alt upgrade still looks for network

[Robert Halstead]

Binary package hint: debian-installer

When trying to upgrade from 8.10 to 9.04 (hardy->jaunty) using the alternate install CD the upgrade will not complete due to lack of network connection. Steps - insert cd; choose upgrade, select the "no network" option in subsequent box. A few steps into process it indicates that it needs to download 500+ MB and gives time estimate for completion. Having already responded on previous step that there is no network and the only options on this step being OK or Cancel, I select OK. Install appears to proceed but crashes out and is unsuccessful. Appears that installer is still trying to find server for packages (at least that is what I deduce from the LOG that appears) rather than utilizing the info on the CD - which of course is non existent on my machine (at the moment) and the reason I am trying to use the "alternate CD" in the first place"
used image ubuntu-9.04-alternate-i386.iso dated 20APR2010

[Robert Halstead (rbrthlstd)]

correction, I meant intrepid ->jaunty.
have also learned what not to do:
if you have tried the above and notice the "updates available" icon. DO NOT click on install updates. Doing this runs updates off CD which are incompatible with intrepid. End result when re-boot is a drop into initramfs shell due to "Gave up waiting for root device."
Any clues on how to get past this? right now I can't login as root on my machine and therefore cannot backup my home directory before re-installing.

[Robert Halstead (rbrthlstd)]

it took some trial and error (yes, I'm a bit of a "noob") but I got my system back running and fixed the upgrade problem at the same time.
breakd down:
booted to a "live" cd and used cmd line (with sudo) in terminal window to mount my ext3 and change that volume to the root.

sudo mkdir /mnt/mydrive
sudo mount /dev/sda3 /mnt/mydrive
sudo chroot /mnt/mydrive/
sudo update-initramfs -u -v

Upon attempt at "normal" re-boot still dropped to busy box.

next boot attempt chose "recovery" option from grub loader (had tried to boot to recovery prior to above steps w/o success)
this time the recovery boot option prompted for the 9.04 cd.
simply put, gave her what she wanted and rebooted. Grub now lists 9.04 and 8.10 is gone. selection boots normally. Thus solution found.

Sorry if I put this in the wrong area, looking back it may have been more of a forum thread discussion rather than a bug; save for the initial inability to upgrade from the alternate CD w/o a network.