Mandrake Linux 10.0 install
 

My computer is stuck on the looking for available packages page when installing, and has been there for a while. How long is it supposed to take looking for available packages?

When it finally finished it said:

An error occured
fatal: no hdlist nor synthesis to read for
Installation CD 3 (x86) (cdrom3).

What is wrong?

This is the file that contains the lists of packages on cd 3. If it was on cd 1, I would suspect either cd media, APIC enabled, or a too-far overclocked fsb. If it is on cd 3, I would really suspect media.

EDIT: Sorry, I see you told me that in fact it was CD1, so look into the first options.

When did I say it was disk 1?

'looking for available packages' is at the beginning, then it moves on to the install. When you put the next cd in at the dialogue, it should move right back into installing.

When does it ask me to put the next CD in? Can you be more detailed?

Looks like maybe the disk wasn't burnt properly.
The hdlists are in cdrom/Mandrake/base. There should be some hdlist.cz files there.

So I should reburn disk 1?

Before you burn another one check if the file hdlist3.cz is in Mandrake/base/ directory of the cdrom. If it is there then you can test it if you have another Mandrake installation lying
around.

What do you mean test it?

Add it to your rpm sources in the software medium/sources manager.

So, do you mean do I have Linux installed anywhere?

Yup, if you have another installation of Mandrake then you can test it. If that's too muxh of a hassle then maybe it would be easier to just reburn the disk.

Mandrake 10 tells you when
 

When you install Mandrake 10 it tells you when to change CD's. It has the CDRom eject current CD and says to insert CD #2 or CD #3,,, etc. It will go back and forth with CD numbers. Just make sure the CD Rom light goes out before you click on OK. If you only have 3 CD's, you will have to click CANCEL if it asks for CD #4 or CD #5, etc.

But there's an error before it even starts installing.

Misread
 

I got the impression that Mandrake asked for CD #3 without installing anything. I had a simular problem after Mandrake was installed and running - That was trying to update packages. I tried to install Mozilla and the thing ran and ran without doing anything(but no error message). I broke it off. And installed without hitch another way. I can't give details at the moment, but perhaps this is related.

The only time I had a problem installing Mandrake occured when I selected "use existing partitions". When ever I choose to erase partitions there was no problem.