But I haven't even gotten to the point where I can build a journal file yet. In order to build it (at least from what I understand) I have to have it mounted first. And in order to mount it, it wants it to already have a journal file. Like I'm in some infinite loop of my own ignorance here. It's almost like dealing with the driver's license people. They want to see your ID before they'll allow you to get a replacement ID for the one you've lost, but you lost it, so you can't show it, so they won't give you a replacement. (Not quite, but the sentiment is there).

It seems like either I'm missing a step, or as soon as I update the kernel (with the required automatic restart), it thinks I should already have journal files. Is there a way to update the kernel by hand, without rebooting, so that I may build the journal files at that point before it unmounts them for good?

Greg