Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Boot problem: Karmic won't start, dropping into initramfs

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Boot problem: Karmic won't start, dropping into initramfs

    I'm running Karmic on an AMD 64 on Efficient PC (Re-badged Asus Anubis), with Nvidia Corporation MCP51 High Definition Audio card.

    In recent days my system has been freezing, although this has generally been solved with a reboot.

    Now, however, GRUB is failing to start Karmic, and is dropping me into initramfs.

    I have tried a systemrescue cd (see here http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page), which when I switch on slows down at

    ATA1 port is slow to respond
    forcing hard reset
    comreset failed errno=-16
    srs failed errno=-19
    limiting SATA speed to 1.5gbps


    Once I've got the system rescue cd running, I can't mount the either of my partitions /sda1 (ext3) or /sda2 (swap) to run fsck

    booting in recovery mode gives me

    mount: mounting /sys on /root/sys failed: no such file or directory
    mount: mounting /dev on /root/dev failed: no such file or directory
    Done
    mount: mounting /sys on /root/sys failed: no such file or directory
    mount: mounting /proc on /root/proc failed: no such file or directory
    Target filesystem doesn't have /sbin/init
    No init found. Try passing init= bootarg


    Running dmesg | tail shows

    [2.540798] EXT3-fs error (device sda1): ext3_check_descriptors: Block bitmap for group 384 not in group (block 4023357247)!
    [2.540937] EXT3-fs: group descriptors corrupted!


    On the basis of this I think that I either have a corrupted filesystem, or more seriously, I have a hard disk problem.

    The first thing I want to do is to try to run fsck on sda1 to try to repair any filesystem damage - how can I do this. I've got both a systemrescue dc and a Knoppix disk.

    Suggestions welcome!









    #2
    Re: Boot problem: Karmic won't start, dropping into initramfs

    Run the file system check first. This is a hassle of a problem, usually means your initrd isn't available or some such.

    Do what he says to check and repair:
    http://members.iinet.net.au/%7Eherma...xt3_filesystem
    An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Boot problem: Karmic won't start, dropping into initramfs

      Might have luck using GParted Live CD check and repair it, too.
      Right-click on the partition > Check.
      An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Boot problem: Karmic won't start, dropping into initramfs

        The first suggestion worked

        Using Knoppix, I opened a terminal and ran

        sudo e2fsck -C0 -p -f -v /dev/sda1

        and the filesystem is now recovered.

        many thanks!

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Boot problem: Karmic won't start, dropping into initramfs

          What a relief!
          I was reviewing my notes about fixing initrd, wondering if we could chroot into your system and do some surgery ...

          Glad you got it -- very nice work on your end!
          An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

          Comment

          Working...
          X