RE: Kernel Panic at installation on XL-300
Hello Thierry,
> boot sr0:/boot/linux root=/dev/sr0 load_ramdisk=1
> (Please DO correct me if i am wrong)
> At which stage i get all the various messages up to this error:
> Kernel Panic, unable to mount root fs on 00:00
I have an XL-366, and I have found it impossible to boot from the Woody
installation CD. I don't know if it's because of MILO, or the XL/XLT
series of machines, but I always get the exact same message as you when
I try.
I ended up making boot disks to install (using the images on the CD).
You need to make a MILO diskette, which you already have, a root
diskette using root.bin, and a rescue diskette using rescue.bin. You
then boot to MILO, and issue this boot command:
boot fd0:/linux.gz root=/dev/fd0 load_ramdisk=1
That will start the installer, from which you will be able to select
your CDs as the installation source.
BTW, I had a 2GB drive too, and it's a real pain having so little space.
I ended up buying a 9GB SCSI drive (your machine's controller needs the
50-pin fast SCSI-2 drives like mine, I believe) on eBay for about 65$
CAD, which is a nice price. It's much more comfortable with a bit more
space.
Also, if your machine has a 3DLabs Oxygen 102 video card like mine did,
ditch that and get a cheap Matrox or ATI card. I got a Matrox Mystique
(circa 1996 approx) and it works like a charm. The Oxygen is totally
unsupported in Xfree 4.3.x, and the mga driver (for Matrox cards) which
comes stock with Xfree is great and very mature.
Finally, I encourage more RAM. My machine had 64MB stock, I upgraded to
512MB for (again) about 65$ CAD, and it runs so much smoother! Just
remember these machines need 36bit parity RAM SIMMs.
If you need any more advice on this type of machine, just ask. I have a
Windows HLP file that has some nice info on the actual hardware found in
Alpha XL 300, 333 and 366 machines, made by Digital themselves. I can
send it to you if you want. It was very helpful to me.
Good luck,
J-S
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