[arch-general] x86_64 kernel 3.4.3-1 fail to boot - initramfs unpacking failed: uncompression error

[David C. Rankin]

Guys,

  Updating an x86_64 box, I ran into an error I've never seen before with the
3.4.3-1 kernel. It hard-locks at the very start of boot with the keyboard lights
flashing. Basically the first line of the boot says:

Decompressing Linux... Parsing ELF... done.
Booting the kernel.
[    0.480811] Initramfs unpacking failed: uncompression error
[    -.547776] Kernel panic - not syncing: No init found. Try passing init=
option to kernel. See Linux Documentation/init.txt for guidance.

  I literally took a picture of the screen just in case it is of any help:

[155k]
http://www.3111skyline.com/dl/ss/arch/kernel343-fail2boot.jpg

  Where to start? Boot from an install disk, chroot, and try kernel reinstall?
What say the experts?

-- 
David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E.