Gentoo boot problem

[eX0]

Hey, I'm not sure if this fits into the installation forums or what, but the problem is probably to do with me doing something wrong during installation.

I just installed Gentoo for the first time and when I go to boot it from grub (I'm running a duel boot with XP) the screen goes black then goes back to the Grub screen, so I thought to check my the boot commands thingy for Gentoo Linux, I highlighted "Gentoo Linux" and pressed e to edit and notice theres only one line there:

root (hd1,0)

so pressed o to 'open' a new line under the first one and added what I thought should be therre:

kernel (hd1,0)/boot/bzImage root=/dev/hdb1

After adding theis line in I proceeded to highlight it and press 'b' in order to boot using the line...

Even tho I didn't know what I was doing and guessed that the above steps may result in a 0.1% chance of it actually booting it did actually proceed to boot.

Then It starts through what I assume are the normal lines that are displayed upon booting and after about 50 lines or so it stops, these are about the last 8 lines before it stops (didn't look like there were any errors before this):

ds: no sockets loaded
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
VFS: Mounted root (ext3 filesystem) readonly
mount_devfs_fs(): unable to mount devfs, err:-2
Freeing unused kernel memory: 136k freed
Warning: unable to open an initial console
kernel panic: No init found. Try passing init = option to kernal

When I reboot I can boot up windows fine from Grub, however I need to go through the same steps as above in order for linux to boot at all.

I'm not sure whether I'm completley off track here or what, maybe I should go through the whole installation process again but It took so damn long...

Is there a way I can get into config files or something so I can check if I made any mistakes?

some please help me!

[Hayl]

Assuming you followed the install guide and created a separate /boot partition:

- mount /boot

- nano /boot/grub/menu.conf
OR
- nano /boot/grub/menu.lst

- make your changes to the grub configuration per the install guide

- cd /

- umount /boot

- reboot to test

[gtalum]

What processor are you running? I run an old AMD K6-2 processor. When I first installed Gentoo I had this exact same error. I had forgotten to set my processor in the 'make menuconfig' step of kernel compilation. It defaults to Intel.

[mdwatts]

Could it also be that 'devfs' was not enabled when configuring and compiling the kernel?

[Hayl]

Originally posted by mdwatts
Could it also be that 'devfs' was not enabled when configuring and compiling the kernel?

could be. most of the gentoo install problem posts are caused from people not following the instructions on the gentoo install doc such as what options must be in the kernel.

[eX0]

yeh I did make a separate boot partition, I did follow the installation doc word for word or though I probably made a few mistakes...

I don't remember setting my processor in the 'make menuconfig' step, so I'll have to check for that, I'll also double check everything else you guys mentioned.

Cheers for all the help, I probably won't be able to do it all til tomorrow, IO'll get back to yas...

[eX0]

oh yeh I possibley made a mistake when editing the etc/make.conf file, I was unsure as to how the sytax went when setting the CFLAGS etc. for an Athlon-XP processor.

I need to know exactly what each line should be...

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by eX0
oh yeh I possibley made a mistake when editing the etc/make.conf file, I was unsure as to how the sytax went when setting the CFLAGS etc. for an Athlon-XP processor...

The last time I was at the Gentoo site, they did have examples posted for CFLAGS.

[eX0]

damn that was quick mdwatts, I went back to edit the message, I save changes and theres already a reply!

I'll check the site...

[eX0]

Ok, I did what Hayl said and Grub seems to be configured correctly and as the installation guide suggests...

I check what gtalum siad and realised that I had infact compiled for an intel processor, I changed this to athlon-xp family. I checked everything else was as the installation guide specefied in the menuconfig and then recompiled the kernel (yes devfs was enabled....)

rebooted the system and tried again, no change :(

[je_fro]

In make menuconfig, in filesystems, under devfs support, is "automatically mount at boot" selected?

[eX0]

yes it is

[je_fro]

How is your partition table designed?

[je_fro]

I see you on Gentoo forum also...
Taking a look.

[je_fro]

My variables in make.conf are:
CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu"
CFLAGS="-march=athlon-xp -O3 -pipe"

You got something similar?

[je_fro]

Is this a laptop?


<oops, gotta go....be back later>

[eX0]

woah jefro, a few replys there aha, cheers

I'm using exactly the same flags as those

Nah, I'm not on a laptop

The problem is now solved on the gentoo forums anyways cause my command lines in grub were set up incorrectly (you've probebly read this as your only my multiple forum posting shanadagans ahah)