FW: Initramfs and unable to run or load Ubuntu to my HD

[Karl F. Larsen]

Ken Warwick wrote:
> ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> 
> Hello,
>  
> I am a newbie to Ubuntu.
>  
> I have been trying to load Ubuntu 9:04 for 3 weeks now.
> Ist I tried an upgrade from 8:10.
> All I got from that was a black blank screen.
>  
	Yes I recall that. I suggested you try to load 9.04 in a new partition. 
You never did that.


> Then I put in a new HD-in fact I have tried several HDs.
>  
	A new Hard Drive is a new partition. I assume it still did not work.


> The I tried a download to CD which I have verified using checksum etc.

	Tell us about your new CD. Which version of 9.04 did you download? What 
software did you load this .iso file to a CD with?

	The checksum you saw when you booted the CD. After you did the checksum 
what happened?


> I have changed HDs, cables, pulled the computer apart in pieces to check the
> hardware.
> I can run PCLinux off of its CD but I can't run Ubuntu.

	It makes me think your 9.04 LiveCD is broken, or, you didn't d/l a LiveCD.

> I cannot get 9:04 to run off the CD, nor can I get the CD to load 9:04 on my
> HD.
> I have tried reading the Ubuntu FAQ, forum historical questions and anything
> I can find on Ubuntu.
> When I try to load or install 9:04 or any other Ubuntu vs. now, all I get is
> the Ubuntu installation screen and after 
> it works for a while it goes to "initramfs".
> I have looked this up in Ubuntu, on the web and everywhere else I can find
> it and am still out to lunch on what is happening here.
> I have tried the help feature in initramfs but all it gives me is a page of
> commands. I tried looking them up to no avail.
> I have yet to find an explanation of initramfs that I can make sense of. 
> I have the definition but I still cannot figure out what it does exactly. 
> My question is how do I get by this initramfs stage/error/???? and continue
> with loading 9:04?

	You should never have stopped. I think you might have too little RAM to 
support Ubuntu. How much RAM do you have? I think it takes about 450 
KBytes minimum to support Ubuntu.





> What is the problem here?
> Is it a SW or HW problem?

	It is 100% a hardware problem.


> What is "initramfs" or where can I get a common sense explanation of it;
> i.e., how I move on from here?
> Thank you, any help on this will be greatly  appreciated.
> Ken
> 
> 

	I have tried to help you but you never do what I ask. If this happens 
this time it will be the last.

-- 

	Karl F. Larsen, AKA K5DI
	Linux User
	#450462   http://counter.li.org.
         Key ID = 3951B48D