what is a "kernel panic" in installation?
 

i've tried to install many types of distributions of linux (debian, mandrake, red hat) from my local CD-ROM with the same negative result. the initial install sequence begins and then this message appears.. "<0> kernel panic: Aiee, killing interrupt handler! In interrupt handler - not syncing". at another time i got a message that said.. "source code: bad EIP value!" what is this all about? everything stops and a blinking cursor is all i get! Please tell me how to fix this problem! thanks, nick

It sounds like your machine is seriously screwed. Dodgy hardware?

Try knoppix live cd first. If knoppix works on your pc then no reason why it will not work if installed to hd.

Three different distro's and they all give you kernel panic????

You aren't trying to install on a PPC are you?

Maybe some hardware info would clear things up....

I had the same with Slackware 9.
 

The first couple of times I tried to install from CD it crashed out regardless of my choice of kernel - I think the error messages were similar to the ones you describe. I decided to remove one component at a time from my PC to try and find what was the cause. I got lucky though - I started with the simplest to remove - a USB joystick, and found that the install worked fine once I had removed it and rebooted from the installer CD.

Good luck!