Install problems...HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Let me start out by saying this is my FIRST post to these forums! WOO HOO! I also would like to say that even though I am new to Linux, I am still able to load other distros just fine (like RH9 (duh, like who can't? hehe and I was able to do the long drawn out net install of Debian!). BUT....

I am stuck now, trying to load Gentoo from my livecd's...I am currently on step 7a., and the command "ls -l /usr/src/linux" to verify the kernel and I get the message "no such file or directory"! Anybody know where I went wrong? I followed all the steps listed in the Gentoo documentation (http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook...). I am starting from the "stage1" and all I have done is uncomment/modify a few lines in the "make.conf" per instructions in step 5d., and I suspect this is the reason I get the error, "invalid PORTDIR_OVERLAY (not a dir): /usr/local/portage", although I only tweaked it for my hardware (changed ~arch to ~x86, etc...). The only other optional step I've done is download all the latest sources/updates (which takes an incredibly insane amount of time!!!) with the "-f" option on the scripts command, for example...What else can I tell you to help me with this install issue? It took a good 5 hours (even with a freaking 200KB/s cable modem connection...damn ftp timeouts!) to get to this point and I don't want to start over. I am sure I have all the necessary files downloaded and need some direction on how to correct this! PLEASE HELP!!!

Halanegri · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 5:52 pm Post subject:

If "ls -l /usr/src/linux" says 'no file or directory', then that symlink obvoiusly does not exist. Are you sure you have emerged a kernel-sources package as descriped in the previous step? If so, what does this give you?

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

For the prvious command (# emerge --usepkg gaming-sources), the first time I ran it, my box went out an downloaded about 30MB of stuff...now if I rerun it, it tries to download again, then fails with a 404 Not found...aborting message...

btw...ls -l /usr/src gives me "total 0"

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Should I try the vanilla-sources instead? Can I go back and used a pre-compiled kerenel at this point (stage2)? This is what I have, fyi...

Athlon XP t-bred-b 2200+
Gigabyte mobo (AMD chipset)
256MB DDR (soon to be 512MB)

10 Gig Seagate HDD
10/100 NIC
PoS 8x CD-ROM and floppy
Using onboard sound

Nothing fancy here!

Halanegri · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 6:49 pm Post subject:

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Yes, all but the last step (12), I skipped 5b since I have both livecd's burned...Can I issue those cammands again and start over from there? I used the stage1 off of the cd 1...

Halanegri · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 7:22 pm Post subject:

Step 12 is exactlty the step you need to perform to be able to use the binary packages. Issue the command and do "emerge --usepkg gaming-sources" again.

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Well...I appreciate all the help up to this point, but now I can't mount anything, so I decided to start over...

The only cool thing about a %&*@ed up install, is it's a good learning experience!

Halanegri · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 8:47 pm Post subject:

True.

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Halanegri...What changes to my make.conf do I need to make for my system? In the docs, it says this, "Warning: Advanced users: If you are planning on installing an ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~x86" Gentoo system (which I am), do not set ACCEPT_KEYWORDS until the bootstrap phase (stage1) is done." So I am leaving the # on that option and my install fails. Also, for some reason my box can't download once I get "inside" the new Gentoo Linux environment. How do I verify connectivity when the ifconfig command isn't working??? OMG...I am getting frustrated now!

What I would like to see now is a "howto" for a non-Net, cd only, basic install...I think I am getting over my head with this "custom" install! :cry:

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Halanegri · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 10:07 pm Post subject:

It think you should try IRC for this kind of problem, you'll probably get an answer in a matter of seconds.

#gentoo @ irc.freenode.net

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Thanks...

I think I am retarded sometimes...I figured out why I couldn't download...but to save a little face, I won't say why! hehe :lol:

Halanegri · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 11:58 pm Post subject:

Hey, c'mon, do share.

Or you could post it to the Official Dumb Mistakes thread(TM).

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

OK then...I forgot to add the ftp mirrors...LOL!

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Oh Joy, you say? Well...good, glad to be back!

Here's my latest predicament. I went through a complete stage 2 install and I think I goofed up the grub.conf file (messed up the -KV statement). When it boots to the grub splash screen I select my kernel to boot and it crashes. Of course, I don't have bootdisks (PoS floppy drive is busted, remember? hehe). My question is, can I use the livecd's to get back into the linux environment and correct that mistake? Oh, and how can you find out "which" exact kernel version you loaded? (2.4.20-blah blah blah)

Thanks for being patient with this n00b!

Random Task · Apprentice Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 171 Location: Canada

Yes you can use the live cd to get back into your gentoo environment.

Simply boot the cd, mount your /boot drive (/mnt/gentoo/boot ? Don't quote me on it, check the install docs).

Then edit your grub.conf file and fix your mistakes!

Here are two ways to find out which kernel version you have:

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Ahhhhhh...I must be cursed!

I get a kernel panic now, here'e the last 3 lines:

read_super_block: can't find a reiserfs filesystem on (dev 01:00, block 64, size 1024)
read_super_block: can't find a reiserfs filesystem on (dev 01:00, block 8, size 1024)
kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:03

AND I SWEAR to you all, I followed the instructions perfectly when formatting those partitions in Reiserfs! That's where the cookie is crumbling at this point. Can anyone shed light on this? Thanks.

btw...I was able to "correct" my grub.conf, so thanks for that help too.

Random Task · Apprentice Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 171 Location: Canada

possible answers to your question:
- Did you compile reiser support into your kernel (not a module)
- in your grub.conf do you have
a)

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

How can I figure out whether or not it is compiled into the kernel or if it's a module? I was able to use the "mkreiserfs" command with no problem! Can I emerge reiserfs support after the fact?

Here's my grub.conf (taken completely out of the installation doc!)...

default 0
timeout 60
splashimage-(hd0,0)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title=Gentoo Linux
root (hd0,0)
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/kernel-2.4.20-gentoo-r9 root=/dev/hda3 vga=792
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd-2.4.20-gentoo-r9

That's all folks!

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

I really don't want to change the format, if at all possible...That would mean a THIRD install attempt, huh?

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

Sorry, another bump...Where's Halanegri or Random Task when you need them?

Random Task · Apprentice Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 171 Location: Canada

Sorry I've been working some wierd hours lately

What did you use to compile your kernel:
genkernel?
make xconfig/menuconfig/config?

Regardless of what you used, you can check it as follows:

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

GREAT...I'll try that after work tonight!

Thanks for all the help!

slimpinto · n00b Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 46

It had that built into the kernel (no "M") already...

Did those 2 emerge's and still no go...same crash! I must admit defeat!