New Kernels - nothing but black screen, "W" and frozen computer

[David Wadson]

That was the first thing I tried, using the PPC config file in the 
"/usr/src/linux-2.4.20-8d/configs" directory. This is just bizarre to 
me because I don't get any sort of kernel messages. I don't think the 
computer even gets far enough to be able to write anythin to dmesg.

Today i'm going to try with an install on a Power Mac 7200 instead of 
that 4400. Maybe that'll help...

Dave



On Thursday, July 8, 2004, at 04:04  AM, Geert Janssens wrote:

> Have you also tried to start with the source from the YDL installed 
> kernel ?
>
> You can install this with yum (or apt) as package kernel-source.
>
> Using the known working configuration, you could change only the 
> advanced routing settings you need. Maybe that could help.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Geert
>
> David Wadson wrote:
>> OldWorld Power Mac 4400 currently running YDL 3.0 (2.4.20-8d) -  
>> installed very nicely from a set of CDs using the graphical >> installer.
>> In order to take advantage of some advanced routing for redundant  
>> internet connections (www.lartc.org), I need to recompile the kernel  
>> with IP Adanced Routing enabled. Every attempt at doing so using a  
>> variety of different Kernel (OldWorld SCSI, YDL, Benh, etc.) has been 
>> a  failure so far. While the whole configuration and compiling 
>> process  seems to be working fine, I am unable to get the machine to 
>> boot the  kernel in any fashion.
>> After copying the vmlinux and System.map files to /boot, I tar the  
>> vmlinux file and FTP it onto a Mac server. Had I known about this  
>> compiling mumbo-jumbo earlier, I wouldn't have formatted the  
>> BootX/MacOS partition as HFS+. D'oh! Anyways, I boot into the MacOS,  
>> untar the vmlinux file with Stuffit Expander and drop it into the 
>> Linux  Kernels folder. In BootX, I specify that new Kernel...and....
>> The screen goes totally black, a single letter "W" is displayed in 
>> the  upper right of the machine and the machine totally and 
>> completely  freezes. Nothing happening at all on the hard drive and 
>> the machine  won't soft reset using the 3-finger salute. Instead I 
>> have to kill the  power to the box.
>> After wasting a couple days trying to compile a variety of 2.4.x  
>> kernels, I tried to use the precompiled  2.4.25-ben1  
>> (http://www.ppckernel.org/download/ydl-2.4/linux-ydl-2.4-2.4.25- 
>> ben1.tar.gz) and it does exactly the same thing - black screen, "W" 
>> and  freeze.
>> Any help would be greatly appreciated. Anything I've been reading 
>> about  troubleshooting compiles involve deciphering the boot messages 
>> that pop  up but I don't get anything (other than a "W" - that's a 
>> little vague!)
>> Dave Wadson
>> IT Manager
>> The Chronicle-Journal
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