[syslinux] System freezes

[Ady]

> Hi,
> 
> when I try to boot my notebook from a USB disc, the system freezes
> completely. After displaying the text (or menu), it doesn't react to any
> key, even Ctrl+Alt+Del doesn't work. The config is pretty simple:
> 
> -------------------------------------------
> SAY Booting Linux from USB...
> KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz
> DEFAULT Vaio
> PROMPT 1
> 
> LABEL Black
>     KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz
>     APPEND ro initrd=/boot/initramfs console=ttyS0,38400 console=tty0
> vga=0x307 HOST=Black
> 
> LABEL Vaio
>     KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz
>     APPEND ro initrd=/boot/initramfs console=ttyS0,38400 console=tty0
> vga=0x305 HOST=Vaio
> -------------------------------------------
> 
> With "PROMPT 0", it boots without problems.
> 
> As the same configuration works well with my PC, I guess it has
> something to do with the BIOS. The notebook is a Vaio VGN-Z21VN, approx.
> 6 years old.
> Any ideas?
> 
> Regards,
> Bernd
> 
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The first KERNEL directive in your cfg (the one under the SAY 
directive) should be deleted (or at least comment it out with "#"):

 -------------------------------------------
 SAY Booting Linux from USB...
 # KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz
 DEFAULT Vaio
 PROMPT 1
 
 LABEL Black
 KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz
 APPEND ro initrd=/boot/initramfs console=ttyS0,38400 console=tty0 
vga=0x307 HOST=Black
 
 LABEL Vaio
 KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz
 APPEND ro initrd=/boot/initramfs console=ttyS0,38400 console=tty0 
vga=0x305 HOST=Vaio
 -------------------------------------------
 
When using "PROMPT 1", you should see the "boot:" prompt. Pressing 
[Enter], should boot the "Vaio" label.

When using "PROMPT 0", the "Vaio" label should boot immediately.

Additionally, generally speaking I would suggest not to mix 
upper-case with lower-case labels (e.g. "LABEL vaio", instead of 
"Vaio").

Regards,
Ady.