Linux Install from Harddisk problem
 

Hi all, i'm sure this question is asked over and over again since redhat released its version of linux: I'm having trouble installing Redhat Linux 9.0. Here's my hardware specs:

- AMD motherboard 128 ram (Note: Bios supports selection of boot device so planing not to install linux boot loader)
- Primary Master - 40 gb Hdd
- Primary Slave - 80 gb Hdd
- Secondary Master - CDROM

Software specs:

- IDE 0:
- 20 gb - Primary Partition (FAT32) - C:\ Win98
- 20 gb - Extended Partition (FAT32) - Logical Drive - D:\

- IDE 1
- 80 gb HDD - #empty, this is where i plan to install linux#

I have the three RedHat Linux 9.0 bootable CDs that someone burned for me. And here's how i failed to install it:

1. Boot directly from RedHat Linux 9.0 CD1 and install. Result:

At one time it goes halfway, and the other time, the installation is near finished and there's a "fatal error" reading a file. The CDs are fine. The CdRom is working. It's just a normal CD read error. But since there's no "retry" or "back" button/option, i have to restart installation instead of eject and re-insert the CD to try read again. (really shows that the anaconda install shield hasn't made any improvements over the last few versions)

2. Copy the 3 RedHat Linux 9.0 CDs to C:\RedHat\cd1; C:\RedHat\cd2; C:\RedHat\cd3. Make everthing in C:\RedHat\cd1\ into cd1.iso. And so forth for cd2 and cd3. The three iso images are created using the following settings:

File/DirectoryNameLength = ISO Level 1
Format = Mode 1
Character Set = ISO9660
Joliet
Relax ISO Restrictions = Path depth more than 8 directories
= More than 255 characters in path

After that, i put the three images: cd1.iso, cd2.iso, cd3.iso, into C drive. Rename the three iso into shrike-i386-disc1.iso, shrike-i386-disc2.iso, and shrike-i386-disc3.iso.

Restart, boot from RedHat Linux 9.0 CD1. Select media -> harddisk and tried ALL hda and hdb. Iso not found.
3. Wandered around newsgroups, message boards, how-tos, faqs. Just learned that redhat doesn't support certain iso features. However, i'm still boggled on what ISO settings to use in order to make an iso with identical md5sum to the official redhat iso.

The above are what i've tried. What i've NOT tried so far, is

1. Waste bandwidth by re-downloading the 3 ORIGINAL redhat linux 9.0 iso from the web.

2. Start (or pickup where others left off) a flame war at messageboards and newsgroups on how stupid and un-user-friendly the redhat install shield is.

3. Loose my cool, break the linux CDs into pieces, and start smashing my pc with a sledge hammer.

All in all, my preference would be to make an installation from the harddisk using the iso i made OR other undocumented/manual installation methods that you kind readers would like to suggest (perhaps manually writing/copying images to the linux partition from Win/dos??)

I'll hail your name online and offline, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (excluding public holidays) if you help me solve this simple problem.

- Best regards