Ubuntu 17.10 kernel panic not syncing: VFS: unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)

I am getting a kernel panic "not syncing: VFS: unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)" with kernel 4.13.0-43 on Ubuntu 17.10. I can boot just fine with 4.13.0-41. After a successful boot using 4.13.0-41 I can get 4.13.0-43 to boot if I boot in text mode and remove the quiet and splash options. Anyone have any ideas as to what is happening? My disk drive is a 250Gb disk with one partition (I accepted the default options when I installed the system).

Solution 1:

After checking the SMART status, lets check your file system...

To check the file system on your Ubuntu partition...

• boot to the GRUB menu
• choose Advanced Options
• choose Recovery mode
• choose Root access
• at the # prompt, type sudo fsck -f /
• repeat the fsck command if there were errors
• type reboot

If for some reason you can't do the above...

• boot to a Ubuntu Live DVD/USB
• start gparted and determine which /dev/sdaX is your Ubuntu EXT4 partition
• quit gparted
• open a terminal window
• type sudo fsck -f /dev/sdaX # replacing X with the number you found earlier
• repeat the fsck command if there were errors
• type reboot

Update #1:

Rebuild initramfs...

In terminal...

• sudo update-initramfs -c -k 4.13.0-43-generic # update initramfs
• reboot # to version 4.13.0.43

Run memtest...

• Go to http://www.memtest.org or https://www.memtest86.com/ and download/run memtest to test your memory. Get at least one complete pass of all the tests to confirm good memory.