Forgot to do a /sbin/lilo after kernel compile!! what do i do???

[digitalzero]

OK this has never happened to me before. I quickly changed a kernel option in xconfig after just compiled my kernel. So I figured I didnt need to use a backup (STUPID MISTAKE which I'll never do again). Now I cant start up. I use a floppy to start up linux. Anyone know how to go back to linux just to run lilo or know how to login as a single user account whilst at lilo?
thanks!

[Craig McPherson]

Grab your nearest Linux boot disk (you do have one, right?) or your distro's installation disk, boot from it, and if needeed pass the "root=/dev/hdXX" option to the kernel (specifying the correct root filesystem).

This will boot you into your Linux system where you can reinstall LILO properly.

[digitalzero]

wow that was a fast response.. i tried that and the error i got was:
VFS: Cannot open root device 03:42
Kernel Panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:42

I have no idea what this means.
I used the Slackware 8 cd disk:
boot: linux root=/dev/hda5 ro
i tried it with and without the ro
any other ideas?

[Craig McPherson]

Well, the most obvious thing that would cause that error would be that you specified the wrong root fs, but I'll assume you're sure you did that correctly.

What kind of filesystem is your root fs? Is it ext2, or is it a more uncommon filesystem? How large is the disk, and how is it partitioned? Do you have anything weird going on, like UDMA controllers? There are a lot of things that could possibly cause that error; knowing more about your system could help narrow it down.

[jbstew32]

if u arent using a filesystem that needs the 2.4 kernel, u will have ot make 2.4 bootdisks (its on the CD)

[Linuxcool]

Try this: linux single root=/dev/hda5 initrd=. I got it from an old Red Hat 5.2 manual. It might work.

[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: Linuxcool ]