kernel 2.6.5-1.356 hangs at boot time

[Jim Cornette]

Sanjeev Das wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I recently built kernel 2.6.5-1.356 from arjanv at
> http://people.redhat.com/arjanv/2.6/RPMS.kernel/. The system fails to boot 
> and hangs in runlevel 5 at "checking for new hardware"
> 
> what could be the problem? thanks for the help.
> 
> Sanjeev
> 
> 

For me, the problem was caused by my "Sandisk ImageMate 6 in 1" flash 
card reader. I had to disable kudzu in runlevel 1, then run the below 
command to get runlevel 5 or 3 to boot past the checking hardware prompt.

chkconfig --level 5 kudzu off

After I figured out it was my card reader, I disconnected the card 
reader and changed it back to normal with the below.

chkconfig --level 5 kudzu on

I don't know if this problem is related to the multilun parameter that 
was added to the kernel or not, to be able to read several different 
cards at once, in the card reader. I just know that it was hard to 
figure out.

To figure out the problem. I tried to run fdisk -l and found out that 
fdisk was hanging and would not list my disks. It hung on my usb hard 
disk and on the card reader.

I first removed the usb disk. The same lockup on checking hardware 
occurred. I then removed the card reader and rebooted. It rebooted and 
fdisk showed my disks (usb hard disk and other IDE drives).

I haven't put the card reader back on to confirm that the card rader was 
the actual problem. The amber light on the top of the reader worked. The 
green light for the CF flash was not lighted.


Good luck! Check for a usb device problem.

Jim