Arch Linux

baro

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2008-02-18

Posts: 23

Kernel update failed - can't boot anymore (xfs) - no files in chroot

Hello,
I did update my x64 system with "pacman -Syu" but during "linux" (kernel) update my system turned of because of a powerloss.

Now I can't boot anymore. I have tried to follow the usual descriptions for this scenario but I have trouble get a 100% working chroot.
After booting from cd and mounting the hardisk (xfs) and proc,dev,etc to it I execute "chroot /mnt/arch". When doing a "dir" or "ls" no files are shown.It seems I can't create a directory or file from the shell either.
When doing "pacman -S linux" if fails to create the .img files in /boot when it tries to call mkinitcpio.
I can see and edit all files when I leave the chroot.

What do I miss ? I have tried several linux live cd and it is always the same result.

progandy

Member

Registered: 2012-05-17

Posts: 5,279

Re: Kernel update failed - can't boot anymore (xfs) - no files in chroot

Try this: get the list of packages for the interrupted update from your pacman log and use pacman -r from an arch boot cd to reinstall them without chroot.

Last edited by progandy (2012-07-19 15:41:44)

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baro

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2008-02-18

Posts: 23

Re: Kernel update failed - can't boot anymore (xfs) - no files in chroot

Good idea..but it did not help.
On the "mkinitcpio" part of the linux packe install I get:
"Error: unable to write to path : /boot/initramsfs-linux.img"

Same error as when I try it from within the chroot.

progandy

Member

Registered: 2012-05-17

Posts: 5,279

Re: Kernel update failed - can't boot anymore (xfs) - no files in chroot

Good idea..but it did not help.
On the "mkinitcpio" part of the linux packe install I get:
"Error: unable to write to path : /boot/initramsfs-linux.img"

Same error as when I try it from within the chroot.

Hmm, did you try a bindmount from /mnt/arch/boot to /boot? Maybe mkinitcpio doesn't like a chroot or modified root paths.

Last edited by progandy (2012-07-19 20:01:20)

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baro

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2008-02-18

Posts: 23

Re: Kernel update failed - can't boot anymore (xfs) - no files in chroot

Yes, I have tried mount -o bind already. That did not help too.

I really wonder why I can not write or delete file within the chroot on my harddisk
And why there is no output when trying to list files.

I am away from this linux system for two weeks from now on so I can not test further ideas
But I have to solve it when I am at home again, so I am happy to get some more suggestions.

I did try to invoke the mkinitcpio command manualy and got an image file, but then it fails
To mount /dev/sda2 to new_root during boot after a message waiting 10 seconds for the device.
Maybe I have to do a fresh install then..good time to do a hardisk upgrade.

Thank you for your help

DSpider

Member

From: Romania

Registered: 2009-08-23

Posts: 2,273

Re: Kernel update failed - can't boot anymore (xfs) - no files in chroot

When you run "ls", no files are shown or does it complain that

bash: /bin/ls: No such file or directory

?

Because if it does, you may have unfinished business with this glibc migration thing.

By the way, mkinitcpio likes chroot evironments just fine. Here's how you can rebuild the initramfs: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pa … nger_boot.

(you can skip reinstalling udev and mkinitcpio)

Last edited by DSpider (2012-07-19 21:20:53)

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"How to Succeed with Linux"

I have made a personal commitment not to reply in topics that start with a lowercase letter. Proper grammar and punctuation is a sign of respect, and if you do not show any, you will NOT receive any help (at least not from me).

baro

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2008-02-18

Posts: 23

Re: Kernel update failed - can't boot anymore (xfs) - no files in chroot

When you run "ls", no files are shown or does it complain that

bash: /bin/ls: No such file or directory

?
Because if it does, you may have unfinished business with this glibc migration thing.

When I run "ls" in chroot there is no error message, no output at all, just a new prompt line.
Maybe I still have to check the glibc migration stuff.

The only reason I have tried to run mkinitcpio from outside of the chroot is that it isn't messaging the error
"Unable to write to path: /boot/initramfs.."

baro

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2008-02-18

Posts: 23

Re: Kernel update failed - can't boot anymore (xfs) - no files in chroot

As I couldn't get the chroot to work and I didn't get mkinitcpio to build a working file without chroot I did a complete new install of archlinux with the latest install cd to get a working system again.