ubuntu linux 2.6.27-7-generic fails to mount root partition

[Vincent Povirk]

Binary package hint: linux-image-2.6.27-7-generic

I'm using Ubuntu 8.10. linux-image-2.6.27-4-generic is the most recent kernel that boots correctly on my machine. Versions -5 through -7 fail to mount the root partition during startup and dump me in a busybox shell. The failing versions give me this output:

[ 8.600013] ata2: link is slow to respond, please be patient (ready=-19)
[ 13.136012] ata2: SRST failed (errno=-16)
[ 13.136080] ata2: SATA link up 1.5 Gbps (SStatus 113 SControl 300)
[ 13.136133] ata2: link online but device misclassified, retrying

I have captured dmesg output from the -7 and -4 kernels.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi Vincent,

I saw a similar bug to this one, bug 288388. If you exit the busybox shell does it then continue to boot up normally? If so, as I asked in the other report I'm curious if you add the boot option "rootdelay=<some #>" if that helps avoid being dropped into the busybox? For example rootdelay=60 will pause 60seconds before attempting to mount the root filesystem. You may need to adjust that number to be higher or lower through trial and error. I know it may not be ideal, but might be a workaround. Let us know if that helps. Thanks.

[Vincent Povirk (madewokherd)]

Yep, after exiting busybox, the system boots up. I'll try the rootdelay thing soon.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

The reporter from 288388 mentioned this is no longer an issue after an update. The latest kernel I believe is 2.6.27-7.14 . You should be able to do 'cat /proc/version_signature' to get the version. Thanks.

https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/288388/comments/5

[Vincent Povirk (madewokherd)]

version_signature claims I'm using 2.6.27-7.14-generic.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi Vincent,

Have you been able to test the rootdelay option yet?

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

I'm also not sure which motherboard you have, but you may want to take a peek at bug 290153 as well.

[Vincent Povirk (madewokherd)]

Rootdelay works.

I, uh, don't know which motherboard I have either.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi Vincent,

I'm going to mark this as a duplicate of bug 290153 for now. Please continue to follow up with this issue at that report. Thanks.