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Aeromax

Member

Registered: 2025-03-26

Posts: 2  

Kernel panic not syncing VFS after install

Had problems after install using netinstall, minimal-live iso using refractainstaller. Would not boot reporting kernel panic not syncing VFS, unable to boot fs...etc. Seems the boot tries to load and old/wrong kernel? I fixed it using update-initramfs:

  sudo fdisk -l
  sudo mount /dev/sdax /mnt
  sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
  sudo mount --bind /dev/pts /mnt/dev/pts
  sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc
  sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys
  sudo chroot /mnt

If you /boot is on a separate partition also do:
  sudo mount /dev/sday /mnt/boot

Now you can run update-initramfs then update-grub to fix it.

Enter:

  update-initramfs -u -k 2.6.38-8-generic (or your version)

If you don't know your version. Use:

  dpkg --list | grep linux-image

And just update Grub:

  update-grub

Reboot.

Got the info here:

  https://askubuntu.com/questions/41930/k … n-block0-0

Worked for me, hope it helps someone.

RedGreen925

Member

Registered: 2024-12-07

Posts: 95  

Re: Kernel panic not syncing VFS after install

Seems the boot tries to load and old/wrong kernel? I fixed it using update-initramfs:

No that means your initramfs was not properly generated on install as that is what you fixed to boot the machine and is what allows the machine to boot by using the modules contained in it in the first place. Such as the file system modules that allows the partitions to be mounted and everything else needed to run the machine like the network card, usb, sound, video....

Edit: Now I think more if it had been wrong kernel you would have got the grub error and been dropped to its shell to be given the opportunity to load the proper kernel and related items by its command line to boot the machine.

Last edited by RedGreen925 (2025-03-26 12:56:57)

Aeromax

Member

Registered: 2025-03-26

Posts: 2  

Re: Kernel panic not syncing VFS after install

Yup that's the reason. Wasn't sure what was going on so put it as a question. Glad I put in the effort because Devuan is so quick.

RedGreen925

Member

Registered: 2024-12-07

Posts: 95  

Re: Kernel panic not syncing VFS after install

Glad I put in the effort because Devuan is so quick.

Yes it is, though hardly shocking when you take piece of garbage software out of the mix with its tentacles into everything slowing it down.