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Debian boot hangs at "Loading initial ramdisk"

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joja
Posts: 5
Joined: 2020-04-20 08:33

Debian boot hangs at "Loading initial ramdisk"

#1 Post by joja »

Yesterday I installed a Grub Theme (Vimix). I was aware this was a critical point so I have tried this in Virtualbox before and it worked like a charm. So I went ahead and tried the same on my Debian (bullseye) installation. The Grub screen shows up as intended but when I try to boot into Debian, the startup process stops here:

Code: Select all

Loading Linux 5.5.0-1-amd64 ...
Loading initial ramdisk ...
This happens for both kernels (5.5.0-1 and 4.19.0-8) including in recovery mode.

About my system:
A Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 1
Debian Bullseye and Windows 10 in a Dualboot configuration (Windows starts up just fine)
Intel Core i7-8750h, 16 GB RAM, GTX 1050 ti max-Q
fdisk output (using live-CD):

Code: Select all

Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 477 GiB, 512110190592 bytes, 1000215216 sectors
Disk model: INTEL SSDPEKKF512G8L
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 9DDAC3E8-BF63-4AB5-B00F-4A9B21424FD4

Device             Start        End   Sectors   Size Type
/dev/nvme0n1p1      2048     534527    532480   260M EFI System
/dev/nvme0n1p2    534528     567295     32768    16M Microsoft reserved
/dev/nvme0n1p3    567296  998166527 997899232 475.7G Microsoft basic data
/dev/nvme0n1p4 998166528 1000214527   2048000  1000M Windows recovery environment

Disk /dev/nvme1n1: 465.8 GiB, 500107862016 bytes, 976773168 sectors
Disk model: WDC WDS500G2BOC-00PXH0
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector soze (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 278A55D5-20E7-48D3-8EA2-18E951358210

Device             Start       End   Sectors   Size Type
/dev/nvme1n1p1        34     32767     32764    16M Microsoft reserved
/dev/nvme1n1p2     32768 134250498 134217728    64G Microsoft basic data
/dev/nvme1n1p3 914208768 976771071  62562304  29.9G Linux swap
/dev/nvme1n1p4 134250496 135301119   1050624   513M EFI System
/dev/nvme1n1p5 135301120 914208767 778907648 371.4G Linux filesystem

Partition table entries are not in disk order.

#USB-Sticks including Live-CD, etc.
What I have tried so far:
- boot with 'nomodeset'
- boot with 'verbose' - same result
- run update-grub in live-CD shell - didn't run, as it was missing /dev

PS: I have seen this thread, but it did not work for me: http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=129463

Here is my grub.cfg, in case this is relevant:

Code: Select all

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="2"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
  menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}
function load_video {
  if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
    insmod all_video
  else
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod ieee1275_fb
    insmod vbe
    insmod vga
    insmod video_bochs
    insmod video_cirrus
  fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
fi
    font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
  set lang=de_DE
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
fi
insmod gfxmenu
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/dejavu_32.pf2
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/dejavu_sans_12.pf2
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/dejavu_sans_14.pf2
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/dejavu_sans_16.pf2
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/dejavu_sans_24.pf2
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/dejavu_sans_48.pf2
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/terminus-12.pf2
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/terminus-14.pf2
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/terminus-16.pf2
loadfont ($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/terminus-18.pf2
insmod jpeg
insmod png
set theme=($root)/usr/share/grub/themes/Vimix/theme.txt
export theme
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
  set timeout=30
else
  if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
    set timeout_style=menu
    set timeout=10
  # Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
  # unavailable.
  else
    set timeout=10
  fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
fi
insmod png
if background_image /usr/share/desktop-base/futureprototype-theme/grub/grub-16x9.png; then
  set color_normal=white/black
  set color_highlight=black/white
else
  set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
  set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
	set gfxpayload="${1}"
}
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1' {
	load_video
	insmod gzio
	if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
	fi
	echo	'Loading Linux 5.5.0-1-amd64 ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-5.5.0-1-amd64 root=UUID=dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1 ro  quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-5.5.0-1-amd64
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Debian GNU/Linux' --class driver $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1' {
	menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 5.5.0-1-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-5.5.0-1-amd64-advanced-dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1' {
		load_video
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_gpt
		insmod ext2
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 5.5.0-1-amd64 ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-5.5.0-1-amd64 root=UUID=dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1 ro  quiet
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-5.5.0-1-amd64
	}
	menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 5.5.0-1-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-5.5.0-1-amd64-recovery-dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1' {
		load_video
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_gpt
		insmod ext2
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 5.5.0-1-amd64 ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-5.5.0-1-amd64 root=UUID=dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1 ro single 
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-5.5.0-1-amd64
	}
	menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 4.19.0-8-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.19.0-8-amd64-advanced-dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1' {
		load_video
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_gpt
		insmod ext2
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 4.19.0-8-amd64 ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.19.0-8-amd64 root=UUID=dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1 ro  quiet
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.19.0-8-amd64
	}
	menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 4.19.0-8-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.19.0-8-amd64-recovery-dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1' {
		load_video
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_gpt
		insmod ext2
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 4.19.0-8-amd64 ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-4.19.0-8-amd64 root=UUID=dfa4527c-abd7-4ab6-b622-7b99b3d684c1 ro single 
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-4.19.0-8-amd64
	}
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry 'Windows Boot Manager (on /dev/nvme1n1p1)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-efi-B870-8310' {
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod fat
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  B870-8310
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root B870-8310
	fi
	chainloader /efi/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
menuentry 'System setup' --class cancel $menuentry_id_option 'uefi-firmware' {
	fwsetup
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
  source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

User avatar
Bloom
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Posts: 504
Joined: 2017-11-11 12:23
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Re: Debian boot hangs at "Loading initial ramdisk"

#2 Post by Bloom »

Perhaps a memory issue? Did you try a memory test like mem86+?

joja
Posts: 5
Joined: 2020-04-20 08:33

Re: Debian boot hangs at "Loading initial ramdisk"

#3 Post by joja »

Bloom wrote:Perhaps a memory issue? Did you try a memory test like mem86+?
I did run the memory check tool from windows. It did successfully complete 2 runs and crashed at the 3rd. I assumed it was a issue with the tool however.
Now that you mention it: Windows tends to freeze for a few seconds every other minute or so, so it does seem plausible. However, I never had an issue with this before and the freezes in Windows occurred before Debian refused to start.
I'll give it a try with mem86+ tonight.

joja
Posts: 5
Joined: 2020-04-20 08:33

Re: Debian boot hangs at "Loading initial ramdisk"

#4 Post by joja »

Bloom wrote:Perhaps a memory issue? Did you try a memory test like mem86+?
I ran a memtest tonight and it passed. This issue persists.
The problem has to somewhere else.

arzgi
Posts: 1185
Joined: 2008-02-21 17:03
Location: Finland
Been thanked: 31 times

Re: Debian boot hangs at "Loading initial ramdisk"

#5 Post by arzgi »

Not necessarily, I've read cases where people have to run memtest for days or weeks. If you have other memory, or many of them, try switching and alternating. Can be a really slow and painful process, if you don't get any other symptoms.

EDIT:

Have you run smartctl to test disk? Requires sudo or root to run, if not found, install

Code: Select all

smart-notiifier
EXAMPLE:

Code: Select all

arto@acer:~$ lsblk
NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda      8:0    0 223,6G  0 disk 
├─sda1   8:1    0   3,7G  0 part [SWAP]
├─sda2   8:2    0  18,6G  0 part /
└─sda3   8:3    0 201,2G  0 part /home
arto@acer:~$ sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda
smartctl 6.6 2017-11-05 r4594 [x86_64-linux-4.19.0-8-amd64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-17, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION === ....

joja
Posts: 5
Joined: 2020-04-20 08:33

Re: Debian boot hangs at "Loading initial ramdisk"

#6 Post by joja »

arzgi wrote:Not necessarily, I've read cases where people have to run memtest for days or weeks. If you have other memory, or many of them, try switching and alternating. Can be a really slow and painful process, if you don't get any other symptoms.
Alright, I'll give it a try for some further nights - I need this machine at day.

Meanwhile, are there any other solutions or suggestions out there? Or does anybody have an idea what else could cause the issue, apart from misbehaving memory? Is it something with the ramdisk itself? I have ran out of ideas and don't know what to do anymore.

arzgi
Posts: 1185
Joined: 2008-02-21 17:03
Location: Finland
Been thanked: 31 times

Re: Debian boot hangs at "Loading initial ramdisk"

#7 Post by arzgi »

Well you could take a step back, and purge that GRUB theme. Probably not the cause, but wort testing anyway.

And the obvious, you could try Debian stable, Buster.

joja
Posts: 5
Joined: 2020-04-20 08:33

Re: Debian boot hangs at "Loading initial ramdisk"

#8 Post by joja »

Yay, I got it to start again!

Turns out it wasn't the disk or memory all together. I fiddeled around with the live-CD and its rescuemode and finally managed to get update-grub to successfully repair everything. Turns out it's not enought to just mount your root drive to target manually and you're better off letting the tool do this for you - with the inherent risk of data loss associated with this.
Also, both my NVMe-SSDs switched places for some reason, which didn't simplify matters. But as long as it works, I'm happy with it.

Thank you all very much for your suggestions and your patience! Even though they didn't solve my problem, I really appreciate it!

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