Dell Latitude doesn't boot

Forum: Laptops
Topic: Dell Latitude doesn't boot
started by: miserato

Posted by miserato on Dec. 28 2005,13:33

I have tried to run DSL from a CD on my Dell Latitude D610 laptop - no success. I keep getting the error message "Bad EIP value. <0>Kernel panic: Attempted to kill init!"

I have already tried
* DSL 2.0 and DSL 2.0 syslinux
* failsafe option
* noswap, nopcmcia, vga=normal...

If you have any idea what is the problem and how can I fix it, please help. Thanks.

Posted by doobit on Dec. 28 2005,13:55

I don't know if DSL supports this boot option, but try running nobiospnp in the boot line.

Posted by miserato on Dec. 28 2005,14:30

Either DSL doesn't recognize the parameter or it doesn't help here. I see no change... Following this thread I tried to switch PNP off in bios, but it is not possible (no such option there). I am not sure if the is DSL problem, Dell problem or something specific to my laptop...

Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 28 2005,19:44

Try booting the non-syslinux version and type:

dsl acpi=off

and see if it works.

Posted by miserato on Dec. 31 2005,16:18

Yes it does !! thanks a lot. This time the dsl has started without further problems.
Are there any negative effects of the "acpi=off" ? What does it do?

Posted by cbagger01 on Dec. 31 2005,20:26

It disables acpi power management interface, that displays things like remaining battery life etc.

Your laptop may fall back to old-fashioned apm power management, in which case you are good to go.

Otherwise, you may want to selectively disable some acpi features instead of just turning the entire system off.

Or you can just leave it off if you prefer.

See here for some of the boot parameters to experiment with:

< http://www.columbia.edu/~ariel/acpi/acpi_howto.html#boot_reference >

Posted by chance on Jan. 09 2006,05:54

what do you mean by the non syslinux version?

i have the same lappy and the same problem.
except mine is a dire situation
(its a work lappy and is plagued with the GMonline version of windows)

Posted by chance on Jan. 09 2006,06:04

i am using a sandisk cruizer mini 128mb with the dsl-usbinstall script based install
i get to the splash screen for dsl but then system hangs without letting me boot or showing the boot prompt.

help much appreciated.

Posted by chance on Jan. 10 2006,05:47

bump.

ok i got past all that (it took some digging and a dl of syslinux)

now i get to the boot screen where everything happens and then after it finds all the usb (just after the no warranty screen)
i get
{CRE}Looking for DSL image in: /dev/sda

yes i boot from usb pendrive no i dont think it ever finds it