Can linux kernel be installed alone without any other existing OS
2014-04
Uday datt
Hi I am newbie to linux world. I have just downloaded the latest kernel from kernel.org. I want to install this simple kernel into my PC(my PC is formatted and has empty hdd). Can I do that? if so, how? I don't want to go to any existing linux brands. FYI, I have already tried various distros. Now, I want to see how simple kernel works and how to create own linux etc...
Etan Reisner
The kernel by itself isn't enough to have a meaningfully running system. Do you perhaps want to do something like Linux From Scratch?
FSMaxB
It is indeed possible to have only a single kernel running, but the only thing you will have are some very limited commands built into the kernel which even for recovery purposes aren't worth anything.
Linux From Scratch, as pointed out by ChrisInEdmonton is indeed a great learning experience, but I really wouldn't recommend it to a newbie.
What you might want to try is Archlinux or Gentoo. With both distributions you start with a simple base system and build upon it. Archlinux however, is much easier to begin with and has a really nice Wiki to Guide you through the whole installation and further. Gentoo gives you much more power, but it's also much more difficult to begin with and I also wouldn't suggest using it on a slow computer as first time user, because everything is compiled from the sources, which takes some time (It took me about a week until I had a working Gentoo with working Desktop and all applications I need).
While Archlinux and Gentoo are much easier to begin with (and much more practical) than Linux from Scratch, you still have to keep in mind that they aren't necessarily intended for people that are new to GNU/Linux, it really helps to have some basic understanding how a GNU/Linux system works (but you'll definitely know more about that once you managed to install one of those distros).
t0mppa
Installed Linux as a dual-boot next to Windows 7 on my netbook and the install completed without any errors. When I pick the installed kernel from GRUB, I either get a blank screen with a blinking cursor (and hangs in there indefinitely) or the computer just restarts (loads BIOS again and goes back to GRUB). Thus I have a totally fresh install, as I haven't been able to load it up even once after installation. Picking Windows from GRUB or loading a LiveUSB session from a USB stick work just fine though.
There was a similar'ish bug report, but in my case even the recovery mode doesn't work. I've tried all sorts of combinations of the different options for loading up the kernel from the command line (leaving out splash, quiet, ro, all of the above, etc.), but none of them do any good.
So, does anyone know what could be going on or how I can troubleshoot the issue?
P.S. Since someone is bound to ask, the distro is Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 and it uses GRUB2 (version 1.97), but I fail to see how that makes any difference, since it can't even load the generic linux kernel.
Edit: I checked the log files on the system, both dmesg and boot.log are empty, syslog hasn't even been generated yet. So, it really isn't getting anywhere. Would this make it a Grub issue?
Edit 2: Computer model is Samsung N510.
pbr
You don't say what make and model of netbook you have. That would help.
There may be a kernel boot option you need to add (rather than remove) - for example adding noapic or something similar. Hard to say without knowing what hardware you're running.
Bobby
Boot from a Live-System and check your GRUB installation, configuration and disk layout. This sounds a little like it's messed up and GRUB is trying to start a wrong partition.
SysAdmin1138
I have a Samsung netbook. It did the same thing to me. Well not exactly. I installed Ubuntu fine with a dual boot of windows xp. Now the problem is that some how the manufacturers put a 3rd hidden boot of windows vista.
my girlfriend got onto my pc and tried to boot the windows Vista partition and completely screwed it, now I have the same error. The only way that I know how to fix it is if you put Ubuntu back onto your usb, then change your bios to boot from usb first. Ubuntu will boot this time fine; but you have to re-install it.
One trick I recommend is that when you first finish installing Ubuntu make sure you download and install all updates that come with Ububtu and install all driver packages.
One thing that I have been trying to figure out also, when my netbook boots it tries to load the Grub boot menu to select which partition I want to boot. O wonder if there is a 3rd party tool that i can use that I can use to select which partition I can use. That way even if the ubuntu partition borks you can still use the windows partition. If all else fails put get yourself a hirens boot cd :) and put that onto your keystick and either fix or remove the whole ubuntu partition. That's all that I can really reconmend :) if that fails.... i cant help :(