[arch] Boot error after upgrade, kernel 2.6.16, "ran out of input data" then goes blank and stops -- SOLVED

[John Shane]

On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:33:14 +0200
Benoit Myard <myardbenoit at gmail.com> wrote:

> Sure, boot from the install CD and configure your network connection
> (/arch/setup might help you for this step).
> 
> Then, mount all important partitions and chroot to your system.
> 
> Finally, clean your /boot and run pacman as you would if you were really
> using your system.

Thanks VERY much, Tom and Benoit for your responses.  I'm writing
this from my restored Arch system. ;-)  For the benefit of others who
might be scouring the list archives later with a similar problem:

First step was to correctly identify the problem.  The pacman log
(/var/log/pacman.log) held the clue that the trouble was with the
boot partition being full which mangled the kernel upgrade.

The solution was booting from an Arch install CD and installing a
working kernel. This is what I did:

-boot from the install CD
-mount my hard disk partitions (/boot and /)
	(the Arch install/repair process expects them at /mnt/... )
-clean up the /boot partition on the hard disk
-run /arch/setup which takes you to a menu of options
-choose "install kernel" from the menu
	(check that the kernel files were installed in the hard
	drive /boot directory, I did not mount it correctly the first
	time and the kernel files went somewhere else, system
	wouldn't boot, went back with the install CD and copied them
	to the correct directory on the HD and all was well) 
-the "install kernel" process uses pacman to install a new kernel from
	the CD to the hard drive, bingo! a working system once again
-if the kernel from the CD is out of date (but hopefully works)
	reboot the system and run pacman again from the restored hard
	drive and upgrade the kernel from the Internet.  That's it.

Thanks again for the help.