Hi.

I'm on Debian 10 Stable. I recently did an update (about 3 weeks since the previous one). I was using a backported kernel.

Perhaps the update went awry?

The laptop (it's a secondary PC) keeps shutting off and rebooting itself.

I can boot from a live USB. I can also enter the Grub menu and select the oldest kernel, then unlock the system (I'm using LUKS). It then asks me to put in the sudo password to become root. I tried removing some kernels to save space in /boot. I can get a GUI for root (not for my normal user) by entering startx - the WiFi is not available though.

I'm wondering what's the best fix or should I just reinstall the whole OS?

Thanks.

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vfs unable to mount fs on unknown-block(0,0)

This error means your kernel cannot access HDD controller and any disks connected to it.
You get this error if your kernel relies on initramfs and it is unavailable. For instance, kernel upgrade was interrupted and did not complete properly, then you get this error.
You need to reinstall kernel, not OS. And while at it pay close attention to what it is doing, take notes if you see any errors or anomalies. You have CLI root access working, this is enough to fix it.

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Hi Emerson.

So I could just find an ethernet cable and connected to my wifi router, via it and the laptop will pick up the network while I'm in the root CLI?

How about this to then run? --

If this was a botched install you already should have all .deb files downloaded and no net connection is necessary. Why don't you try it.

Edit: often problems like this occur when running out of disk space or inodes.

Ok.
Is my command from post #3 correct if I cannot reinstall from the .deb files?
If I go the .deb files offline route - what command(s) would be required?

Just
may be enough. But you never know.

Hi shruggy. I ran the command and it returned no errors but no joy.

What version of kernel you built it for, the one you are running? (My Debian experience is rusty, I believe by default it builds for running kernel, not what you want.)

The only kernel that I can get anywhere with is by booting with 5.10.0-0.bpo.3-amd64. It's the oldest kernel on my system.

To update initramfs for all installed kernels, run

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linustalman,

Yes, I understand that, but you need to rebuild the initramfs for your failing kernel, that's the idea. BTW, you can use your old kernel for normally operating your Debian, just edit the Grub line when at Grub menu and remove the part what puts it in single user mode.

No error was returned. I can only run that command on my oldest kernel.

There was no mention of single user mode. Just 'ro' and 'quiet' the end of the line.

I connected the laptop to my wireless modem-router via an Ethernet cable. I went into the oldest kernel. I entered my root password and tried to update and ping - no joy. I then dropped to my user account on the terminal with 'su myusername' - still no joy -- both cases returned some issue with DNS. With Debian 11 out soon, I may just leave this be and wait for Bullseye or just install something like Peppermint 10.

I've since wiped the HDD and installed Peppermint OS 10.