"unable to mount root fs on 09:00" error question

[hnugz]

I get this error when I try to install any version of linux.  I put in linux mem=256m expert and red hat 7.2 was able to install.  However, that command line does not work with red hat 7.3.  What does work is linux mem=128m.  If I do this, am I permanantly limiting my RAM to 128 even though I have 256?  What does this command line do?

Thanks.

[voidmain]

If you use it at the LILO or GRUB prompt it just passes that parameter to the kernel. mem=128M would limit the abount of RAM used by Linux to 128M for that boot.  If you add it to the lilo.conf or grub.conf then it will be permanent but will not be if you pass it at the boot command line. In 7.3 where it is not working are you doing this at a LILO prompt or GRUB prompt?

[hnugz]

Honestly I don't really know what any of that means.  I am VERY new to linux.  All I know is that typing that line will allow me to install RH 7.3.

[Master of Reality]

ignore VoidMains above post for a second.
The answer to your original question is no.

[voidmain]

Thanks m0r. And run the "top" command after you install and get the system booted and look at the "Mem:" line near the top. The first item on the list is the amount of physical memory Linux has detected. It should match the amount of RAM you have. If it doesn't you can force it to use all of your RAM with the "mem=???" kernel parameter that you are referring to.

[ August 25, 2002: Message edited by: VoidMain ]

[hnugz]

ok thank you all for the info.