Knoppix boot from CD gives error and hangs...

[StuPC]

I love the idea of Knoppix, but unfortunately haven't been able to check it for myself - whenever I try to boot from CD I get two error messages:

#1 "initrd extends beyond range of memory (0x1bff5db4)"

and then, a few seconds later...

#2 "Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount roof fs on 01:01"

And then the boot hangs there forever (well, probably; obviously I haven't actually left it quite that long!)

Does anyone know what the problem might be and if there's a way to get around it? Any suggestions gratefully very received.


I'm running an AMD Athlon 1600 with 512Mb RAM and 40G HDD, if that's any help.

Stu

[audioaficionado]

Make a boot floopy from the en image on your CD-R. Then reset your bios to make sure the floppy boots first. Try it this way and see if it will load.

[Loper]

<snip>
...whenever I try to boot from CD I get two error messages...
</snip>

You MAY have a memory problem. Go to

http://www.memtest86.com

and download the FREE program -- there are versions that create a bootable floppy and a bootable CD, pick which is appropriate to your needs. Some memory problems will never be seen by Windows, but will clobber Linux.

Another possibility is an incompatible chipset -- what'cha got?

[Dave_Bechtel]

--I have to do this for my "fast" system (AMD 900MHz Duron with 196(608?) KB of Ram:

boot: ' knoppix mem=190M ' == Make sure you cap the M

--The reason for it is that the Knoppix boot process can't autodetect the proper amount of RAM that's installed on the machine when it tries to boot. HD-installed Linux (including Knoppix!) works fine w/o any boot switches. (shrug) Only happens on that one machine. Klaus mentioned something a long time ago about certain motherboards / chipsets having this issue; I just passed on the workaround. Post results.

I love the idea of Knoppix, but unfortunately haven't been able to check it for myself - whenever I try to boot from CD I get two error messages:

#1 "initrd extends beyond range of memory (0x1bff5db4)"

and then, a few seconds later...

#2 "Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount roof fs on 01:01"

And then the boot hangs there forever (well, probably; obviously I haven't actually left it quite that long!)

Does anyone know what the problem might be and if there's a way to get around it? Any suggestions gratefully very received.


I'm running an AMD Athlon 1600 with 512Mb RAM and 40G HDD, if that's any help.

Stu

[StuPC]

Actually, I seem to remember having to do something very similar when I tried (and eventually failed) to install RedHat...

When do I type this in? My system never gives me any opportunity before or during the boot-up... (my apologies if I'm being thick here)

Cheers,

Stu

--I have to do this for my "fast" system (AMD 900MHz Duron with 196(608?) KB of Ram:

boot: ' knoppix mem=190M ' == Make sure you cap the M

--The reason for it is that the Knoppix boot process can't autodetect the proper amount of RAM that's installed on the machine when it tries to boot. HD-installed Linux (including Knoppix!) works fine w/o any boot switches. (shrug) Only happens on that one machine. Klaus mentioned something a long time ago about certain motherboards / chipsets having this issue; I just passed on the workaround. Post results.

[audioaficionado]

Right at boot startup when you're first seeing knoppix/linux text, you have to hit F2. Then you will then be presented with the cheat code screen. Just type it in and hit enter. Let us know what happens.

[StuPC]

Thanks very much for the help, guys - that worked perfectly.
Now, if I can only get Knoppix to recognise my modem, printer, camera and MP3 player...