OpenSuse not starting

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1

Hello,

I’m having some major issues with my laptop. When I start my computer, the login screen does not come up, but instead the command line appears. The command line shows an error repeatedly:

FATAL: Module ip_tables not found.
iptables v1.4.2-rc1: can't initialize iptables table 'filter': iptables who? (do you need to insmod?)

When I try to start the computer in safemode, I am able to login, however no internet connections appear in knetworkmanager, and I can’t create a new connection.

Prior to last shutting down my computer, I started to update using yast (graphical). I cancelled it part way through. I’m thinking what may have happened is the kernel may have updated, so no many applications are incompatible. However, I am not super familiar with linux, so I have no idea how to troubleshoot this issue, or how to fix it. Can someone please help me? I desperately need my computer fixed asap!

Currently, the bootup screen shows Kernel 2.6.27.39-0.2 (I think it used to be Kernel 2.6.27.39-0.1).

Also, although this may be irrelevant, every now grub comes up with a ‘winter’ look with penguins rolling around, while other times it shows the regular green grub screen comes up. I thought that was a bit odd…

2

I am still laughing at your phrase about the animals:

If you can, install or reinstall opensuse 11.2 - this may be the way of least effort.

Otherwise:

Since you don’t have Internet, put the installation DVD and try to reinstall the kernel. I am guessing that Yast will suggest to downgrade huge amount of other packages. If you can figure out, then do this - it should be safe.

However, it is easier to install the new OS. The current kernel of opensusue 11.2 is 2.6.31.5-0.1.

3

dkvasnic <dkvasnic@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> writes:

> Hello,
>
> I’m having some major issues with my laptop. When I start my computer,
> the login screen does not come up, but instead the command line appears.
> The command line shows an error repeatedly:
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> FATAL: Module ip_tables not found.
> iptables v1.4.2-rc1: can’t initialize iptables table ‘filter’: iptables who? (do you need to insmod?)
> --------------------
>
>
> When I try to start the computer in safemode, I am able to login,
> however no internet connections appear in knetworkmanager, and I can’t
> create a new connection.
>
> Prior to last shutting down my computer, I started to update using yast
> (graphical). I cancelled it part way through. I’m thinking what may have
> happened is the kernel may have updated, so no many applications are
> incompatible. However, I am not super familiar with linux, so I have no
> idea how to troubleshoot this issue, or how to fix it. Can someone
> please help me? I desperately need my computer fixed asap!
>

I would suggest completing the update, using a cable connection if
wireless isn’t available, using ifup if network manager won’t work and
from the command line if you have to.

Cancelling updates half way through is asking for trouble.

> Currently, the bootup screen shows Kernel 2.6.27.39-0.2 (I think it
> used to be Kernel 2.6.27.39-0.1).
>
> Also, although this may be irrelevant, every now grub comes up with a
> ‘winter’ look with penguins rolling around, while other times it shows
> the regular green grub screen comes up. I thought that was a bit odd…

That is just a bit of fun for Christmas, there were posts relating to it
all over the forums.

–
Regards,
Barry Nichols

4

I meant every now and then…Have you seen this happen? It looks cool, but I still find it odd that it happens.

Can I install 11.2 over everything currently installed without screwing up anything (with respect to my previously working os)

5

Maybe you can, but it is not worth.

What you have to save, are your files. Better boot from LiveCD, and save whatever you want onto an external hard drive.

While installing, it is better to create a separate /home partition for similar situations.

By the way, you can use the newer ext4 filesystem while installing 11.2.

You can also save /boot/ and /etc directories where the most important configuration files are.

Even though the laptop is working in safe mode, I consider the OS badly damaged, and there is a chance to lose all data now if you continue to work.

6

ifup isn’t working. I get the following error:

Unable to configure the network card because the kernel device (eth0, wlan0) is not present. This is mostly caused by missing firmware (for wlan devices). See dmesg output for details.

Noted for next time :slight_smile:

7

Is there an easy way to reinstall kernel 2.6.27.39-0.1?

8

Without Internet, it is difficult.

You can download the rpm package of the kernel using another computer, and install with rpm command.

But you will likely break dependencies.

To solve the dependency problems, you have to download onto a hard drive and make available essentially several repositories. Then you make them known to your Yast. The size to download is many GB.

This is not an easy task.

But if you succeed, the update of opensuse may finish successfully. But it is a huge task.

9

Can’t you install it from the DVD?

I would have thought if you enable the DVD repository, you would be able
to install whatever version is on that, and the dependancies can be
solved from the DVD also, is this a valid way to proceed?

–
Regards,
Barry Nichols

10

Yes, in my opinion this shall succeed, but there will be many dependency issues to solve, because packages will need downgrading.

Once done, the Interent connectivity will appear, and a normal update can be performed.

11

Ok, so I figured it out.

I guess when I was installing the updates, only a couple of the kernel updates installed. I had some on the old version, and some on the new (ie. kernel-default was one, kernel-default-base was another). What I ended up doing was downloading the RPMs for the newest kernel and installing them from the terminal. I had to burn them to a CD because the usb wasn’t working.

Thanks for your help guys, that was a scary and painful process, but all seems well now :slight_smile:

Lesson learned: don’t stop Yast in the middle of updating