Arch not booting

unilx · 2009-10-26 17:14:39

Hello again
Every time i boot linux i get this:/dev/sda1-the superblock could not be read or does not describe a correct ext2 filesystem.I eventually get in but i have to reboot my computer 4 or 5 times.does anyone know what would cause this to happen so often.i thought it might have someting to do with how i partitioned my harddrive:

/sda1/ root ext3 - 20 GB
/sda2/ boot ext3 - 10 GB
/sda3/ swap 82 - 10 GB
/sda4/ home ext3 - 80 GB

sda1 is set to boot and has grub installed to it

THanks

Last edited by unilx (2009-10-26 17:15:21)

MadTux · 2009-10-26 17:23:42

But sda1 is is /root, which usually doesn't contain the boot image. That should be in /boot.

unilx · 2009-10-26 17:53:08

when i set /sda2/boot/ as bootable and install grub to it linux wont start as soon as its finish installing it brings me to a page that says
root@archuser or something like that with no way to login

edit
should i set boot as /sda1/ and root as /sda2/

Last edited by unilx (2009-10-26 18:03:40)

hokasch · 2009-10-26 18:04:15

Try installing grub to /dev/sda (not a partition) and use "root (hd0,1)" in menu.lst. The boot flag is not needed and ignored by Grub.

edit: 10 GB for boot is insane, my /boot has around 25 MB in it (only the vanilla kernel). You should make the partition a bit bigger than that, but 80 MB should be enough. Same with Swap. You need roughly the same size as your RAM to be able to suspend, apart from that you will barely use it (if you have a moderately recent machine and enough RAM)

Last edited by hokasch (2009-10-26 18:18:28)

unilx · 2009-10-27 04:12:52

well its still not working.i just looked at my usb stikck that used to be 1gb now its 384 mb and i cant get the space back anyway would that be the reason linux isnt installing and when it does install it not logging in.i used win32diskimager to install to my usb could that be another part of the problem
(linux-385 mb)(usb-384 mb )

Last edited by unilx (2009-10-27 04:15:58)

perbh · 2009-10-27 05:01:31

I'm not trying to 'hit' at you - but you seem to lack the most basic knowledge about partitioning and booting.
As hokasch indicated above - 10 gigs for the boot partition is absolutely insane!!
As for your usb-stick - of course you can recover the space, just make a filesystem on it and you have your full gig back.

Just chalk down what you have done so far to 'experience' and try again - this time with the following partitioning:

partition       size         device          filesystem       mountpoint
    1             100 MB    /dev/sda1     ext2               /boot
    2             2 GB       /dev/sda2      swap
    3             15 GB     /dev/sda3      ext3               /
    4             remainder  /dev/sda4   ext3               /home

Then you install grub on '/dev/sda' (ie the MBR - Master Boot Record),
and your /boot/grub/menu.lst should contain the following:

default 0
timeout 5
title archlinux
   root (hd0,0)
   kernel /vmlinuz26 ro root=/dev/sda3
   initrd /kernel26.img

You also have to be aware that what you end up with is the 'dreaded' command line - ie. your whole screen is just 80x25 characters.
From this you have to get your network working - and then you use pacman to install X, kde/gnome/xfce4 or whatever takes your fancy.
First when this is done will you have a graphic environment

Last edited by perbh (2009-10-27 05:08:25)

Arch Linux

#1 2009-10-26 17:14:39

Arch not booting

#2 2009-10-26 17:23:42

Re: Arch not booting

#3 2009-10-26 17:53:08

Re: Arch not booting

#4 2009-10-26 18:04:15

Re: Arch not booting

#5 2009-10-27 04:12:52

Re: Arch not booting

#6 2009-10-27 05:01:31

Re: Arch not booting

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