Boot process hangs while dcetecting hardware
 

After a clean install, the boot process freezes when it's detecting hardware.

Are there any boot options I can pass to avoid this hardware detection?

I have USB kb/mouse, dvd-rw, SB audigy soundcard, 3-com Nic, IDE HDD. Nothing really out of the norm.

Any info is greatly appreciated


Cheers

use the disc2 as rescue disc to boot. (this, at least, does boot, doesn't it?)

then, as root, type

chmod a-x /etc/rc.d/rc.hotplug

this will disable hotplug. the next step towards perfection would be to switch to a 2.6 kernel and try to re-enable hotplug.

in case even the rescue disc doesn't boot, try passing the "nousb" boot option. this is the boot option you're looking for.

in case even that doesn't work, turn off all usb ports in your bios setup configuration. or use another linux livecd as rescue disc, like knoppix.

it's clearly the usb keyboard that's causing problems here.

so you can't completely disable usb , or else you have no kb !

I hope it works with hotplug disabled. if not, then you'll have to use another kb until you've upgraded to a 2.6 kernel.