I made a thread in the cAos section that somewhat explains my situation, but it's clearly not a cAos issue anymore.

Basically, I have an old PC i'd like to use as a home server, I've had ubuntu on it for awhile and could share files over the network nicely, but I decided to try and install a lighterweight OS because it was no longer going to be a workstation.

I can't install any version of ubuntu past 83-85% when it will freeze up (xubuntu, ubuntu server) I installed 'Damn small' linux to the HD and i get 'operating system not found.' it doesn't even seem to load grub.

cAos installed okay, and I could even kind of share files, but I'm not extremely comfortable with a command-line only config just yet. for details on that, see that this thread

I've tried installing on two different hard drives in case it was a hardware issue, both produced the same result. all drives can be read/written just fine when i boot with a knoppix or DSL live cd.



Thanks in advance to anyone who helps!

Can you give some info about this 'old PC' that may help someone determine if it really is some sort of hardware issue?

Also, check into the BIOS settings for any settings relevant to the boot device(s) and other IO like shared interrupts, etc, and/or set the BIOS to 'default' and see if that helps.

Grub is not linux so I am going to assume the MBR has been trashed.

Reinstall grub but follow carefully the guidelines of a few distros (gentoo, lfs, damn small linux).

The one thing that is odd though is the 83-85% ubuntu install do you mean it cannot install after that point or do you mean it cannot boot after that point?

I mean the installer freezes up completely (yes, I even waited 12+ hours) It's especially odd because I've definitely had ubuntu running on it before.

the machine is an old HP, 900mhz amd, 256m sd. at the moment that's all i know.