[svlug] Boot parameters for live CD

[Karsten M. Self]

on Thu, Apr 28, 2005 at 09:47:10AM -0700, Joel Seidman (joel_seidman at yahoo.com) wrote:
> Hi, all.
> 
> I'm trying to boot from a live CD (DSL), but failing "can't find xxxx
> file system". I'm hoping this is a generic Linux question related to
> the extra parameters you can boot on the boot command line, of which
> I'm pretty ignorant.

First thought is "Sounds like a bad burn".  Verify the disk.  Note that
directory structures and actual file contents are two different things,
so doing something like catting all files to /dev/null, and watching
either dmesg or system logs for errors would be recommended (do this
with the disk mounted under another GNU/Linux boot -- native HD or
something like Tom's Root Boot).

The CD should either:

  - Have the FS built into its kernel.

  - Use an initrd that loads the module during the boot process.
  
Your "can't find" suggests a missing module and/or module load error,
which may be a bad burn.  First thing you'll want to do is verify the
disk is readable and/or bootable on another system.

I don't know DSL's specifics.  Most bootable CDs I've seen use syslinux
as a bootloader, which if some really hazy understanding serves, is
actually emulating a boot floopy during BIOS MBR load.
 
> The computer is an aging PC with SCSI CD-ROM drive on an AHA1542
> adapter (IDE hard drives). I think the SCSI part is what's screwing
> things up. 

HW issues should be excludable by trying different HW.  Since it's a
bootable disk, see if you can't borrow someone else's system for a few
minutes to try it out.

> I can boot a Knoppix CD successfully without any extra parameters.

That would suggest your HW's OK, though not proof-positive.  I think
most of the bootable distros are pretty standard on boot process.
 
> If this is a distro-specific question, I'll take it to the DSL forum.

I'd recommend that.


Peace.

-- 
Karsten M. Self <kmself at ix.netcom.com>        http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
 What Part of "Gestalt" don't you understand?
   GNU/Linux & BSD:  We *are* the way out.
     http://www.wehadthewayout.com/
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