📖 ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
System drops to loader prompt and cannot continue normal boot.
Environment & Reproduction
Happens after manual edits to loader.conf or boot filesystem moves.
Root Cause Analysis
Configured kernel path does not match installed kernel location.
Quick Triage
List loader variables and verify boot partition accessibility.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Inspect loader settings and filesystem layout for path discrepancies.
Solution – Primary Fix
Restore valid kernel path entries and revalidate boot configuration.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Boot from previous environment and regenerate loader configuration.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
Boot sequence reaches multi-user mode without loader interruption.
Rollback Plan
Use rescue media and restore last working boot configuration backup.
Prevention & Hardening
Track boot config in version control and validate before reboot.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
Related to ZFS boot pool import and GPT partition labeling issues.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for FreeBSD 12.
View all FreeBSD 12 tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
FreeBSD loader(8), loader.conf(5), and boot troubleshooting docs.
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