Q: I would like to install Red Hat Linux 9.0 on my VIA 8237/8237R based motherboards. But after I finished the installation of Red Hat Linux 9.0, it hung with kernel panic during boot-up. The error message is shown as below:
How do I fix this problem?(7/15/2005) A: Please add VIA vmlinuz-2.4.20-8-IDE patch to Linux kernel by following steps.
First, copy the patched kernel (vmlinuz-2.4.20-8-ide) into floppy disk. Then, select one of the cases applies to your situation below.
(a)Clean install the Red Hat Linux 9.0.
Before exiting the installation of Red Hat Linux 9.0, press ++ to enter console mode. Then skip the case (b) to proceed.
(b)Use the kernel in existing Red Hat Linux 9.0 system.
Make sure the first boot device is CD_ROM in your system BIOS, then put the installation CD 1 into CD-ROM. When booting the installation CD, type the following command when the "boot:" message appears on the screen.
linux rescue /* press enter */
Then follow the instructions, and select the partition that the existing Red Hat Linux 9.0 is located in the "system to rescue" window. Then it will enter the console mode after a while.
Console mode:
After entering the console mode, run the following commands.
# cd /mnt/sysimage /* press enter */
# mount /dev/fdo mnt /* after type this command, insert the floppy and press "enter" */
# cp mnt/vmlinuz-2.4.20-8-ide boot/ /* reading the floppy for a while */
# vi boot/grub/menu.lst /* press enter and it will enter /mnt/sysimage/boot/grub/menu.lst file */
Under /mnt/sysimage/boot/grub/menu.lst file press "A" to enter insert mode.
Add the following lines into /mnt/sysimage/boot/grub/menu.lst file.
title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8) IDE-patched /* press enter */
root (hd0,0) /* press enter */
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8-ide ro root=LABEL=/ /* press enter */
initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img /* press Esc to leave insert mode */
Press Esc to leave insert mode and type the command below.
:w! /* press enter to save file */
It will appear the message "boot/grub/menu.lst" 24L, 802C
Then, reboot system and enter the "Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-8) IDE-patched" kernel. The problem would not happen again.