Re: stretch not booting

[Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk>]

On Wed 17 May 2017 at 14:22:47 -0400, Luis Finotti wrote:

> Thanks for the reply!

No problem. There are GRUB experts on this list who are keeping an eye
on this thread, I hope.

> On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 2:03 PM, Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> > On Wed 17 May 2017 at 13:41:03 -0400, Luis Finotti wrote:
> >
> > > I've installed stretch from a DI RC3 image (from here:
> > > https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/
> > cd-including-firmware/)
> > > a couple of weeks back on an old Dell Inspiron Mini 1018.
> >
> > Is this the only OS on the machine?
> 
> Yes.
> 
> > > The install went without a problem and I could reboot just fine.  I then
> > > updated it, installed LXDE and a few more packages, but after that I
> > cannot
> > > reboot.  Even in recovery mode it gets stuck.  It seems that the point at
> > > which it gets stuck varies, but it never finishes booting.
> >
> > Installing extra packages (if that is all you ever did) should not lead
> > to non-booting.
> >
> >
> Indeed.  I think I did do a "dist-upgrade", which could be the cause.

Could be. We will put that on one side because we might never know.

> > > Since I don't get a prompt, I don't know how to get more info.  Since I
> > > could reboot, I don't think it was an installation problem.
> >
> > You obviously get the GRUB menu. When it appears hit the "c" key and type
> >
> >  set pager=1
> >  set
> >
> > What is do "prefix=" and "root=" say?
> >
> 
> prefix=(hd0,msdos1)/boot/grub
> root=hd0,msdos1

Thanks.

> > Press the Esc key and hit the "e" key when the OS to be booted is
> > highlighted.
> >
> > What does "set root=" say?
> >
> >
> Selecting the safe-mode:
>
> set root='hd0,msdos1'
> 
> Let me know if I can provide anymore info or if this gives you any idea of
> what is wrong...

At the GRUB menu hit "c" and type

 set root=(hd0,msdos1)
 linux /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda1
 initrd /initrd.img
 boot

and hit the ENTER key.

Do you boot into the OS?

-- 
Brian.