Kernal Panic!!

[RsrvrDg]

I am very new to Linux, in fact, this is my first time installing it. I am using LinuxMandrake 8.0. I have yet to actually run it because i get the following error message at the "Welcome" spash screen.

VFS : Cannot open root device "2105" or 21:05
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernal panic : VFS : unable to mount root fs on 21:05

If anyone can help me fix this, It would be very much appreciated. Oh yea, and please use lamens terms, i am VERY new.
Thanks :)

[Col. Panic]

You called?

hehe -- sorry, I can't be much help. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. I'll be going now.

[bdg1983]

Could you please tell us a little about how you installed Mandrake 8.0?

Dualboot?
Where you allowed the bootloader to install.
Other operating systems.
How you partitioned?

And whatever other info you think could help us to help you.

Kernel Panic usually means the bootloader cannot find the Linux boot record on the partition that was specified.

If you know the root/boot partition to be hda2 (for example) then enter at the boot prompt.

boot root=/dev/hda2

Post back with more info and we will be glad to help. Won't we?

[RsrvrDg]

I have a PIII 700. 256MB RAM. 19GB HD, partitioned 5GB for Linux, using Partition Magic 5.0. I have Windows 98SE on the other partition. Im not sure how to give the other info u asked for. I dont know what a bootloader is, so i dont know where it is. I am really new to this. Hehe. The menu that askes what OS to boot comes up after the "beep" when my computer starts up, if that is any help. If you need any more info, just ask, i will try to find it. Thanks all. :)

[bdg1983]

Does 98 still boot?

When you installed Mandrake, what options did you select for the bootloader to install to. The MBR or the Linux root/boot partition?

I hope someone can help out now as I'm signing off for the night. 15hrs. pc work is enough for one day and 5 am comes early.

[RsrvrDg]

Win 98 boots fine, just like it always has. Just Linux doesnt work. I dont know where the boot loader installed to, so i guess im not much help.

[bdg1983]

Do you know which partition Linux is installed on? hda1 being the first.

If you do, then try at the Linux boot prompt to enter 'boot root=/dev/hda#' where # is the partition number.

[RsrvrDg]

Tried that. I went all the way up to /hda8 and I got the same message. Somethin like "unable to find something Kernal library". I think im gonna pass out from frustration. hehe. Ive tried uninstalling it a million times. Ive tried making different partitions with PartitionMagic. I think ive tried everything. Im gonna cry.... :( :( :(

[bdg1983]

Seems like you have Win98 installed in the first 15GB and then Linux in the remaining 5GB and have installed the bootloader in the Linux partition.

Try reinstalling (selecting expert install mode - don't worry as it just gives you more control) and when it comes to the bootloader, select it to install in the mbr.

This should allow both systems to boot. If you have the option, select Grub instead of Lilo.

Don't forget to read the online user and system guides at www.linux-mandrake.com (http://www.linux-mandrake.com) as they most likely have install guides etc.

[spiffgq]

Does the root partition still have to be below the 1024 cylinder?

[bdg1983]

I really don't know. There are so many different scenarios that it's hard to figure out which is the best and what will work for your particular partitioning scheme.

I always find installing ALL the operating systems within the 1024 cylinder (usually around the 8GB point) and then creating logical data/games/apps fat32 partitions after that will help to resolve any kernel panic issues. Some like to just have one large fat32 partition for everything that takes up most of the drive. Then you sometimes have problems booting multiple systems.

i.e. my newer pc I'm just setting up with ME, W2K and Linux starting at the beginning of the 40GB drive

1 GB primary - fat32 for ME
1.5 GB primary - ntfs5 for W2K
extended starts
29 GB logical - ext2 (really ReiserFS)
128MB logical - Linux swap
4 GB logical - fat32 - apps shared with W2K
4 GB logical - fat32 - win games
1 GB logical - fat32 - data

I use BootMagic though Grub or a later version of Lilo shouldn't have problems booting the 3 operating systems.