[Solved] RPi does not boot after system update

[TrouDeBozouls]

Hello

I have a Raspberry Pi model B with a 32 GB SD card on which I have the archlinux-hf-2012-09-18 image. Booted nicely the first time, and then I ran $this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'fdisk /dev/mmcblk0') etc etc as described on http://www.rpiforum.net/forum/tutorials/article/7-full-guide-to-arch-linux-on-the-raspberry-pi/ to expand the partition to the whole card.

Then I changed the root password and updated the system with $this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman-key --init') and $this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman -Syu')as describd on http://elinux.org/ArchLinux_Install_Guide#Secondary_Installation.

FInally I rebooted (shutdown on second attempt), but after that the Pi will not boot. I can tell from its green light that the card is read, but nothing happens. All was done via ssh from a linux laptop.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[pepedog]

Those instructions are old, will give some general advice here
resize partition 2 as shown, always sync before reboot and do a reboot after this to make sure all ok.
Run pacman -Syu and then sync followed by reboot
You don't need the keyring thing

[TrouDeBozouls]

Thanks for your answer pepedog, I will try again with sync this time.

Funny thing is, another user seems have the exact same problem, described in the post "latest firmware CRASHES RP1" in the Pi-forum (where I probably should have posted my question): http://archlinuxarm.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=4392
From that thread it seems to be a raspberrypi-firmware update that makes it unable to boot. How do I perform an update excluding the firmware (If you think that'll help)?

Perhaps worth mentioning I'm using the same card as him: SanDisk Ultra 32GB class 10 (brand new) - but I hope that's not the problem ...

[pepedog]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman -Syu --ignore linux-raspberrypi,raspberrypi-firmware')
Please try full upgrade first though, just to see. Reminder, sync befor reboot. Maybe even sync 3 times before reboot

[TrouDeBozouls]

Did the following:
1. Resized, synced, rebooted: OK.
2. Full upgrade (pacman -Syu), sync (x3), reboot: Shuts down, but Pi doesn't boot. Same problem as before.

Will try the upgrade without firmware. However, I noticed the following lines near the end of the upgrade:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '(57/63) upgrading raspberry-pi firmware
/tmp/alpm_M1YS60/.INSTALL: line 3: syntax error near unexpected token '}'
/tmp/alpm_N1YS60/.INSTALL: line 3: '}'
error: command failed to execute correctly
(58/63) ...')

Is this error related to the Pi not booting?

[TrouDeBozouls]

Strangest thing ... I waited 45 mins, then unplugged power and plugged it back in, and voila! The Pi booted. (Didn't get to do the upgrade without firmware.)

Edit: added a user, changed timezone, etc, synced, and reboot --- but then it wouldn't boot, and still hasn't after several attempts. Go figure.

[TrouDeBozouls]

Just wanted to let you know that replacing the firmware with the one from github, as suggested in http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=232848#p232848 worked for me and made the Pi boot again. So the problem's kinda solved.