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Description of Problem: After applying patches to kernel sources to make them bootable and using kernel-2.4.9-alpha-BOOT.config for a .config file to create a "rescue" kernel it turns out that its usefulness is rather limited. There is no way to mount CD if a drive is ATAPI as ide_cd is a module which is missing (and which can be retrieved with some effort from 'ramdisk.img' which is, obviously, on CD). Also bringing up network is not that simple because 'service network start' assumes that NETLINK support is present but in a configuration used this is not true. Floppy still works. Probably a grave oversight. Seriously, there are practically no other CD devices on Alphas as SCSI and ATAPI as firmware limits choices so compiling in ide_cd support would make it much more usable. Making a boot kernel "network ready" would be nice as well. There is still enough space on a floppy for such big splash.
Humm Well if you have the first ISO of the CD install you can actually pass the boot command argument 'rescue', and the CD will bootup and come to rest at a shell prompt from which you should be able to access the HD and make all the repairs needed This also works for the generic/ramdisk floppies. The floppies are quite packed. I fear that 1440K just isn't enough these days. Phil =--=