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Has anyone heard of a problem involving the install program; my problem might just be on the purchased dvd.
Involves 14.2 for 64 bit; runs to bottom of first pages and then stops at:
ftrace: allocating 41421 entries in 162 pages
..TIMER: vector=0x30 apic1=0 pin1=2 apic2=-1 pin2=-1
this is the usual line ending, but once got:
devtmpfs: initialized
Doesn't matter which of 2 boot options selected.
I believe I read here on LQ that some users reported that their DVD Label was reversed ( 64-bit Label Up meant they were installing 32-bit Slackware ).
Maybe mount the DVD and look in the 'root' directory of the mounted DVD ?
Had a 32-bit bought at same time, so tried that to check if labels reversed, but got same result; also the 64 used huge.s while the 32 used the smp and believe that is correct.
This is a GoBook VR-2 by General Dynamics having CPU Type: Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T7500 @ 2.20 GHz
Memory of 4096 MB; VGA Bios version of 1533 with product name of IX605
Hard Disk Controller Config: Mode: AHCI Channel 1 Slave TEAC DV-W28E-R Channel 3 Master TOSHIBA MK1252GSX [120 GB] all others Not Installed
While inserting dvd, but before came on, got message of: NTLDR is missing {this is a blank hdd};
Could this be causing the problem? any quick way to address it?
If you got the message NTLDR, your HDD already tried to boot.
Have you tried any other installation media? Like a DVD of a different version or a different distro or a Windows install dvd?
Sounds like the DVD drive is failing to me.
Did try another install with different OS [uberstudent] and got same result, so not the dvd.
As to secure boot, there is not such specifically listed in bios, but stealth mode is turned off and other boot elements are on normal.
Two install disks giving same result? I would say your dvd-drive is toast ...
Maybe you could beg/steal/borrow another drive, or ... get someone to copy your dvd onto a pendrive?
wiliamvw,
Are you 100% sure your system is booting to the DVD and then failing out?
As mentioned above, you're seeing Windows errors.
Regardless of that, I think it would be worth your time to sanitize that hard drive's MBR by booting something like a grml(http://grml.org/) CDROM which will boot from CD and run from RAM.
From there you can
Code:
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda
...and let it run for just 30 seconds (modify /dev/sdX to verify the correct target drive!).
This will cleanse your hard drive of any malingering boot code from any previously installed operating system.
This all assumes your DVD drive is not toast.
With grml64full burned to cd, option of 'load to ram' and all other options lead only to black screen, except 'disable framebuffer' which leads to stall after last screen line reading 'Using config type 1 for base access'.
Will try to get a repair disc to give me access to using ram to use command line. DVD player works fine and get same result on two different VR2 laptops.
Tried various live and rescue discs, but by trying installs [my laptops allows switching HDDs in seconds] on different laptops with different OSes was able to determine that
there is no problem with the hdd or install discs, but Windows criminally vandalized my laptops' bios by altering it so only accepts Windows products. Same hard drives which
run fine on other laptops will stop at the loading init part due to bios blockage. This apparently happened after, having used the laptop to install a linux OS on a hdd, I installed a hdd with windows and THEN went on internet where Microsoft identified it and sent a bios change to my laptop which won't even allow the replacement of the windows os
with one of any other system.
Have used a disc called "PC Repair Pro" to get an option to wipe the bios, but it warns that this can sometimes effect the motherboard so won't function.
If anyone is familiar with this disc and can advise best options to use [uses old options like Volkov Commander] and if wiping likely [know there are no guarantees] would work to reset bios without harming motherboard, would be great help.
My SYSTEM BIOS version is 116; my VGA BIOS version is 1533; am using product of name; IX605.
Any other thoughts greatly welcome.
Thanks STDOUBT for the reference, but tried things like plop [can't get by the bios blockage] and tried PXE but still not overcoming bios.
He didn't mention getting a message about 'NTLDR Missing' which means require the windows bios codes to boot anything including install discs past the
initrd sector, so seems a different problem.
UBCD has many boot programs to use, but none get by the bios problem, and trying the bios category of programs didn't help on the obvious choices, while some of
programs given are beyond my experience for use and don't want to make matters worse [big charts with scores of number options, etc. and haven't a clue which to choose].
The IX605 does list 'driver updates', but would this include the bios? Am doubtful.It refers to 'BIOS/Motherboard' update utility, but after that initial bios reference all reference to bios in further pages is absent. Would bios flashing be included in such a download?
Would bios flashing be included in such a download?
It may be. You'd have to read the documentation that comes with that specific downloadable package though. Also, if it's true that your current BIOS was borked by Microsoft remotely, it's doubtful that an updated BIOS would not also contain the malware...
If possible, I would try to downgrade to an older version of the BIOS which was supposedly free from the problem.
Also, in your post above you don't mention if you tried disabling certain hardware features in BIOS as described by the other owner.
Anyway, best of luck, and do report back if you find a solution!
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