Re: Lost initrds

On Fri, 18 Oct 2002 01:08:22 -0400
Ajai Khattri <[email protected]> wrote:

> Ive searched various archives and done Google searches with no
> answer to my problem.
> 
> I have an SMP RH7.0 which I upgraded the kernel from 2.2.16 to
> 2.2.19. Unfortunately, the upgrade process did not build initrd
> images for the new kernel. Rebooting I realized the system wasn't
> booting because of the missing initrd images (The disks are SCSI so
> Im assuming the initrd's preloaded SCSI drivers so my kernel can see
> /dev/sda1).
> 
> The worst part is that the old kernel is also gone so I cannot boot
> back to the old state to run mkinitrd!
> 
> Does anyone have any ideas? I really want to keep the disk intact.
> I don't have a boot disk tailored for this system.
> 
> All I need is a boot disk image with SCSI drivers where I can boot
> and tell it where the root device is (thereby removing the need for
> the initrd).
> 
> Or if I can find /boot/initrd-2.2.19-7.0.16smp.img and somehow get
> LILO to run and write to the boot sector on /dev/sda1 instead of the
> rescue disk But how?
> 
> All I can do right now is boot off the RH7.0 boot floppy or CDROM
> and invoke rescue mode. (Rescue mode appears to have very little
> tools available to help).
> 
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
> 
> 
> 
   You can try to "upgrade" your system using your RH 7.0 cd. Make an
'install boot' floppy, and a 'drivers.img' floppy for the scsi
drivers. Boot from the install floppy and, at the boot prompt, type
'linux dd'. After your scsi drivers are loaded, and the redhat install
finds your cd, mouse, etc., select 'upgrade' rather than 'install.' At
that point, tell the install that you want to select the individual
packages yourself.  You can check to see if your original 2.2.16 smp
kernel is available for upgrading.
   On my 7.0 2.2.16-22, only those kernels on the cd that had versions
other than the installed one showed up, so I assume since you already
have a 2.2.19-7.0.16 kernel in place, the original 2.2.16 will be
available.
   Now, the good part.... no matter what package you select to
upgrade, even just a game from the 'amusements' folder, the next
screen asks if you want  to make a bootdisk and install Lilo. So,
maybe you can just make a bootdisk, and the install process will make
the missing initrid from the existing kernel. I'm not sure about that.
Or if your old smp kernel IS available for upgrading, you can install
that, and make a bootdisk then.
  I would leave Lilo unchanged. Once you have a working bootdisk, you
can make any changes through it.
   See if that will get you back into the system.

                            Regards,

                             Tom