floppy?

regards,
...drkstr

If you upgraded to current and are now trying to install parts of 10.2 you're going to be mixing versions in such a way as it almost ensures a broken system.

At this point you might be better off to start with a clean install and if you want to upgrade to current follow Pat's upgrade text to make sure everything works correctly.

I upgraded to current using slackpkg and following the upgrade text, and it worked perfectly. I then installed and compiled the 2.6.X kernel in testing and then downloaded and compiled alsa. Everything works fine.

Things like swaret may be fine for downloading/installing various packages, but I wouldn't rely on them for a full upgrade. I know, some people will say they have done it without problems, it just seems to me to be asking for problems.

Just my 2 cents

This is true for most things, but kernel should be okay since Slack does not modify it's kernel in any way. What works on 10.2 will work on any Slack version.

If you can get into your system by using a floppy as you said earlier. Just download the latest kernel and compile/install it from there. Make sure you run 'lilo' afterwards so you can boot form the new kernel.

regards,
...drkstr

The error I get when I try to boot without the boot floopy is:


LinuxEDBA is big; kernel setup stack overlaps LILO second stage

and it just hangs.

I can get into the system with the boot disk


UPDATE


Ok I uncommented the below lines and put a bootable flag on /dev/hda and it works now.


# Windows bootable partition config begins
#other = /dev/hdb1
#label = Windows
#table = /dev/hdb

Don't know where those lines came from. Ive never had this system as a dual boot and the 2nd HD I installed had NTFS but i formatted it as ext2 when I installed Slackware.