IDE HDD errors
 

Hi all,

First of all, I am new to linux so be nice Wink

I am trying to install Debian for the first time. I have just purchased a Western Digital drive that I want to install it on. It is IDE and will the the only harddrive in the box.

When attempting to install Debian 3.0 it would not even detect the hdd at all resulting in a failed attempt. Thinking that it might be the older version I d/led the new 3.1 debian. It does go further than the last be I get two errors. One: "Linux Kernel modules needed to drive some of your hardware are not available yet. Simply proceeding with the install may make these modules available later.
The unavailable modules, and the devices that need them are: agpgart (VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8363/8365 [KT133/KM133 AGP]), ide-scsi (Linux IDE-SCSI emulation layer), ide-mod (Linux IDE driver), ide-probe-mod (Linux IDE probe driver), ide-generic (Linux IDE support), ide-floppy (Linux IDE floppy)"

I proceeded to push on regardless Smile, Then strangly enough it allows me to start partitioning the hdd, but this is when I get error no 2. I can't remember what it is off hand but it basically says the format/partitioning failed.

I am using a gigabyte mobo - GA-7ZXR

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Zyleth

Welcome to LQ! If you can provide the exact error message that you're seeing, that would be a big help in analyzing the problem. Without more specific info, it's hard to offer specific advice. -- J.W.

When you are presented with the option to partition, does the installer recognize the existing free space and/or existing partitions on the drive? In the 3.1 installer, you have the option to take over the whole drive for use in Debian. It is the simplest thing for you to do if you don't have plans to install any other operating system. I looked up you motherboard and it is a little old, which is good for Linux and Debian because hardware support should not be a problem. Is there anything unusual about your hardware set up? Do you have SCSI devices, other IDE devices? Is the hard drive connected to the primary IDE channel? As J.W. said above, writing down the exact error messages would be a help too.

These devices are all supported in the 2.6 kernels. If you are using either 3.1 net-install or cdroms then you must enter linux26 at the boot prompt. The necessary modules will then be available during the install process.

It should be supported by the 2.4 kernel in Sarge as well. I loooked up the motherboard and it has the VIA KT133A with PC133 SDRAM and AMD Thunderbird CPU's. It seems that model is several years old and doesn't appear to have anything out of the ordinary with the hardware.

You are correct as I have 2 KT133 boxes running Debian. I have a internet server using a gigabyte KT133 chipset running woody and also a KT133A running sarge and previously woody. Both are running 2.4 kernels. I had no problems with either installs.
Given that the problems appear to be mostly involving the ide-bus perhaps the trouble is hardware related.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the great responses.

Well last night I decided to install Fedora to see it I had the same problem there. It never happened. I booted the machine and the HDD started clicking and grinding :S. So it could've been the drive the whole time. I am taking it back today for replacement.

Just to answer some of the previous questions anyway...

The drive was brand new, it didn't have any partion on it and I was trying to use the whole drive as one partition (Later when it is running I was going to split the main partition into smaller more managable chunks). When I get the new drive I will try again and let you know how I went.


TigerOC,
Thanks for that info about installing with the 2.6 Kernel. I will be doing this on my next install regardless.

Thanks again

Razeor