[SOLVED] Debian installer error: no suitable kernel

EDDY1 · 11-19-2012, 05:43 PM

I just installed Debian Wheezy, but during base-system install when it came to choose kernel, it just said no suitable kernel found.
I guess I need to chroot into system & install, is there any documentation available for accomplishing?
Or is it possible to install my 2.6.32 kernel so as to boot & compile a kernel?

Hungry ghost · 11-19-2012, 07:06 PM

It's strange that the installation program didn't find a kernel, did you check the iso images and the installation media? As for chrooting and installing the kernel, I guess it should not be difficult, in case it's the only thing missing. Assuming your Debian root partition is /dev/sda1, you can try this from a live environment or other Linux install on the same computer:

Code:

mkdir /mnt/debian
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/debian
mount -t proc none /mnt/debian/proc
mount -o bind /dev /mnt/debian/dev
chroot /mnt/debian /bin/bash
apt-get update
apt-get install linux-image-2.6-your_preferred_architecture

While on the chrooted environment, you probably have to update grub's configuration in order to add the newly installed kernel (in case grub is installed):

Code:

update-grub

Hope it works.

EDDY1 · 10-06-2014, 02:04 PM

I'm in the middle of yet another testing version & get the infamous no suitable kernel found. Do you want to continue?
Well this time I chose to continue so I can learn something new.

I'm continuing without bootloader & going to use my usb install of debian jessie ti do the repairs. The new i.stall that I'm going to be working on is on internal hdd.

EDDY1 · 10-07-2014, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odiseo77

It's strange that the installation program didn't find a kernel, did you check the iso images and the installation media? As for chrooting and installing the kernel, I guess it should not be difficult, in case it's the only thing missing. Assuming your Debian root partition is /dev/sda1, you can try this from a live environment or other Linux install on the same computer:

Code:

mkdir /mnt/debian
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/debian
mount -t proc none /mnt/debian/proc
mount -o bind /dev /mnt/debian/dev
chroot /mnt/debian /bin/bash
apt-get update
apt-get install linux-image-2.6-your_preferred_architecture

While on the chrooted environment, you probably have to update grub's configuration in order to add the newly installed kernel (in case grub is installed):

Code:

update-grub

Hope it works.

I should have tried your commands way back when you posted them, the only thing that was missing was the commands to mount the other partitions & to copy /etc/resolv.conf from live to the chrooted system.

I tried to do it from my debian install on usb but it failed me because it was the wrong architecture, so I downloaded debian-live 64-bit, loaded it to usb, chrooted & installed kernel & grub.

Hungry ghost · 10-07-2014, 11:11 AM

Good to know it worked (even after two years

).

BTW, if I recall correctly a while ago you had to install the 64 bit compatibility libraries on the 32 bit host system to be able to chroot a 64 bit system. I'm not sure about now though, since I stopped using 32 bit some time ago.

EDDY1 · 10-07-2014, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odiseo77

Good to know it worked (even after two years

).

BTW, if I recall correctly a while ago you had to install the 64 bit compatibility libraries on the 32 bit host system to be able to chroot a 64 bit system. I'm not sure about now though, since I stopped using 32 bit some time ago.

I thought about doing that, but decided to check out live-cd. I may try it just to see if it works, if it doesn't, I may add a 64-bit system to the usb drive & get rid of the xp system that started this journey into linux. The drive is 160Gigs so there will be plenty of room for storage.