Kernel Panic "Cannot open root device" (Solved)

TeckPriezt · n00b Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 9

Hope some one can help me as I can't find out where this problem has come from.

This is what is displayed we I reboot after doing a install

VFS: Unable to mount root fs via NFS, trying floppy.
UFS: Cannot open root device "hda3" or unkown-block(2,0)
Please append a correct "root=" boot option: here are the available partitions:
Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unkown-block(2,0)

Could someone please help

LittleBug · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject:

Can you post the kernel configuration file (.config) ?

jfp · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:34 pm Post subject:

Are you trying to install into a vmware virtual machine? If so, there are several threads in the forums that discuss this problem.
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jfp

EasterParade · l33t Joined: 26 Jul 2003 Posts: 938

Ie had the same glitch and did not know what was wrong until I saw that I've forgot to compile Ext2 filesystem support into the kernel. That solved it at once since my sda1 is ext2.
May be your problem lies somewhere else - just an idea.

mroconnor · Guru Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 402 Location: USA

I am getting this error as well with 2.6.29 has this been solved?

mgrela · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject:

Please post your kernel .config.
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Maciej Grela
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject:

TeckPriezt,

Your kernel is missing one (or more) of two things.

The high level Disk Driver (IDE or SCSI)
The low level chipset specific driver.

Its not got as far as trying to read a filesystem so that could be missing too. Please post your lspci output so we can see your hard drive controller hardware.
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NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

mroconnor · Guru Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 402 Location: USA

I just fixed this after actually looking at my .config instead of saying I know it is right.

Anyway, I have the SCSI disk support compiled as a module not as built-in.....I get idiot points today. :oops:

TeckPriezt · n00b Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 9

where do I find the kernel .config and what is lspci (Linux Noob here sorry)

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:27 am Post subject:

lspci is part of a package called pciutils (installed by entering emerge pciutils). It's a must to be able to work with your kernel to any degree.

Your kernel .config will be found in your kernel source directory. Try cat /usr/src/linux/.config > /config.txt. That should make your .config visible, and also find out whether or not your symlink was created.

Blessed be!
Pappy
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mgrela · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:48 am Post subject:

There is also an interesting option you should consider -> "General setup -> Kernel .config support, Enable access to .config through /proc/config.gz". It allows you to easily extract the .config of a running kernel even if you loose the sources directory.
_________________
Maciej Grela
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.

TeckPriezt · n00b Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 9

sorry about this but how do I copy all the info in the config.txt to the fourms as nano doesn't seem to have a select all function so I can copy and paste it

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject:

TeckPriezt,

lspci is a tool to read the PCI Vendor and Device IDs of all your PCI/PCIe/PCIx and AGP devices and look them up in a database.
Its provided on the liveCD and in the package pciutils, which you will need to emerge.

We don't need your kernel .config file yet. Given your lspci output, we can advise how your kernel should be configured.
If you want to post it anyway, use a tool called wgetpaste, which you will need to emerge while you are in your chroot.

TeckPriezt · n00b Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 9

Ok heres the lspci output

0:00.0 Host bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 630 Host (rev 31)
00:00.1 IDE inerface: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5513 [IDE] 9rev d0)
00:01.0 ISA bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS85C503/5513 (LPC Bridge)
00:01.1 Ethernet controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet (rev 82)
00:01.2 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 07)
00:01.3 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 07)
00:01.4 Multimedia audio controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS PCI Audio Accelerator (rev 02)
00:01.6 Modem: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] AC'97 Modem Controller (rev a0)
00:02.0 PCI bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] Virtual PCI-toPCI bridge (AGP)
00:03.0 CardBus bridge: 02 Micro, Inc. 02601/6912/711E0 CardBus/SmartCardBus Controller
00:0a.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Agere Systems FW323 (rev 04)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 630/730 PCI/AGP VGA Display Adapter (rev 31)

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:17 pm Post subject:

TeckPriezt,

Here is your disk controller

TeckPriezt · n00b Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 9

Thanks you for the help worked like a charm and for safty sake I went through all of the hardware drivers type and turn on all SiS options related to what the lspci output