Kernel Panic when using Kernel 2.6 on Dell laptop

[hqking]

I'm running debian sid with kernel 2.4 on my Dell Latitude D510, while my wireless card Inter PRO/wireless 2200BG requires kernel 2.6. so I updated my kernel to 2.6 but find an error when reboot.

/sbin/init: 432 cannot open dev/console: No such file
kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init.

and than system stopped.

I have compiled a custom kernel 2.6 and It works but with many problems including a critical one that I can't compile any module. e.g. compiling wireless module, it appears:

make -C /lib/modules/2.6.12.3/build SUBDIRS=/usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver MODVERDIR=/usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/home/hqking/linux-2.6.12.3'
CC [M] /usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver/ipw2200.o
(ps: error occurs)
/usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver/ipw2200.c: In function ‘ipw_rx’:
/usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver/net/ieee80211.h:659: sorry, unimplemented: inlining failed in call to ‘is_multicast_ether_addr’: function body not available
/usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver/ipw2200.c:6320: sorry, unimplemented: called from here
/usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver/net/ieee80211.h:659: sorry, unimplemented: inlining failed in call to ‘is_multicast_ether_addr’: function body not available
/usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver/ipw2200.c:6333: sorry, unimplemented: called from here
make[2]: *** [/usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver/ipw2200.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/usr/src/modules/ipw2200/driver] Error 2
make: *** [modules] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/hqking/linux-2.6.12.3'

I have already installed kernel headers and source in /usr/src. It seems that compiler couldn't find this path, it goes into /home/hqking/linux-2.6.12.3 which stores source code I downloaded

[stoft]

This just might go against your wish to have things compiled, but have you tried installing using apt-get? I'm running a sarge kernel (2.6.11) with ipw2200 installed on my Toshiba laptop without too much difficulty. It may not be compiled but at least it works.

This is basically what I did:

$ apt-get install kernel-imageX

and

$ m-a -i ipw2200

I'm not sure if that second one is correct, you may have to apt-get ipw2200-source and/or use the module-assistant interface. This should give you a working kernel with the ipw2200 module. After that you'll at least know that the environment works and you can start compiling on your own again.

As far as I remember upgrading 2.4 -> 2.6 entails a bit more than 2.6.x -> 2.6.y so read up a bit more on it before you try it.

[hqking]

Thank you for you advice, stoft

yes, I have tried official kernel first, but it didn't work, telling me something below when booting

/sbin/init: 432 cannot open dev/console: No such file
kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init.

and than, my laptop was totally locked, I can only cut the power supply.

I'll try module-assistant later.