HH install stalls at initramfs

Thank you for your bug report and for your contribution to ubuntu.

For sure, this looks like a bad bug! But if you want to take some time for it, there are some informations that might really help developers to find the cause of this problem, and maybe give you a temporary workaround.

Firstly, when you say that it fails and drop to initramfs, do you get a busybox prompt? If yes, you can often plug another device, such as a USB key to save detailed reports about the problem. If you want to give a try, you can follow these instructions :

1. Start your computer with a USB key, in the file system that you want (prefer other file system than NTFS).
2. When you get to busybox, type "fdisk -l" to see what is the device name of your USB key (probably /dev/sdb).
3. Type "mkdir /mnt/USB"
4. Mount your USB key, Ex. If your USB key is /dev/sdb and uses FAT, you can mount it by typing "mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /mnt/USB"
5. Once your USB key is mounted, type these commands to save reports on it :
6. lspci -nnvv > /mnt/USB/lspci-nnvv.log
7. dmesg > /mnt/USB/dmesg.log
8. uname -a > /mnt/USB/uname.log
9. cat /proc/version_signature > /mnt/USB/version.log
10. Then unmount your USB key with "umount /dev/sdb1" and come quick here to attach these precious log in the bug report :-)

Hi Saivann, perfect , I am away at the moment but will get on to it
asap.
Thanks again.
N
On 30 Aug 2008, at 17:37, Saïvann Carignan wrote:

> Thank you for your bug report and for your contribution to ubuntu.
>
> For sure, this looks like a bad bug! But if you want to take some time
> for it, there are some informations that might really help
> developers to
> find the cause of this problem, and maybe give you a temporary
> workaround.
>
> Firstly, when you say that it fails and drop to initramfs, do you
> get a
> busybox prompt? If yes, you can often plug another device, such as a
> USB
> key to save detailed reports about the problem. If you want to give a
> try, you can follow these instructions :
>
> 1. Start your computer with a USB key, in the file system that you
> want (prefer other file system than NTFS).
> 2. When you get to busybox, type "fdisk -l" to see what is the
> device name of your USB key (probably /dev/sdb).
> 3. Type "mkdir /mnt/USB"
> 4. Mount your USB key, Ex. If your USB key is /dev/sdb and uses FAT,
> you can mount it by typing "mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /mnt/USB"
> 5. Once your USB key is mounted, type these commands to save reports
> on it :
> 6. lspci -nnvv > /mnt/USB/lspci-nnvv.log
> 7. dmesg > /mnt/USB/dmesg.log
> 8. uname -a > /mnt/USB/uname.log
> 9. cat /proc/version_signature > /mnt/USB/version.log
> 10. Then unmount your USB key with "umount /dev/sdb1" and come quick
> here to attach these precious log in the bug report :-)
>
> --
> HH install stalls at initramfs
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262944
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: New
>
> Bug description:
>
>
> I am trying to install 8.04 to a system with a Asus A8N SLi premium
> motherboard - AMD 64 x2 . The machine is running XP at the moment.
> The install fails at initramfs, with a cycle trying to access the
> cd. it doesnt go on to - SRST Failed
> I have tried 8.04 (AMD64 and 386 )
> I have tired Intrepid Ibex 8.10 (alpha4)
>
> I have tried updating to the latest bios 1013.
> I have tried 'all_generic_ide' , floppy off and pci=nomsi
>
> The install mostly fails and drops to initramfs. If I use
> all_generic_ide at F6 I get to the HH background with all packages
> installed ok and then a window headed install which then
> freezes.mouse is working.
>
> I am not sure how to log the install report. If I delete quiet
> splash at F6 I get some reports of hardware problem whizzing by when
> I don't use 'all_generic_ide' .

Hi capnahab,

Additionally to what Saivann mentioned, the Ubuntu Kernel Team is planning to move to the 2.6.27 kernel for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10 release. If you'd be willing to confirm if this will also be an issue with the upcoming Intrepid Ibex release, the kernel team would appreciate it if you could please test this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel.

The upcoming Alpha5 for Intrepid Ibex 8.10 will contain this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. Alpha5 is set to be released Thursday Sept 4. Please watch http://www.ubuntu.com/testing for Alpha5 to be announced.

If you could let us know if this newer 2.6.27 kernel resolves the bug reported here or if the issue remains that would be great. Thanks again, we really appreicate your help and feedback.

Will do Leann,
BW
Nick
On 1 Sep 2008, at 21:58, Leann Ogasawara wrote:

> Hi capnahab,
>
> Additionally to what Saivann mentioned, the Ubuntu Kernel Team is
> planning to move to the 2.6.27 kernel for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex
> 8.10 release. If you'd be willing to confirm if this will also be an
> issue with the upcoming Intrepid Ibex release, the kernel team would
> appreciate it if you could please test this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu
> kernel.
>
> The upcoming Alpha5 for Intrepid Ibex 8.10 will contain this newer
> 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. Alpha5 is set to be released Thursday Sept 4.
> Please watch http://www.ubuntu.com/testing for Alpha5 to be announced.
>
> If you could let us know if this newer 2.6.27 kernel resolves the bug
> reported here or if the issue remains that would be great. Thanks
> again, we really appreicate your help and feedback.
>
>
> ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> HH install stalls at initramfs
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262944
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
>
>
> I am trying to install 8.04 to a system with a Asus A8N SLi premium
> motherboard - AMD 64 x2 . The machine is running XP at the moment.
> The install fails at initramfs, with a cycle trying to access the
> cd. it doesnt go on to - SRST Failed
> I have tried 8.04 (AMD64 and 386 )
> I have tired Intrepid Ibex 8.10 (alpha4)
>
> I have tried updating to the latest bios 1013.
> I have tried 'all_generic_ide' , floppy off and pci=nomsi
>
> The install mostly fails and drops to initramfs. If I use
> all_generic_ide at F6 I get to the HH background with all packages
> installed ok and then a window headed install which then
> freezes.mouse is working.
>
> I am not sure how to log the install report. If I delete quiet
> splash at F6 I get some reports of hardware problem whizzing by when
> I don't use 'all_generic_ide' .

capnahab : Also note that in the instructions that I gave to you, you might need to use "mkdir -p /mnt/USB" instead of "mkdir /mnt/USB", and it's possible that fdisk don't work, so you need to guess the name of your USB key (most probably /dev/sda1 or /dev/sdb1).

Hi Saivann, i am back and haven't got very far.
my prompt is (initramsf) after busybox v1.1.3 (Debian
1:1.1.3-5ubuntu12) Built-in shell (ash)
and
fdisk -l gives me
/bin/sh: fdisk:not found

Sorry , can you help .
BW
Nick

On 30 Aug 2008, at 17:37, Saïvann Carignan wrote:

> Thank you for your bug report and for your contribution to ubuntu.
>
> For sure, this looks like a bad bug! But if you want to take some time
> for it, there are some informations that might really help
> developers to
> find the cause of this problem, and maybe give you a temporary
> workaround.
>
> Firstly, when you say that it fails and drop to initramfs, do you
> get a
> busybox prompt? If yes, you can often plug another device, such as a
> USB
> key to save detailed reports about the problem. If you want to give a
> try, you can follow these instructions :
>
> 1. Start your computer with a USB key, in the file system that you
> want (prefer other file system than NTFS).
> 2. When you get to busybox, type "fdisk -l" to see what is the
> device name of your USB key (probably /dev/sdb).
> 3. Type "mkdir /mnt/USB"
> 4. Mount your USB key, Ex. If your USB key is /dev/sdb and uses FAT,
> you can mount it by typing "mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /mnt/USB"
> 5. Once your USB key is mounted, type these commands to save reports
> on it :
> 6. lspci -nnvv > /mnt/USB/lspci-nnvv.log
> 7. dmesg > /mnt/USB/dmesg.log
> 8. uname -a > /mnt/USB/uname.log
> 9. cat /proc/version_signature > /mnt/USB/version.log
> 10. Then unmount your USB key with "umount /dev/sdb1" and come quick
> here to attach these precious log in the bug report :-)
>
> --
> HH install stalls at initramfs
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262944
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: New
>
> Bug description:
>
>
> I am trying to install 8.04 to a system with a Asus A8N SLi premium
> motherboard - AMD 64 x2 . The machine is running XP at the moment.
> The install fails at initramfs, with a cycle trying to access the
> cd. it doesnt go on to - SRST Failed
> I have tried 8.04 (AMD64 and 386 )
> I have tired Intrepid Ibex 8.10 (alpha4)
>
> I have tried updating to the latest bios 1013.
> I have tried 'all_generic_ide' , floppy off and pci=nomsi
>
> The install mostly fails and drops to initramfs. If I use
> all_generic_ide at F6 I get to the HH background with all packages
> installed ok and then a window headed install which then
> freezes.mouse is working.
>
> I am not sure how to log the install report. If I delete quiet
> splash at F6 I get some reports of hardware problem whizzing by when
> I don't use 'all_generic_ide' .

Yes, that's what I wrote in my last comment, apparently that fdisk won't work at this point, so you have to guess the name of your USB key (try /dev/sda1 or /dev/sdb1) .

Hi Saivann , tried all that
"mkdir -p /mnt/USB" -- this works
these
  /dev/sda1 or /dev/sdb1 as guesses for my USB don't.
Is there an alternative to try and log my probes ?. or at least find
out the device name of my usb ?.
Thanks
Nick

On 1 Sep 2008, at 23:38, Saïvann Carignan wrote:

> capnahab : Also note that in the instructions that I gave to you, you
> might need to use "mkdir -p /mnt/USB" instead of "mkdir /mnt/USB", and
> it's possible that fdisk don't work, so you need to guess the name of
> your USB key (most probably /dev/sda1 or /dev/sdb1).
>
> --
> HH install stalls at initramfs
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262944
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
>
>
> I am trying to install 8.04 to a system with a Asus A8N SLi premium
> motherboard - AMD 64 x2 . The machine is running XP at the moment.
> The install fails at initramfs, with a cycle trying to access the
> cd. it doesnt go on to - SRST Failed
> I have tried 8.04 (AMD64 and 386 )
> I have tired Intrepid Ibex 8.10 (alpha4)
>
> I have tried updating to the latest bios 1013.
> I have tried 'all_generic_ide' , floppy off and pci=nomsi
>
> The install mostly fails and drops to initramfs. If I use
> all_generic_ide at F6 I get to the HH background with all packages
> installed ok and then a window headed install which then
> freezes.mouse is working.
>
> I am not sure how to log the install report. If I delete quiet
> splash at F6 I get some reports of hardware problem whizzing by when
> I don't use 'all_generic_ide' .

capnahab : Ok, did you try "mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /mnt/USB" or "mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/USB"? Another way to list the devices would be this : ls /dev/sd* . However, if it still doesn't work, I don't know what would be possible, I think that there is no network at this point in the boot process.

Another thing that might be useful : If you know a (probably older) version of ubuntu that you are able to boot, you can provide the lspci log by typing this in a terminal "sudo lspci -nnvv > lspci-nnvv.log". (lspci-nnvv.log will be saved in the current directory of your terminal, generally /home/(username) .

Thanks for the time you take to help the improvement of ubuntu.

Hi Saivann , i will have another attempt. BTW isnt the new release of
Ibex due out today ?,
I havent seen any change at http://www.ubuntu.com/testing
BW
Nick

On 3 Sep 2008, at 20:28, Saïvann Carignan wrote:

> capnahab : Ok, did you try "mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /mnt/USB" or
> "mount
> -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/USB"? Another way to list the devices would be
> this : ls /dev/sd* . However, if it still doesn't work, I don't know
> what would be possible, I think that there is no network at this point
> in the boot process.
>
> Another thing that might be useful : If you know a (probably older)
> version of ubuntu that you are able to boot, you can provide the lspci
> log by typing this in a terminal "sudo lspci -nnvv > lspci-nnvv.log".
> (lspci-nnvv.log will be saved in the current directory of your
> terminal,
> generally /home/(username) .
>
> Thanks for the time you take to help the improvement of ubuntu.
>
> --
> HH install stalls at initramfs
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262944
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
>
>
> I am trying to install 8.04 to a system with a Asus A8N SLi premium
> motherboard - AMD 64 x2 . The machine is running XP at the moment.
> The install fails at initramfs, with a cycle trying to access the
> cd. it doesnt go on to - SRST Failed
> I have tried 8.04 (AMD64 and 386 )
> I have tired Intrepid Ibex 8.10 (alpha4)
>
> I have tried updating to the latest bios 1013.
> I have tried 'all_generic_ide' , floppy off and pci=nomsi
>
> The install mostly fails and drops to initramfs. If I use
> all_generic_ide at F6 I get to the HH background with all packages
> installed ok and then a window headed install which then
> freezes.mouse is working.
>
> I am not sure how to log the install report. If I delete quiet
> splash at F6 I get some reports of hardware problem whizzing by when
> I don't use 'all_generic_ide' .

Yes, it should be today. However, sometime, a alpha release is released
one or two days later. ubuntu developers don't want to release broken
ISOs, so they work hard to make good alpha ISOs with less bug possible.
We should be patient :) .

Hi Saivann , some more info.
My install fails after
running scripts casper premount when I turn on splash.
I can use ls /dev/sd* to list my devices but can' t then mount any
because I get
Cannot read /etc/fstab: No such file or directory

Am waiting for ibex 5.
Thanks
Nick

On 5 Sep 2008, at 01:20, Saïvann Carignan wrote:

> Yes, it should be today. However, sometime, a alpha release is
> released
> one or two days later. ubuntu developers don't want to release broken
> ISOs, so they work hard to make good alpha ISOs with less bug
> possible.
> We should be patient :) .
>
> --
> HH install stalls at initramfs
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262944
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
>
>
> I am trying to install 8.04 to a system with a Asus A8N SLi premium
> motherboard - AMD 64 x2 . The machine is running XP at the moment.
> The install fails at initramfs, with a cycle trying to access the
> cd. it doesnt go on to - SRST Failed
> I have tried 8.04 (AMD64 and 386 )
> I have tired Intrepid Ibex 8.10 (alpha4)
>
> I have tried updating to the latest bios 1013.
> I have tried 'all_generic_ide' , floppy off and pci=nomsi
>
> The install mostly fails and drops to initramfs. If I use
> all_generic_ide at F6 I get to the HH background with all packages
> installed ok and then a window headed install which then
> freezes.mouse is working.
>
> I am not sure how to log the install report. If I delete quiet
> splash at F6 I get some reports of hardware problem whizzing by when
> I don't use 'all_generic_ide' .

Hi Saivann,
I have tried the new release of intrepid alpha 5 . It gets to the
point where everything installs Ok and the backgroung lads and then
freezes at the install panel , - like before.
If I could get my USB mounted I could get the information to you .
BW
Nick
On 3 Sep 2008, at 20:28, Saïvann Carignan wrote:

> capnahab : Ok, did you try "mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /mnt/USB" or
> "mount
> -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/USB"? Another way to list the devices would be
> this : ls /dev/sd* . However, if it still doesn't work, I don't know
> what would be possible, I think that there is no network at this point
> in the boot process.
>
> Another thing that might be useful : If you know a (probably older)
> version of ubuntu that you are able to boot, you can provide the lspci
> log by typing this in a terminal "sudo lspci -nnvv > lspci-nnvv.log".
> (lspci-nnvv.log will be saved in the current directory of your
> terminal,
> generally /home/(username) .
>
> Thanks for the time you take to help the improvement of ubuntu.
>
> --
> HH install stalls at initramfs
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262944
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
>
>
> I am trying to install 8.04 to a system with a Asus A8N SLi premium
> motherboard - AMD 64 x2 . The machine is running XP at the moment.
> The install fails at initramfs, with a cycle trying to access the
> cd. it doesnt go on to - SRST Failed
> I have tried 8.04 (AMD64 and 386 )
> I have tired Intrepid Ibex 8.10 (alpha4)
>
> I have tried updating to the latest bios 1013.
> I have tried 'all_generic_ide' , floppy off and pci=nomsi
>
> The install mostly fails and drops to initramfs. If I use
> all_generic_ide at F6 I get to the HH background with all packages
> installed ok and then a window headed install which then
> freezes.mouse is working.
>
> I am not sure how to log the install report. If I delete quiet
> splash at F6 I get some reports of hardware problem whizzing by when
> I don't use 'all_generic_ide' .

Hi Saivann,

I have made some progress ( but only a little)
I have removed my DVD drive and replaced it with an old Cd drive . Now
I can get past the initramsf problem.
The install freezes after the Ubuntu bar flashes back and forth, on
the panel that first comes up headed install. The mouse works but
whatever is ubuntu is trying to draw in the window is frozen and seen
as random pixels.
I need to solve this problem.

Shall I log it as another bug ?.
Can you help me collect some more information on what the problem
could be ?.
I never seem to get as far as a GRUB screen.
If I hit esc as the language selector loads at the beginning I get to
a boot ? prompt. But I can't seem to do anything in it.?.

Thanks
Again.
Nick

On 3 Sep 2008, at 20:28, Saïvann Carignan wrote:

> capnahab : Ok, did you try "mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /mnt/USB" or
> "mount
> -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/USB"? Another way to list the devices would be
> this : ls /dev/sd* . However, if it still doesn't work, I don't know
> what would be possible, I think that there is no network at this point
> in the boot process.
>
> Another thing that might be useful : If you know a (probably older)
> version of ubuntu that you are able to boot, you can provide the lspci
> log by typing this in a terminal "sudo lspci -nnvv > lspci-nnvv.log".
> (lspci-nnvv.log will be saved in the current directory of your
> terminal,
> generally /home/(username) .
>
> Thanks for the time you take to help the improvement of ubuntu.
>
> --
> HH install stalls at initramfs
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262944
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
>
>
> I am trying to install 8.04 to a system with a Asus A8N SLi premium
> motherboard - AMD 64 x2 . The machine is running XP at the moment.
> The install fails at initramfs, with a cycle trying to access the
> cd. it doesnt go on to - SRST Failed
> I have tried 8.04 (AMD64 and 386 )
> I have tired Intrepid Ibex 8.10 (alpha4)
>
> I have tried updating to the latest bios 1013.
> I have tried 'all_generic_ide' , floppy off and pci=nomsi
>
> The install mostly fails and drops to initramfs. If I use
> all_generic_ide at F6 I get to the HH background with all packages
> installed ok and then a window headed install which then
> freezes.mouse is working.
>
> I am not sure how to log the install report. If I delete quiet
> splash at F6 I get some reports of hardware problem whizzing by when
> I don't use 'all_generic_ide' .

I have reported this as a new bug 267507:

capnahad : Do you mean that since you removed your DVD drive, you are able to boot into graphical mode? What did remove the "initramfs" bug, new intrepid alpha 5 release, or the removal of the DVD drive? Thanks for the informations you provide.

Hi Saivann , it was changing the DVD drive to the cd drive (both
plextor).
BW
Nick
On 8 Sep 2008, at 05:24, Saïvann Carignan wrote:

> capnahad : Do you mean that since you removed your DVD drive, you are
> able to boot into graphical mode? What did remove the "initramfs" bug,
> new intrepid alpha 5 release, or the removal of the DVD drive? Thanks
> for the informations you provide.
>
> --
> HH install stalls at initramfs
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262944
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
>
>
> I am trying to install 8.04 to a system with a Asus A8N SLi premium
> motherboard - AMD 64 x2 . The machine is running XP at the moment.
> The install fails at initramfs, with a cycle trying to access the
> cd. it doesnt go on to - SRST Failed
> I have tried 8.04 (AMD64 and 386 )
> I have tired Intrepid Ibex 8.10 (alpha4)
>
> I have tried updating to the latest bios 1013.
> I have tried 'all_generic_ide' , floppy off and pci=nomsi
>
> The install mostly fails and drops to initramfs. If I use
> all_generic_ide at F6 I get to the HH background with all packages
> installed ok and then a window headed install which then
> freezes.mouse is working.
>
> I am not sure how to log the install report. If I delete quiet
> splash at F6 I get some reports of hardware problem whizzing by when
> I don't use 'all_generic_ide' .

Thinking about it, that really sounds like a hardware issue. If you still have the same computer, can you try to put back the DVD on it and boot ubuntu from your hard drive? If that works, you might be interested to verify if your DVD drive works. Once you get into GNOME, you can run this command in a terminal to test if your drive can read a complete CD without generating read errors :

sudo badblocks -sv /dev/scd0

If you get a list of numbers one abover each other, this is a list of bad sectors on your CD. With a healthy drive, you should never get one bad block (unless the CD is damaged). You can try the same test with the same CD on another drive if your are usure about the CD condition.

If possible, can you give some feedback about this? Thanks for the time you spent so far to look at this bug!

Hi capnahab,

This bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? Can you try with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/ .

If it remains an issue, could you run the following command from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal). It will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report.

apport-collect -p linux 262944

Also, if you could test the latest upstream kernel available that would be great. It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. Please let us know your results.

Thanks in advance.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

This bug report was marked as Incomplete and has not had any updated comments for quite some time. As a result this bug is being closed. Please reopen if this is still an issue in the current Ubuntu release http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download . Also, please be sure to provide any requested information that may have been missing. To reopen the bug, click on the current status under the Status column and change the status back to "New". Thanks.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]