Kernel panic – not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block

Jumping back on my Linux machine this week and I decided I’d make an upgrade from Linux510 to Linux515 but unfortunately not without issues.

After compiling the new kernel and rebooting and I was met with the following message above.

After digging around online Googling the issue it seems this issue can be caused by a number of reasons but none seems to be able to fix this constant panic.

In order to get around the issue I ended up reverting back to Linux510 and updating grub but not without some messing around first.

I had to first recompile Linux510 while chroot into Linux515 using a live bootable image

sudo manjaro-chroot -a

I then connected to Wi-Fi and ran:

mhwd-kernel -i linux510

Although when you do a kernel install it will run update-grub I ran it again just in case:

update-grub

Once complete I exited chroot and rebooted into my laptop and on the next boot I held shift to bring up the grub boot loader and ensure Linux510 was selected for boot and boom I was back in action.

Id be lying if I said I didn’t spend hours debugging how to fix the issue with Linux515 but I guess that will be for another time.

I hope this helps the next person who might be looking to get out of a non boot situation but make sure you keep a bootable Linux image with you 👽

Dell XPS 9570
Manjaro Plasma
Linux 5.10.166-1-MANJARO