Old machine not booting any OS - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

propaganda · 01-24-2005, 07:07 AM

This system is about 6 years old so old age just might be the possibility on why its being like this.

Everytime I boot up the machine and try to get into Windows, it freezes up and restart and stays in that constant cycle. At first I thought it was the RAM (its Rambus) but after running memtest86 for about 6 hours, I don't think that anymore.

I then took out a version of Damn Small Linux to see if I could even get the PC to boot (started to think it was with Windows) but I get an error while booting Linux to but atleast I got a message saying that "Kernel Panic: VFS: Unable to mount boot fs on 03:01." So that pretty much means it hardware right?

Did a search of google on it but the problem was that the ways to repair it was on a machine installed with Linux.

Anyone have any idea out there?

catback · 01-24-2005, 07:49 AM

Reset the CMOS, and if need be reinstall Windows. Memtest ran so it's a functional machine. Linux and other OS'es typically have hardware issues when running on an older or newer system than what they were designed for. Wanna try booting a linux OS I'd try tom's root boot disk at http://www.toms.net/rb/

sashime76 · 01-24-2005, 08:00 AM

Old PC and Linux will always have hardware issues, even newer PC. If you have Hirend Boot CD or Windows 98SE/2000 CD, use it. You'll probaby have less compatibility issues with older versions of Windows. If there is something you need to salvage, create a separate partition, make it your primary and install a fresh copy of Window there.

Good luck.

connyosis · 01-24-2005, 08:34 AM

Well actually old hardware should in most cases work better than new hardware in Linux, since people have had time to write drivers for it. (Unless of course the specifications are closed, which will make writing anything much harder)
I'd try downloading Knoppix and see if you can get that running.

Latch · 01-24-2005, 02:15 PM

I agree with connyosis. Old hardware shouldn't really have a problem with Linux.

Anyways.. you said memtest86 was running for 6 hours. I assume it did a full cycle in that time? hehe.

With the error DSL gave you... is this just booting it off the CD? or actually installing it to the hard drive and running it from there? Just curious...

Hardknock · 01-24-2005, 10:43 PM

Latch, that avatar kicks ass by the way....

propaganda · 01-25-2005, 02:52 PM

Only noticed people posted right now sorry guys.

Yeah Latch its from the CD. Im going to try and reset the CMOS and put in an empty HDD and try to install fresh Windows on it. Thanks again guys

01-24-2005, 07:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
propaganda Psycho	Old machine not booting any OS This system is about 6 years old so old age just might be the possibility on why its being like this. Everytime I boot up the machine and try to get into Windows, it freezes up and restart and stays in that constant cycle. At first I thought it was the RAM (its Rambus) but after running memtest86 for about 6 hours, I don't think that anymore. I then took out a version of Damn Small Linux to see if I could even get the PC to boot (started to think it was with Windows) but I get an error while booting Linux to but atleast I got a message saying that "Kernel Panic: VFS: Unable to mount boot fs on 03:01." So that pretty much means it hardware right? Did a search of google on it but the problem was that the ways to repair it was on a machine installed with Linux. Anyone have any idea out there?

01-24-2005, 08:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
connyosis Psycho Location: Sweden - Land of the sodomite damned	Well actually old hardware should in most cases work better than new hardware in Linux, since people have had time to write drivers for it. (Unless of course the specifications are closed, which will make writing anything much harder) I'd try downloading Knoppix and see if you can get that running. __________________ If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

01-24-2005, 07:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
catback Psycho Location: North America	Reset the CMOS, and if need be reinstall Windows. Memtest ran so it's a functional machine. Linux and other OS'es typically have hardware issues when running on an older or newer system than what they were designed for. Wanna try booting a linux OS I'd try tom's root boot disk at http://www.toms.net/rb/

01-24-2005, 08:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
sashime76 Addict Location: Hoosier State	Old PC and Linux will always have hardware issues, even newer PC. If you have Hirend Boot CD or Windows 98SE/2000 CD, use it. You'll probaby have less compatibility issues with older versions of Windows. If there is something you need to salvage, create a separate partition, make it your primary and install a fresh copy of Window there. Good luck.

01-24-2005, 02:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Latch In Your Dreams Location: City of Lights	I agree with connyosis. Old hardware shouldn't really have a problem with Linux. Anyways.. you said memtest86 was running for 6 hours. I assume it did a full cycle in that time? hehe. With the error DSL gave you... is this just booting it off the CD? or actually installing it to the hard drive and running it from there? Just curious...

01-24-2005, 10:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hardknock Republican slayer Location: WA	Latch, that avatar kicks ass by the way....

01-25-2005, 02:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
propaganda Psycho	Only noticed people posted right now sorry guys. Yeah Latch its from the CD. Im going to try and reset the CMOS and put in an empty HDD and try to install fresh Windows on it. Thanks again guys