Strange Boot Process

1

Have a server running Centos 8 before the stream change. I think my drive 0 (root) went bad. That’s the only thing on it.

Funny thing is that when it doesn’t boot Centos, I get an AlmaLinux 9.2 install screen! There is absolutely NOTHING plugged into the server other than this single drive. No CD, no USB devices, not even a network cable. Where the hell is an AlmaLinux 9.2 install process coming from?

And if I try to troubleshoot or pretend to install it complains about “Unable to mount root fs”

Let me be clear: I’m not asking for help resolving this since I’m sure it’s a dead drive. Just for my own curiosity wondering where in the world that AlmaLinux install is coming from!!

2

Could you have like, accidentally dded an AlmaLinux 9.2 install image over drive 0 instead of onto a USB device as you intended?

3

It’s a brand spanking new drive. That’s why I’m confused!

4

If the drive’s the only available boot media, the Alma installer has to be coming from there, and I can’t imagine a new drive would’ve shipped with the Alma installer written onto it.