Upgrade to 3.5.0-2 kernel causes boot failure

[fumble88]

I've just upgraded the linux kernel from 3.4.6-2 to 3.5.0-2 and am now unable to boot the new kernel. The boot process ends with the following message displayed:
fixing recursive fault but reboot is needed
If I reboot the machine I get the same message. I can still boot into the the old kernel with no problem. What steps do I need to do to further determine the cause of this error and then to fix it?

[WaltS48]

I ddn't get that message, but I did have the nvidia graphics driver installed.

I noticed an upgrade to the grpahics driver, when updating to the 3.5.0-2 kernel, and couldn't boot into any older kernel, so I reinstalled, left the default graphics driver, and upgraded to the 3.5.0-2 kernel with no problem.

Your problem may be different, but that was mine. Hope it helps someone.

[dcharlespyle]

Check that you have Installed the matching akmod for your video driver. Always make sure that your initramfs is rebuilt after a kernel update. The akmod package that pertains to your driver is supposed to make sure that this happens whenever you upgrade the kernel.

I had a similar problem with the AMD proprietary driver a couple times. I am not using it at the moment but I always make sure I have the akmod package pertaining to the driver version installed. I almost never have a problem with upgrades afterward.

I recently had an exception to this happen to me and I found that the initramfs had not been rebuilt. In fact, it wasn't even there. I reinstalled the kernel and a new initramfs matching the updated kernel was created and I had no more problems of this nature.

[WaltS48]

Thanks dcharlespyle!

If I ever decide to try an nvidia graphics driver again, I will keep that in mind.