Kernel panic trying to install Debian Linux on Dell computer

1

When I try to install Debian Linux (newest stable as of 6.2.2013, x64) on a Dell OptiPlex 740 I keep getting this error message right after I choose "Install" from the main menu (the hdd is empty):

Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(254,32)

I have tried using a liveCD and that won't boot up either, screen just goes almost white with a white cursor blinking in the top left corner.

Windows 7 Ult x64 installs fine on the same computer. I have installed Debian on several computers (servers) before this and never had any problems. What's wrong?

Axel Latvala

Posted 2013-02-06T12:59:16.090

Reputation: 141

What happens on the lines above this error message? It will usually give you some more info about the partitions it's found and what-have-you. Also, what type of drives are you using? – Xyon – 2013-02-06T13:04:03.787

Isn't the optiplex an UEFI one? There where a lot of issues in the last weeks with samsung (+others) uefi laptops and Linux (up to no longer working samsung notebooks) – Offler – 2013-02-06T13:08:27.360

Have you checked the md5sum of the iso you downloaded? – terdon – 2013-02-06T13:21:44.767

@Xyon: There is just this one line. The drive is your common SATA2 hdd. – Axel Latvala – 2013-02-06T13:27:24.537

@Offler: How can I check this? – Axel Latvala – 2013-02-06T13:27:49.450

@terdon: I have not. Doesn't utorrent do that anyway? I got the bittorrent copy. – Axel Latvala – 2013-02-06T13:28:31.180

@Akke - Either look at the online documentation or give us exact details of the model your using. – Ramhound – 2013-02-06T13:43:57.420

@Ramhound it's the one in the middle: Product Broschure

– Axel Latvala – 2013-02-06T13:55:23.137

Unless we know what motherboard is used not sure we can answer this question. Sounds like you should contact Dell for support and ask them if your computer is using a UEFI BIOS. – Ramhound – 2013-02-06T16:05:20.660

@Ramhound: I'll try and look at the mobo for the model no. – Axel Latvala – 2013-02-07T12:22:19.017

Answers

1

Two things to check:

  • Try booting from USB, not CD, as sometimes CD drives cannot be detected on startup
  • In the BIOS, set the SATA controller mode to AHCI, potentially IDE, but never RAID, and also "AHCI (Linux)" often does not work with Linux.

Stefan Seidel

Posted 2013-02-06T12:59:16.090

Reputation: 8 812

I've done the SATA controller configuration on many (10+) other motherboards, but can't seem to find it on this one. I made a USB netinst drive and it still gives me the same error msg. What do? – Axel Latvala – 2013-02-07T13:06:35.247

Check the manual, on page 8 it talks about AHCI settings.

– Stefan Seidel – 2013-02-07T13:22:42.640

Asked: 2013-02-06T12:59:16.090

Viewed: 1 331 times

Active: 2016-04-30T07:44:37.673