VFS: Cannot open root device "803" or unknown-block(8,3)

bob doe · Apprentice Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 207

I just installed Gentoo on a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop (this isnt the first time I've installed on this laptop, I previously had a 2-year old install on it)

Granted this install uses the latest kernel, 2.6.22-r5 while my previous install ran the 2.6.21-r? kernel. Thing is, when I originally started my install, two years ago using the 2.6.16-rx kernel, my drive was detected as a sda device (even though it is a PATA hard drive). When I upgraded to the (I believe) 2.6.20 kernel, I received a kernel panic and had to modify my kernel adding some extra Intel ICH6m module to it.

Now with this new install, I again receive a kernel panic, although it seems to think my drive is now an hda device rather than an sda device.

Here's what I get:

Bazurbat · n00b Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 19

Did you compiled filesystem of your root partition in kernel?

In case of some driver missing. Try to compile in kernel as much PATA, SATA, SCSI drivers as possible and see of it works.

Sven Vermeulen · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:13 pm Post subject:

Perhaps this guide might help you...
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Please add "[solved]" to the initial topic title when it is solved.

bob doe · Apprentice Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 207

ext2/ext3 are already in the kernel. I've yet to figure out the problem, but for the moment, I've just gone down to the 2.6.21-r4 kernel and everything is fine. I took the .config file I used for the 2.6.22-r5 kernel and copied it to the 2.6.21-r4 compiled, and off I go.

Like I said I had a similar problem going from 2.6.19 to 2.6.20 where the .20 kernel required that I compile it with SATA support and <*> Intel ESB, ICH, PIIX3, PIIX4, PATA/SATA Support whereas prior to that kernel, I didnt have to. Be curious if any other Dell laptop owners have had the same problems.

Sven, I'll take a look at the guide tomorrow, its midnight here, I gotta hit the sack.