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All the system processes that execute on a Linux-based system root from init. While booting, it is the last step performed that is identified by process id '1'. Linux references /etc/ inittab file to start these system processes. Init also controls the processes and sequence while shutting down the system.

While booting the system if you find errors that system cannot boot further as it could not find init, odds are that the initrd file is corrupted. In critical situations, you might need to perform a clean reinstall of the system. Since it causes data loss, you'll need to restore lost data from backup after performing clean reinstall. But if you face any backup issues, you should use advanced Linux Data Recovery tools that are special purpose tools to recover lost information. As an example, when you try to boot a Linux-based system, you might receive the below error message: 'Kernel panic: No init found. Try passing init= option to kernel' The error message suggests that system is unable to find initrd.

Cause

Possible causes for Linux-based system to show this behavior are:

• Not putting initrd statement while at Grub prompt or in Grub.conf file
• The kernel statement parameter 'root' is not pointing to the valid hard disk or hard disk partition
• Initrd file is either corrupted or has been deleted

Solution

You are recommended to follow these steps to fix this issue:

• Ensure that you have used the correct inirtd for Grub that it could pass to the kernel
• You need to change the root parameter to the one that contains the root (/) folder. For example, 'root=/dev/hda3' if /dev/hda3 is your root partition
• If initrd file is damaged or deleted, use Linux rescue disk to get the Linux up. Next, you should use chroot /dev/hdxy ('x' refers to the hard disk letter and 'y' refers to the partition number) command to change the root to your hard disk

If the above measures fail or are not feasible, you should perform a clean reinstall of the system. This deletes data, so restore from backup. Sometimes, backup also gives errors or is absent. Such situations necessitate the use of Data Recovery Linux applications. These are valid tools to scan the media and offer safe Linux Data Recovery.

Stellar Phoenix Linux Data Recovery is an advanced data recovery application that supports Ext2, Ext3 and ReiserFS file systems. This Data Recovery Linux application provides you advanced features such as, RAW File Recovery, File Filter, and Append File Header etc. It is compatible with almost all Linux distributions including Gentoo, SlackWare, Mandrake, Ubuntu, SUSE etc.

About the Author:

Author is researching on how booting error become the cause of data loss. For lost linux recovery and booting problem author suggested to use linux data recovery software.