I have Linux 2.6 / 38-13, on Ubuntu, and it loads, as I understand it, through GNU GRUB version 1.99 ~ rc1-13ubuntu3.

When loading gives:

BusyBox v1.17.1 (Ubuntu 1: 1.17.1-10ubuntu1) built-in shell (ash) Enter help for a list of built-in commands (initramfs)

I dialed help, gives:

alias break cd chdir command continue echo eval exec exit export falshaphg deallocvt df dnsdomainname du dumpkmap echo egrep env expr false fbset fdflush fgrep find grep gunzip gzip hostname ifconfig ip kill ln loadfont loadkmap -sh stty sync tail tee test touch tr true tty umount uname uniq wc wget which yeat zcat

What to do with it?

added from comment:

I try to run an old (not known to me) comp ... writes that Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.38-13-generic is installed with two test modes and with the previous version (8 pcs.), there is still recovery mode ... none starts (black screen, and then busybox)

  • Has it ever loaded normally? it looks like an unfinished system the most. What does it write before issuing a busybox? - zb '
  • I don’t know, I’m trying to run an old (not known to me) comp ... writes that Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.38-13-generic is installed with two test modes and the previous version (8 pcs.), There is still recovery mode. ..and one does not start (black screen, and then busybox) - Andrey Klementyev

1 answer 1

There is one global reason: there was a problem with the initrd (image of the “minimal” file system).

judging by the fact that you see the invitation of the program busybox , this means that both the linux program and the initrd program were safely unpacked, the grub program was able to transfer control of the linux program, but when executing /sbin/init from the initrd an error occurred and the busybox program was loaded minimalist shell, which usually complete the initrd .

not having additional information (a large enough volume), one can only guess about the specific reason for the failure.