[SOLVED] Genkernel works but custom build I broke

[gentooP4]

Hello,

I have installed Gentoo with the genkernel and all appears fine. Until I went to install the X server and got the same errors as post #1 of this thread -
https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-845535.html

Feeling a little dejected I decided to side track for a bit and configure my own kernel. I now have two options in my GRUB - one to the genkernel which works fine but no desktop and one to my custom kernel which is completely broken - "kernel panic - can't mount root - tried ext2, ext3, ext4, etc" message. CD ROM is detected though.

What I can't quite understand is how do I start again with the genkernel settings (which boot ok on my system) and then slowly weed out what I don't need? Every time I have used "make menuconfig" I have saved my settings on Exit, so not sure how to get a clean slate; so to speak.

Once I get this sorted I'll start a post in the Desktop Environments section to tackle the X issues.

Many thanks,
Hayden

[BradN]

I believe if you're booted with genkernel, you can extract genkernel's configuration like:

cat /proc/config.gz | gunzip > /usr/src/${linux}/.config

replace ${linux} with whatever linux folder you're using


Then you would cd to that directory and run make menuconfig.

Keep in mind, that you will have to change some <M>odules into <*>builtin for the system to boot without an initrd, like your hard drive controller driver, and root filesystem driver at least.

Also to answer your question about cleaning out the kernel sources:

make clean mrproper

will do this, and in fact in the old days with kernel 2.4, you had to do this every time to be safe! But the 2.6 build system is much better and usually it isn't necessary. make mrproper will delete your .config, so move it out first if you want to keep it.

[cach0rr0]

hi there

I would highly recommend you go the 'Manual Configuration' route, and use one of Pappy's kernel seeds (.config templates). Have a look at his page, which goes into detail on how to get it all set up (links in my signature)

If you go the seed route, the difficult decisions are more or less made for you, and all that's left is to:

-select the drivers you need
-select the file system support you need

and that's pretty much it. Will save you a fair bit of time and hair pulling.
_________________
Lost configuring your system?
dump lspci -n here | see Pappy's guide | Link Stash

[gentooP4]

Thanks BradN that has got me back to where I wanted to be.

cach0rr0 - Thanks I will defentely take a look. I have done a fair bit of hair pulling so far.

[cwr]

I tend to run genkernel via a small bash script which backs up the .config#
file before I start. If the configuration works, I rename the backup and
always have a "known good" to go back to.

Will

[BradN]

I made a post on your other thread that you referenced in the beginning, maybe it will help you get further when you get to the point of running X again. Sorry I didn't notice it sooner, it might have saved you some trouble!

[DONAHUE]

boot cd, run

[gentooP4]

[gentooP4]

I think I'm going round in circles now.

In order to follow Pappy's instructions I need Qt which is part of the KDE environment isn't it? I'm stuck trying to get X up and running! There was instructions to install a package that I tried (sorry can't recall the name of it) but emerge couldn't find it.
_________________
The United States has announced that it will deploy thoughts and prayers in the battle against online extremism.

If you voted for Trump or Brexit, you were likely influenced by the Cambridge Analytica propaganda machine.

[DONAHUE]

boot cd, run

[gentooP4]

Hello Donahue,

lspci -n

[DONAHUE]

while I muddle around, it could be worthwhile to boot mint and run lsmod/lspci -k and see what module(s) are being used for video card and ide/pata/sata.

[gentooP4]

$ lsmod

[DONAHUE]

boot the genkernel, mount the /boot partition if you have one, run:
If you want to use genkernel and update it:

[DONAHUE]

After the successful reboot:

[gentooP4]

Thanks for going to all that effort. I will give it a hit tonight!
_________________
The United States has announced that it will deploy thoughts and prayers in the battle against online extremism.

If you voted for Trump or Brexit, you were likely influenced by the Cambridge Analytica propaganda machine.

[gentooP4]

I had a go Donahue but the result was a garbled display and needed a cold reboot.

Only thing I noticed is there were a couple of conflicts when I did make && ......

and I couldn't find

[BradN]

I recommend NOT using a framebuffer at all if you're having these problems. The only exception is if you use a video controller that supports KMS (kernel mode setting) - this is different from a plain framebuffer, in that with KMS, the kernel is managing the video mode even when X is running.

Otherwise X can fight with the framebuffer driver and it can be a mess, in addition to whatever's happening on your machine.

[DONAHUE]

boot the genkernel
or
boot cd or mint; mount gentoo partitions;

[gentooP4]

Thanks Donahue, really appreciating your assistance.

This is what is happening now... getting closer I feel
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee106/spankiespangler/108_2587.jpg

Edit: Sorry - I didn't remove the vga=773 - should I got back and try it without? Genkernel is happy with 773
_________________
The United States has announced that it will deploy thoughts and prayers in the battle against online extremism.

If you voted for Trump or Brexit, you were likely influenced by the Cambridge Analytica propaganda machine.

[DONAHUE]

that is a result of having a vga line
harmless; you can delete vga line; or wait it out, or hit space, or hit enter to choose a listed resolution

the picture shows a grub kernel line appropriate for using an initrd ala genkernel vice a manual kernel with no initrd

Sample grub.conf entry for manual kernel:

[gentooP4]

Thanks again, but my monitor doesn't like it. It comes up displaying "Out of Range" in the monitors font
_________________
The United States has announced that it will deploy thoughts and prayers in the battle against online extremism.

If you voted for Trump or Brexit, you were likely influenced by the Cambridge Analytica propaganda machine.

[DONAHUE]

try:

[gentooP4]

[DONAHUE]

when you get