Kernel Corrupted

[cc7gir]

Hey everyone,

This morning I was working on my computer, when suddenly the screen went black.
Everything locked up, keyboard was completely unresponsive, I couldn't even pull up a shell
(cnt+alt+F2)

So I reset the computer. (with physical button on the front)
When it turns back on, it tells me the kernel is corrupt.
Selecting different kernels from the GRUB lists all give me the same error.

I was wondering if it is possible to download the default kernel from somewhere,
go in with a live cd and drop it into place of the old files.

I had SE-linux enabled so I am not sure if this is possible.

I am open to any suggestions, ideas and tutorials.
(The last thing I want to do is re-install and configure everything)
All my important files are backed-up.

Thanks - CC7

[jpollard]

That sounds more like a disk error...

Can you mount the disk with the live/rescue CD?

[cc7gir]

Yes I can. I can pull all the system files from the drive using a ubuntu live disk and copy them to the storage drive.

But is my idea possible. Can I just swap one kernel image for another?? (I hope that as long as almost everything is the same, same name, version, location it should work right?)

[jpollard]

Sure - no problem there. It doesn't even have to be the same kernel. Grub takes
care of loading the kernel (and initramfs) into memory before the kernel even
starts. It takes care of any required disk blocks.

Once the file(s) , you have to copy the kernel and the initramfs at a minimum, and
I would suggest copying the corresponding config and system.map files too. Then
modfiy the grub.conf file to put an entry in there.

The strange thing is that the file is supposedly corrupted. And that ALL boot files
are corrupted.

I rather doubt that. One, maybe.

If it isn't a disk error, then you should also be able to do a checksum on the files
in question and compare that to a reference (from a backup).

BTW, you could get a boot kernel from the CD/DVD... After all, it is already booted.
That is one of the uses for a recovery mode of an install CD/DVD. Once it is running
you can then do anything you want.

[cadillackid]

shouldnt he be able to boot a fedora live CD(same release or core as his installed version(, then chroot to his own file system, do a yum erase kernel,

then do a yum install kernel?

-Christopher

[cc7gir]

Hey guys,

replaced the kernel, using live cd.
However, that wasn't the problem.
After all this work, I ran a memory test, and discovered the RAM was bad! (derp)
Took out the bad stick and system worked like a dream

Thanks for all your help and ideas.

I'm sure i'll be back again.

Cheers - CC7