Linux Kernel Problem

McGyver

Hi,

I have a problem with a Linux install.

I am trying to install Red Hat Fedora on my PC (3Ghz processo with 1Gb of RAM).

I perform the online FTP install and it completes properly...but when I reboot the PC it halts during the boot process to say :

"
Kernel panic: CPU context corrupt
In idle task - not syncing
"

I have tried the install from a few locations and I am sure that it is not a problem with the files on the mirror...unless all mirrors are corrupt!

I have also tried to instatall RedHat 9 using this method...same answer.

I have run the diagnostics from the motherboard, RAM and processor provider...all tests passed!

Any hints?

Thanks,

Ross

ZENER

Silly question from a relative noobie !

Are you installing the version that is correct for your CPU e.g. /i586, /i686 etc ?

This might also help !

Tinky

McGyver

the install process only lists a i386, which implies that the install process decides on what processor to use.

true???

ZENER

I installed RH9 on a 500MHZ Celeron and I selected /i686 from the expert install I think.

Did you try the link by the way ? it seems relavent !

I've only being playing with Linux a short while and so far have not had many problems. I know there are guys here with infinitly more knowledge than I have that will help, but try the linux forums elsewhere they have always helped me get out of trouble - very decent guys !

Tinky

McGyver

yes..I had seen that page...thanks.

I will try to perform an expert install to see where that getts me.

Thanks.

electrofelix

may I suggest that if your RAM is 2 sticks of 512MB, remove one of the modules, install the OS if it doesn't boot properly the first time, and if you can then boot properly recompile the kernel for largememory support then reinsert RAM.

I believe that the problem is due to some issues with the standard memory model for kernel not handling 1GB correctly. Once you use large memory support its fine. Just booting after the install doesn't work.

McGyver

sounds like a great idea...I will do this now.

Thanks,

Ross

fractal

Just in followup to electrofelix

you could try passing the kernel a "mem=512M" option on boot so it will only make use of the first 512Megs of memory..

If this works it might suggest that you do in fact need largememory support..

Just a though so you mightnt have to go compiling a whole new kernel just to find out it doesnt work..

Typedef

Try an interactive boot up/and or a single user boot.

Probably you are trying to load a driver during this process that is foobaring things, the fact that you get 'all' the way through the install, would imply that it is some sort of automagiclly loaded thingy, and you can probably turn it off.

If you just tell your OS 'not' to do that on boot, you should be singing.

/blah blah... with the sound of Music...

McGyver

AAAAAAAAahhhhhhh!

OK..I am becoming tired of this!

I have taken out the second stick of RAM so the PC only has 512Mb.

I have downloaded the install CD's and burnt them so that I can do faster installs.

I dont think that I have a hardware problem...I just need to pass a kernel param at boot. Do you know where I can get a list of kernel params?

Thanks

Ross

slartibardfast

ones I'd try are

nosmp

noapic

pci=noacpi

If you have hypertheading turned on, try it off. Also check to see if there are any bios upgrades. It is odd, fedora boots with the same kernel as is on the install cd so it should fail on the first boot up!

also check the different F1, F2, F3, F4 etc. pages on the fedora cd's boot menu, there should be some more failsafe options. Personally I'd run memtest86 off it before I'd take out ram modules!!!

Good Luck

McGyver

SOLVED!

It was a faulty processor! ... Oddly.

I got a replacement processor and the PC booted fine.

This is odd as I had SuSE 9.0 running on it for a a few months before I tried to install Fedora and RedHat 9.0

Anyway...thanks for all your suggestions!

Ross