GRUB not loading root partition

orangecakez · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 116

Thought I'd get more answers here.

I am on my last step to installing Gentoo, but I get a GRUB error when I try to boot:

VFS: Cannot open root device "hda3" or unknown-block(0,0)
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)

This is what my current /boot/grub/grub.conf looks like:

default 0
timeout 2
title=Linux
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/linux-2.6.17.13 root=/dev/hda3

Yes I made sure that was the correct kernel name in the correct directory. Partition 1 is my boot, 2 is my swap, and 3 is my root. I installed GRUB to partition 1 where the /boot is. I formatted correctly and everything. I did this before, and I remember getting this very same error, but I don't remember what I did to fix it. I think I fiddled with grub.conf and fstab only, but I can't remember.

This is my /etc/fstab:

/dev/hda1 /boot ext3 defaults,noatime 1 2
/dev/hda3 / ext3 noatime 0 1
/dev/hda2 none swap sw 0 0

I even followed all the directions in the guide exactly.

HeissFuss · Guru Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 414

Your issue isn't the kernel parameter as you are loading the kernel correctly. The problem is trying to mount your / partition. Are you sure that you built the correct driver for your IDE controller in your kernel?

leonglass · Apprentice Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 278

You will need to change (hd0,0) to match hda3, hd0,0 means the first partition of your first hard drive. /dev/hda3 will not be this. (hd0,2) is probably what you need.
[edit] Ignore this the post above is the one to read.

bju · n00b Joined: 09 Oct 2004 Posts: 17 Location: Germany

Try to remove the /boot in front of the kernel name. With "root (hd0,0) grub is already in /boot. So "kernel /boot/vmlinuz" would be /boot/boot/vmlinuz".

I think this is why in my /boot exists a symbolic link from "boot" to "." :-)

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jburns · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject:

orangecakez /etc/fstab

ElSenorPantelone · n00b Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 72

It appears that your grub configuration file is correct, because you can load the kernel, you are getting an error trying to mount the root partition at /.

I suggest that you boot back into the livecd, chroot etc... and then check your kernel configuration options. Pay particular attention to your IDE or SATA controller drivers. I have an Intel chipset, so I chose the Intel IDE controller.

Run lspci and see which controller you have.

SLBMEH · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:34 am Post subject:

does the device /dev/hda3 exist and are you using udev?
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