death screen in linux

[Maaz]

I boot my system(rhl 9), during bootup process, following strange messages recieved, and system remains hang


checking root filesystem
/: clean 23130/96384 files, 99947/38552 blocks [ok]

Remounting root filesystem in read-write mode [ok]
Activating swap partitions: Swapon: /dev/hda11: invalid argument [failed]

Finding module dependencies [ok]

checking filesystems
/boot: clean
/home: clean
/opt: clean
/tmp: clean

[]do_anonymous_page [kernel] 0x107 (0xc7eddac))
[]generic make_request [kernel] 0xdc (0xc7e0ddec))
[]do_page_fault [kernel] 0x16c (0xc7e0de00))
[]submit_bh [kernel] 0x54 (0xc7e0de14))
.
.
some more cryptic messages
.
.
[]kernel_thread_helper [kernel] 0x5 (0xc7e0dff0))

code: 0f 0b bc 03 24 63 26 c0 8b 54 24 58 8b 35 30 c7 39 c0 8b 4c

Unable to find swap_space signature
swapon: /dev/hda11: invalid argument [failed]

after receiving the above messages nothing happens, i.e. system remains hang

Any1 any ideaz

Regards
Maaz
P.S. It seems to be very near to the death(blue) screen, in windows

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

boot to init 1
try to execute the following command:
mkswap /dev/hda11.
Then reboot the pc.
If the problem remains-send us the /etc/fstab.
Regards.

[Maaz]

I tried to boot in runlevel 1 as well, but same prblm there, thats why i cant send /etc/fstab file.

I tried to boot the system in Rescue mode, from installation media(rhl cd 1/3), even in rescue mode I recieved those cryptic messages, but when i hit 'enter' i got the prompt, then I tried to check the /etc/fstab file, i didnt find the /etc/fstab file, in rescue mode

here for more ideaz i m sending the partition info of my hdd

hda1 vfat
hda2 vfat
hda3 Extended
hda5 vfat
hda6 vfat
hda7 ext3 /boot
hda8 vfat
hda9 ext3 /usr
hda10 ext3 /var
hda11 ext3 /
hda12 ext3 swap
hda13 ext3 /home
hda14 ext3 /tmp
hda15 ext3 /opt

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

after booting from rescue cd do:
mount
to see what is mounted and where.
from you configuration:
hda1 vfat
hda2 vfat
hda3 Extended
hda5 vfat
hda6 vfat
hda7 ext3 /boot
hda8 vfat
hda9 ext3 /usr
hda10 ext3 /var
hda11 ext3 /
hda12 ext3 swap
hda13 ext3 /home
hda14 ext3 /tmp
hda15 ext3 /opt

it seems that / is on hda11
see where /dev/hda11 is mounted
then if for example it is mounted under /mnt/hda11 do chroot /mnt/hda11
after that you'll be able to access /etc/fstab.
The same goes for all other partitions respectively.
Did you change the system lately.Where you able to boot at all in the past?

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

The error says that the swap partition is /dev/hda11 but from the info you sent-it seems that it's actually /dev/hda12.

[Maaz]

definitly the root partition is /dev/hda11, and swap is /dev/hda12.(since i myself create the system, and I have recorded the partition scheme during installation)

I boot the system in rescue mode, then type mount, and the output is like
rootfs on type rootfs(rw)
/dev/root.old on type / type ext2(rw)
/proc on /proc type proc(rw)
.
.
.
.
/dev/hda11 on /mnt/sysimage type ext3(rw)
/dev/hda7 on /mnt/sysimage/boot type ext3(rw)
/dev/hda13 on /mnt/sysimage/home type ext3(rw)
/dev/hda15 on /mnt/sysimage/opt type ext3(rw)
/dev/hda14 on /mnt/sysimage/tmp type ext3(rw)
/dev/hda9 on /mnt/sysimage/usr type ext3(rw)
/dev/hda10 on /mnt/sysimage/var type ext3(rw)

then i type chroot /mnt/sysimage, and hit enter. but nothing happens, i.e. when i issued the chroot command, system hang, i.e. didnt response.

then i again, reboot the system in rescue mode by ctrl+alt+del, and then simple type 'ls', it shows me

etc sbin var mnt

then i type

cd mnt

here again i type 'ls', and the output was

runtime source sysimage

then i type 'cd sysimage'. upto this point every thing went fine, but when here(/mnt/sysimage) i type 'ls', or cat /etc/fstab, system hangs.

One more thing, this prblm arrive after i ran the "Drive Image Pro 2002" to restore the win 2k image, when I ran the Drive Image, it complained me about the some kinda partition arrangements, and also asked to fix the problem, I hit the fix button. I think I found the culprit. but what u gurus say, i m waiting

Regards
Maaz

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

So basicly -you're saying that you were never able to boot this system...hm

how about fdisk.
Try to do fdisk /dev/hda
what is the output?
What is the ID (5th column from left) for each linux partition.

[Maaz]

i m sorry for replying late
here is the output of fdisk /dev/hda


/dev/hda7 83 Linux
/dev/hda9 83 Linux
/dev/hda10 83 Linux
/dev/hda11 83 Linux
/dev/hda12 82 Linux
/dev/hda13 83 Linux
/dev/hda14 83 Linux

Thanks again for ur continous support

Best Regards
Maaz

[Jan Sladky]

Hi Maaz

are you able to in single user mode mount /dev/hda11 to / and edit fstab (change swap device on hda12) ?

br Jan

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

Hey,Maaz.
Since you've recorded the partition scheme-
were all the Linux partitions extended or
some were primary and after the "fix" they became extended?
Best Regards.

[Maaz]

no i cant even boot in single user mode

I have created all linux partitions in Extended partition, and all linux partitions are still

logical drives(i.e. within Extended Partition).
I have confirm this by Ms windows' Disk Management utility, and also from Disk Druid

[Craig Gilmore]

From the looks of your addtional responses, you've already answered your own question.

Disk Image Pro created the problem when you rebuilt your system.

There are several different problems.

1. Your /etc/fstab file does not match your current disk environment.

2. /boot is an extended partition instead of a primary.

--Possibly others that I am missing as the reply screen doesn't provide access to all your replies...

Choices:
-Least time: Back-up your Linux data when using the Recovery CD. Re-install Linux.

-Most time... Piece back together your image to move /boot to primary partition. Correct the /etc/fstab file to properly reflect the disk layout. Fix other issues as they arise in this rebuild.

The hang occurs as the loader cannot find the Linux Kernel to run. When you boot from the recovery CD you use the kernel on the CD.

[Maaz]

Dear Craig Gilmore, I now come to point that I must have to rebuild the system.

Any how, many thanks to all of u, for assistance/opinions.

[Francesco Sarno]

I have seen your description of your fstab file and it seems me that the type of swap partition is ext3.
I think that the type must be "swap".

Bye,Francesco.