[gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Jarry]

Hi,
I just downloaded install-amd64-minimal-2008.0.iso, burned
it, and tried to boot&install. But during boot-up, a message
comes:
____________________________________
 >> Determining root device...
!! Could not find the root block device in .
    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
root block device() :: _
____________________________________

What am I supposed to do???

It is a common pc, with Asus mobo (nForce4 chipset),
2x sata-disk, 1x sata-dvd, nvidia graphics. Everything
correctly detected in bios and during boot-up.

On the same computer, I could install gentoo-2007 last year,
but unfortunatelly disk has died, so I had to replace it and
install again...

Jarry

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Re: [gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Eric Martin]

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Jarry wrote:
> Hi,
> I just downloaded install-amd64-minimal-2008.0.iso, burned
> it, and tried to boot&install. But during boot-up, a message
> comes:
> ____________________________________
>  >> Determining root device...
> !! Could not find the root block device in .
>    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
>    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
> root block device() :: _
> ____________________________________
> 
> What am I supposed to do???
> 
> It is a common pc, with Asus mobo (nForce4 chipset),
> 2x sata-disk, 1x sata-dvd, nvidia graphics. Everything
> correctly detected in bios and during boot-up.
> 
> On the same computer, I could install gentoo-2007 last year,
> but unfortunatelly disk has died, so I had to replace it and
> install again...
> 
> Jarry
> 
If the 2007 cd worked then use that one.  It doesn't matter what cd you 
start from, only that you get started.  For that matter (as people 
always say) you can boot off of knoppix or the lfs (linux from scratch) 
disk.  The only thing the cd does for you is provide a working linux 
environment that you can chroot from to install gentoo.

-- 
Eric Martin
Key fingerprint = D1C4 086E DBB5 C18E 6FDA  B215 6A25 7174 A941 3B9F


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Re: [gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Dale]

Eric Martin wrote:
> Jarry wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I just downloaded install-amd64-minimal-2008.0.iso, burned
>> it, and tried to boot&install. But during boot-up, a message
>> comes:
>> ____________________________________
>>  >> Determining root device...
>> !! Could not find the root block device in .
>>    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
>>    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
>> root block device() :: _
>> ____________________________________
>>
>> What am I supposed to do???
>>
>> It is a common pc, with Asus mobo (nForce4 chipset),
>> 2x sata-disk, 1x sata-dvd, nvidia graphics. Everything
>> correctly detected in bios and during boot-up.
>>
>> On the same computer, I could install gentoo-2007 last year,
>> but unfortunatelly disk has died, so I had to replace it and
>> install again...
>>
>> Jarry
>>
> If the 2007 cd worked then use that one.  It doesn't matter what cd 
> you start from, only that you get started.  For that matter (as people 
> always say) you can boot off of knoppix or the lfs (linux from 
> scratch) disk.  The only thing the cd does for you is provide a 
> working linux environment that you can chroot from to install gentoo.
>

Of course, make sure you get the tarballs off the internet if you use a 
CD that old.  If you use the tarballs off the CD, you will have a lot of 
upgrades to do and it could be . . . messy. 

Other than that, it doesn't matter what CD you use as Eric said.  I 
wonder of it could be done from the Mandrake install CD?  It is bootable 
and gives a command line.  LOL


Dale

:-)  :-)

Re: [gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Jarry]

Dale wrote:
> Eric Martin wrote:
>> Jarry wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> I just downloaded install-amd64-minimal-2008.0.iso, burned
>>> it, and tried to boot&install. But during boot-up, a message
>>> comes:
>>> ____________________________________
>>>  >> Determining root device...
>>> !! Could not find the root block device in .
>>>    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
>>>    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
>>> root block device() :: _
>>> ____________________________________
>>>
>>> What am I supposed to do???
>>>
>>> It is a common pc, with Asus mobo (nForce4 chipset),
>>> 2x sata-disk, 1x sata-dvd, nvidia graphics. Everything
>>> correctly detected in bios and during boot-up.
>>>
>>> On the same computer, I could install gentoo-2007 last year,
>>> but unfortunatelly disk has died, so I had to replace it and
>>> install again...
>>>
>>> Jarry
>>>
>> If the 2007 cd worked then use that one.  It doesn't matter what cd 
>> you start from, only that you get started.  For that matter (as people 
>> always say) you can boot off of knoppix or the lfs (linux from 
>> scratch) disk.  The only thing the cd does for you is provide a 
>> working linux environment that you can chroot from to install gentoo.
>>
> 
> Of course, make sure you get the tarballs off the internet if you use a 
> CD that old.  If you use the tarballs off the CD, you will have a lot of 
> upgrades to do and it could be . . . messy.
> Other than that, it doesn't matter what CD you use as Eric said.  I 
> wonder of it could be done from the Mandrake install CD?  It is bootable 
> and gives a command line.  LOL

I'll try it, but I have to download 2007 image again (I already wiped
it out of my hard disk). Anyway, I would really like to know, what does
that messsage mean...

I switched to shell and checked /proc/partitions: it correctly shows
all partitions on sda and sdb. So my hard-drives are detected. Where
is the problem then???

Jarry


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Re: [gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Justin]

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Jarry schrieb:
> Hi,
> I just downloaded install-amd64-minimal-2008.0.iso, burned
> it, and tried to boot&install. But during boot-up, a message
> comes:
> ____________________________________
> >> Determining root device...
> !! Could not find the root block device in .
>    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
>    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
> root block device() :: _
> ____________________________________
>
> What am I supposed to do???
>
> It is a common pc, with Asus mobo (nForce4 chipset),
> 2x sata-disk, 1x sata-dvd, nvidia graphics. Everything
> correctly detected in bios and during boot-up.
>
> On the same computer, I could install gentoo-2007 last year,
> but unfortunatelly disk has died, so I had to replace it and
> install again...
>
> Jarry
>
There was bug fix release for amd64. See gentoo.org the first news for 
more info. Perhaps this is for you.


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Re: [gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Jarry]

Justin wrote:
>> ____________________________________
>> >> Determining root device...
>> !! Could not find the root block device in .
>>    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
>>    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
>> root block device() :: _
>> ____________________________________
>>
> There was bug fix release for amd64. See gentoo.org the first news for 
> more info. Perhaps this is for you.

I checked it, but I do not think that bug has something to do with
my problem. That bug (#230998) is a problem of live-cd, and I'm using
minimal install cd.

Besides, there is no updated install-cd, only live-cd. But I'll try
to download 2008.0-r1 live-cd, and install with it.
Jarry

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Re: [gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Justin]

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Jarry schrieb:
> Justin wrote:
>>> ____________________________________
>>> >> Determining root device...
>>> !! Could not find the root block device in .
>>>    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
>>>    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
>>> root block device() :: _
>>> ____________________________________
>>>
>> There was bug fix release for amd64. See gentoo.org the first news 
>> for more info. Perhaps this is for you.
>
> I checked it, but I do not think that bug has something to do with
> my problem. That bug (#230998) is a problem of live-cd, and I'm using
> minimal install cd.
>
> Besides, there is no updated install-cd, only live-cd. But I'll try
> to download 2008.0-r1 live-cd, and install with it.
> Jarry
>
Hey, you are right. YOu can use the livecd like a minimal CD by adding 
noX to the boot cmdline.


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Re: [gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Eric Martin]

Dale wrote:
> Eric Martin wrote:
>> Jarry wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> I just downloaded install-amd64-minimal-2008.0.iso, burned
>>> it, and tried to boot&install. But during boot-up, a message
>>> comes:
>>> ____________________________________
>>>  >> Determining root device...
>>> !! Could not find the root block device in .
>>>    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
>>>    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
>>> root block device() :: _
>>> ____________________________________
>>>
>>> What am I supposed to do???
>>>
>>> It is a common pc, with Asus mobo (nForce4 chipset),
>>> 2x sata-disk, 1x sata-dvd, nvidia graphics. Everything
>>> correctly detected in bios and during boot-up.
>>>
>>> On the same computer, I could install gentoo-2007 last year,
>>> but unfortunatelly disk has died, so I had to replace it and
>>> install again...
>>>
>>> Jarry
>>>
>> If the 2007 cd worked then use that one.  It doesn't matter what cd 
>> you start from, only that you get started.  For that matter (as 
>> people always say) you can boot off of knoppix or the lfs (linux from 
>> scratch) disk.  The only thing the cd does for you is provide a 
>> working linux environment that you can chroot from to install gentoo.
>>
> Of course, make sure you get the tarballs off the internet if you use 
> a CD that old.  If you use the tarballs off the CD, you will have a 
> lot of upgrades to do and it could be . . . messy.
Yeah, thanks for mentioning getting the new tarballs.  I always download 
the newest ones so I just assume everybody else does.

Re: [gentoo-user] 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Jarry]

Justin wrote:
> Jarry schrieb:
>> Justin wrote:
>>>> ____________________________________
>>>> >> Determining root device...
>>>> !! Could not find the root block device in .
>>>>    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
>>>>    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
>>>> root block device() :: _
>>>> ____________________________________
>>>>
>>> There was bug fix release for amd64. See gentoo.org the first news 
>>> for more info. Perhaps this is for you.
>>
>> I checked it, but I do not think that bug has something to do with
>> my problem. That bug (#230998) is a problem of live-cd, and I'm using
>> minimal install cd.
>>
>> Besides, there is no updated install-cd, only live-cd. But I'll try
>> to download 2008.0-r1 live-cd, and install with it.
>>
> Hey, you are right. YOu can use the livecd like a minimal CD by adding 
> noX to the boot cmdline.

Well, I tried, with about similar error:
__________________________________________________
<< Load keymap (Enter for default):

 >> Keeping default keymap
 >> Making tmpfs for /newroot
 >> Looking for the cdrom
 >> Attempting to mount media:- /dev/sr0
 >> Attempting to mount media:- /dev/sda1
... (the same message for /dev/sda1 - /dev/sda12)...
... (and the same message for /dev/sdb1 = /dev/sdb12)...
!! Media not found
!! Could not find CD to boot, something else needed!
 >> Determining root device...
!! Could not find the root block device in .
    Please specify another value or: press Enter for the same,
    type "shell" for a shell, or "q" to skip...
root block device() :: _
__________________________________________________

It looks to me like loader can not find my *cdrom*!
It should be /dev/sdc or /dev/sdd, because /dev/sda and /dev/sdb
are my hard-drives. When I enter shell and look into /dev, there
is actually no /dev/sdc, and no /dev/sdd. Only /dev/sda1(-sda12)
and /dev/sdb1(-sdb12).

But that is strange, because kernel just booted from CD,
so it *must* see it! Can anyone help me please to fix this mess?
Is it really so that Gentoo 2008 can not boot from sata-cd-drive?

Jarry


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[gentoo-user] Re: 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Nikos Chantziaras]

Jarry wrote:
> [...]
> It looks to me like loader can not find my *cdrom*!
> It should be /dev/sdc or /dev/sdd, because /dev/sda and /dev/sdb
> are my hard-drives. When I enter shell and look into /dev, there
> is actually no /dev/sdc, and no /dev/sdd. Only /dev/sda1(-sda12)
> and /dev/sdb1(-sdb12).
> 
> But that is strange, because kernel just booted from CD,
> so it *must* see it!

Unfortunately, it's the BIOS that does this.  The kernel cannot boot by 
itself by some magical means.  The BIOS must boot it.


> Can anyone help me please to fix this mess?
> Is it really so that Gentoo 2008 can not boot from sata-cd-drive?

Your hard drives are SATA as well (on the same controller) and only the 
CD drive can't be found?  That's strange.  I suggest opening a bug about it.

If your hard drives aren't SATA or aren't on the same controller as the 
CD drive, try to load the kernel module for your controller.  Google is 
your friend here (to find out which kernel module to try for your chipset.)

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Jarry]

Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
>> It looks to me like loader can not find my *cdrom*!
>> But that is strange, because kernel just booted from CD,
>> so it *must* see it!
> 
> Unfortunately, it's the BIOS that does this.  The kernel cannot boot by 
> itself by some magical means.  The BIOS must boot it.
> 
> Your hard drives are SATA as well (on the same controller) and only the 
> CD drive can't be found?  That's strange.  I suggest opening a bug about 
> it.

I have 2 sata hard-drives, and 1 sata dvd-writer, all attached to the
same controller (part of nvidia nforce4 southbridge). Despite of that,
only hard-drive partitions are correctly detected...

I tested gentoo-2008.0 on different computer, but again with sata-disk
and sata-dvd, and this time P35-chipset (Intel). No problem! It seems
to me the problem is in sata_nv module (nVidia chipset): it is loaded,
but detects only disks, no cd/dvd drives. Maybe compilled without
cd-filesystem support?

FYI, I downloaded old good install-amd64-minimal-2007.0.iso, burned,
booted, and gues what? All works! I'm going to open bug about it...

Jarry

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: 20008 install problem: "Could not find the root block device in ."

[Richard Marzan]

On Mon, 2008-07-21 at 21:57 +0200, Jarry wrote:
> Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> >> It looks to me like loader can not find my *cdrom*!
> >> But that is strange, because kernel just booted from CD,
> >> so it *must* see it!
> > 
> > Unfortunately, it's the BIOS that does this.  The kernel cannot boot by 
> > itself by some magical means.  The BIOS must boot it.
> > 
> > Your hard drives are SATA as well (on the same controller) and only the 
> > CD drive can't be found?  That's strange.  I suggest opening a bug about 
> > it.
> 
> I have 2 sata hard-drives, and 1 sata dvd-writer, all attached to the
> same controller (part of nvidia nforce4 southbridge). Despite of that,
> only hard-drive partitions are correctly detected...
> 
> I tested gentoo-2008.0 on different computer, but again with sata-disk
> and sata-dvd, and this time P35-chipset (Intel). No problem! It seems
> to me the problem is in sata_nv module (nVidia chipset): it is loaded,
> but detects only disks, no cd/dvd drives. Maybe compilled without
> cd-filesystem support?
> 
> FYI, I downloaded old good install-amd64-minimal-2007.0.iso, burned,
> booted, and gues what? All works! I'm going to open bug about it...
> 
> Jarry
> 

Please Include CONFIG_SATA_AHCI=y into your configuration of the kernel
as well as CONFIG_SATA_NV=y 

I believe the kernel docs indicate that the NVidia chipsets should be
supported by SATA_AHCI. Also, check your grub config. This is a snippet
of mine and I'm using SATA HD's on my laptop with an Nvidia chipset:

root (hd0,0) # the device where your /boot resides
kernel /linux-2.6.23-r8 root=/dev/sda2 # the device where / resides