[SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

bitpal · 2008-02-03 22:45:50

Bear with me here, I have zero command-line experience with linux, having just tried a few gui distros.

I did a regular cd install from the Archlinux-i686-2007.08-2.core.iso, followed the beginner's guide up to the reboot, and then I get this:

:: Loading root filesystem module...
Attempting to create root device '/dev/sdb8'
unknown
Error: root fs cannot be detected. Try using the rootfstype= kernel parameter.
Waiting for devices to settle...done.

Root device 'dev/sdb8' doesn't exist, attempting to create it
ERROR: Failed to parse block device name for '/dev/sdb8'
ERROR: Unable to create/detect root device '/dev/sdb8'
...
try adding 'rootdelay=8' or higher to the kernel command-line

echo * /dev/* shows /dev/hda1,2,5,6 and /dev/hdc1,2,5,6,7,8,9 but no /dev/sd?

The file system set up during the install was:

sda (windows)

sdb1 ntfs (winxp)
sdb2 (extended)
sdb5 vfat /share
sdb6 swap
sdb7 ext2 /boot
sdb8 ext3 /
sdb9 ext3 /home

I saw advice in another post http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=41222 to edit mkinitcpio.conf, but when I use the cd I can't seem to access the file system.

Is there a tool on the rescue console for me?

Last edited by bitpal (2008-02-12 14:30:08)

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 22:53:14

Is your grub set up right? Maybe for some reason yours *is* doing it as hd*, so just modify grub accordingly for now so it uses hd* instead of sd*, so at least your system will boot.

bitpal · 2008-02-03 23:03:16

Lightning fast reply, viola. My grub says:

root (hd1,6)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro

So that seems OK. Still can't boot!

edit:

I had hdb8 in there before, to no avail.

Last edited by bitpal (2008-02-03 23:15:00)

bitpal · 2008-02-03 23:19:11

The kernel is not in /boot, that's just an artefact left over from my attempt to put grub in there.

If I had it in /boot, it would say 'file not found'.

Last edited by bitpal (2008-02-03 23:21:38)

Misfit138 · 2008-02-03 23:20:32

Point to the partition with the kernel, then. If it's sdb8, then GRUB will call it hd1,7.
If it's sdb7, then GRUB will call it hd1,6.

Last edited by Misfit138 (2008-02-03 23:25:12)

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:21:04

You honestly don't have your kernel in /boot? Even if you didn't make a separate /boot partition, the kernel is still put under the /boot folder by default, and you should have one. If you moved the default, may I ask why?
If it *is* under /boot as it should be, it WOULD be sdb7, not 8
And worst case scenario, do you have your file system types (ext2, and ext3 seem to be on yours) correctly in your fstab?
And if you no longer mount sdb7, you would probably still have a /boot folder in sdb8 then, with the kernel in it.
At least.. I think you would.

Last edited by violagirl23 (2008-02-03 23:23:55)

bitpal · 2008-02-03 23:25:01

misfit, I just tried pointing it to boot, it said 'file not found'

viola, I _did_ make a boot partition, but I didn't put the kernel anywhere, I just let the install do everything...

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:28:25

Then it would definitely be under /boot, because that's where it puts it.
Would the fact that they have logical partitions mess up the grub numbering? I don't quite remember how that works...

bitpal · 2008-02-03 23:33:45

I tried

root (hd1,7)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro

and

root (hd1,7)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro

no dice.

Misfit138 · 2008-02-03 23:36:39

bitpal wrote:

I tried
root (hd1,7)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro
and
root (hd1,7)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro
no dice.

Try this :
root (hd1,6)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:40:37

Actually, I think it would be...
root (hd1,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro

bitpal · 2008-02-03 23:40:48

root (hd1,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb7 ro

says 'file not found'

root (hd1,6)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro

was the original one, which boots, but has the root fs not found error

root (hd1,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro

says 'file not found'

any more combos?

Last edited by bitpal (2008-02-03 23:44:29)

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:42:05

Hmm.......
No, I mean
root(hd1,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro
You put sdb7
Sorry if I confused you!
root(hd1,6) tells it where the /boot partition is found I think, which is /dev/sdb7
But root= has to be the / parition, which is /dev/hsdb8
That is why it is written this way (hopefully?)

Last edited by violagirl23 (2008-02-03 23:46:38)

Misfit138 · 2008-02-03 23:47:13

violagirl23 wrote:

Hmm.......
No, I mean
root(hd1,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro
You put sdb7
Sorry if I confused you!

Keep in mind that GRUB's root is the /boot partition, and the kernel line root is actually /
So, if you have a /boot partition, the vmlinuz will not be preceded by /boot.
So if his kernel is in /boot, then it should be:

root(hd1,6)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro

But he's getting fs not found error now..perhaps because his / is not actually on sdb8...?

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:48:15

Do you have the
initrd /boot/kernel26.img
as the next line?
Maybe that's your problem.
And try going to /boot. Is the kernel indeed there?

bitpal · 2008-02-03 23:48:30

I think this is the wrong track. There's only one combo that makes grub boot, but the linux loader stops at the root fs not found error.

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:49:04

Oh, I see what you mean, misfit!
Sorry for confusing you, poster!
Hmm... how odd....

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:49:39

Well try posting your fstab! ^^b

bitpal · 2008-02-03 23:53:43

I'd love to post my fstab, but it's in / isn't it? And I can't get there!

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:54:50

Can you get back on the install CD?
If so, use it to chroot into your system.
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel_Panics
Follow all these steps up to Roll back to previous kernel version
You are then *in* your system.
Copy the fstab to say... XP, then post it here.
Then you can chroot again to modify it, if necessary.

Last edited by violagirl23 (2008-02-03 23:56:27)

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:57:28

(You'll have to do
mount -t vfat /dev/sdb5 /mnt/windows or something to copy it there (make sure to do mkdir /mnt/windows first or it won't work! XD)
Or, if your fstab is okay in that area,
mount /share
should work

Last edited by violagirl23 (2008-02-03 23:58:32)

Misfit138 · 2008-02-03 23:58:07

Do you have the initrd on the next line? And, can you get on the IRC channel?

bitpal · 2008-02-03 23:58:42

I'm at the live cd boot prompt. What do I write?

violagirl23 · 2008-02-03 23:59:54

Um... check my above post. *sweatdrop*
To move it over, do
cp /etc/fstab /share (if that's where you mounted the sdb5)
Or cp /etc/fstab /mnt/windows
if you mounted it there
If you can't get to links for whatever reason...
the method is..
arch
mount -t ext3 /dev/sdb8 /mnt
mount -t ext2/dev/sdb7 /mnt/boot
mount -t proc none /mnt/proc
mount -t sysfs none /mnt/sys
mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
chroot /mnt
THEN my instructions on mounting your sdb5

Last edited by violagirl23 (2008-02-04 00:02:53)

violagirl23 · 2008-02-04 00:05:56

And seriously, make SURE your grub is...
root (hd1,6)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb8 ro
initrd /kernel26.img
You NEED that part I think!

Arch Linux

#1 2008-02-03 22:45:50

[SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#2 2008-02-03 22:53:14

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#3 2008-02-03 23:03:16

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#4 2008-02-03 23:19:11

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#5 2008-02-03 23:20:32

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#6 2008-02-03 23:21:04

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#7 2008-02-03 23:25:01

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#8 2008-02-03 23:28:25

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#9 2008-02-03 23:33:45

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#10 2008-02-03 23:36:39

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#11 2008-02-03 23:40:37

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#12 2008-02-03 23:40:48

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#13 2008-02-03 23:42:05

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#14 2008-02-03 23:47:13

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#15 2008-02-03 23:48:15

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#16 2008-02-03 23:48:30

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#17 2008-02-03 23:49:04

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#18 2008-02-03 23:49:39

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#19 2008-02-03 23:53:43

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#20 2008-02-03 23:54:50

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#21 2008-02-03 23:57:28

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#22 2008-02-03 23:58:07

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#23 2008-02-03 23:58:42

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#24 2008-02-03 23:59:54

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

#25 2008-02-04 00:05:56

Re: [SOLVED] root fs cannot be detected after first install

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