Why does this error occur on boot?

Question

No matter which Linux distro I try to install, I get this error:
end Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(1,0)

I tried Debian Netinst and SliTaz on a 32-bit Tablet PC which currently has Windows 10 installed.

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

As it says, it can't mount the root device.

There are many possible reasons for this. One is that you don't load the initrd that is supposed to prepare for mounting the real root.

You should also check the root parameter on the kernel command line. The 1,0 in unknown-block(1,0) indicates that /dev/ram0 should be used. So either you want to use another root or ram0 has not been prepared.