I am getting a "Kernel panic - not syncing: Halting" error while installing Fedora Core 3. I receive this error when the following package shows 100% complete but before it seems to go on to the next package. The package is: kernel-smp-2.6.9-1.667-i686

I am running this install in "linux text" fashion in order to see this error. In graphical mode, the machine just freezes.

(As background, I have been able to run both Redhat 9 and Fedora Core 2 (2.6 I think) on this machine.)

I have really struggled with this and have tried to install FC3 many times.

I think I read something about this possibly being related to an older CDROM drive. This computer is older - circa 1998.

It is an Intergraph TDZ2000 GT1 with dual 400 meg processors and 1.5 meg of memory (1.5 gig was an error on my part.) The machine only has SCSI connections inside. I did have to install a Video Card as the one that came with it was too goofy to get running properly - but as I said, this machine ran both Redhat 9 and FC2 - so it is Linux capable.

Any suggestions? (My thoughts right now is that I may just run Redhat 9 and be done with it - all I am really wanting to do is run Gallery and serve up family photos and the like - i.e. this is not my everyday main machine.)

Any suggestions or help?

ps - I am a "very Newbie" to Linux.

Additional information:

Once in a while, my attempts to perform this install will get past this point. But I will get this error at a different point in the process. I just received the error after over 400 packages were installed (ouch.)

are you actually over-writing system-files on a running system ?

i don't think that can be done.

or do you have some live-cd to do that ?

egag

I am not sure of your question, which was: "are you actually over-writing system-files on a running system ?"

And, I am not sure what a live-cd is.

I am using Smart Boot Manager to get to the CD Drive, so that I can begin the installation from the CD's.

I am bascially using 4 CD's to attempt to install Linux Fedora Core 3 onto my machine. One of the early steps in the process asks me if I want to reformat and lose all data - to which I answer Yes.

In other words I am trying to install a fresh copy of Linux and preserve zero data on the drive.

Again, the issue being that I receive a "Kernel Panic - not syncing: Halting" error - the error comes up on the text-based blue Fedora Core (C) 2004 Red Hat, Inc. screen while it is showing the progress of attempting to install the 500 plus packages.

I am still looking for help on this - thanks.

ah...then i misunderstood.

so in fact the fc3-installer is running when you get that error.
well...not syncing...could that be a bad install-cd ?

if this happend on diff. places of the install process, maybe the drive or
cd/cd-drive combination ?

egag

I ran the 'cd disk verfication" test (which comes up prior to install) on all four CD's (twice) and all four passed (both times that I ran this check.)

(Also, I happen to own three of these machines and I have this issue on all three machines,)

Based on your experience, I assume that you would consider this syncing error to be some kind of CD drive issue? Is this your best estimate or guess on this?

Thank you for your help.

I came home from work today and decided to make an attempt (once again) to install Fedora Core 3. The install went smoothly and I am now running a FC3 machine. I did absolutely nothing different than what I have been trying for the past two weeks or so - and I have attempted this a lot of times.

The "not syncing Halting" error remains a mystery for me.

Thanks for the input that I did receive on this problem.