Can not install fedora core 4 on Dell C840 laptop

jhoagland · 09-13-2005, 07:57 AM

When I try to install FC4 on my Dell C840 I get the following message.

"Assertion ((C*heads+H)*sectors+s = = A) at disk_dos.c:513 in
function probe_partition_for_geom() failed

After I received this error I tried to reinstall FC3 and I get the same error.

Simon Bridge · 09-13-2005, 10:52 PM

Intreguing - check what bios reports the disk geometry is, then pop the drive and read what the manufacturer says the geometry is.

jhoagland · 09-14-2005, 07:52 AM

I looked at the bios and it only shows a 40gb hard drive no other information.

Simon Bridge · 09-14-2005, 11:09 PM

You may have to hunt around for a bit to find the disk geometery part of your bios. There may be a seperate page for it, or you may have to hit a function key to find it.

Note: if you swapped your drive for a new one, the bios has to have some way of knowing the disk geometry dosn't it? Most bioses put "auto" against the disk somewhere. If you can get your bios to autodetect the drive, you should find heads/cylenders etc type info close by.

Anyway: Have a read of this LQ thread