Hi

I've never had a problem like this before and I've been using Linux now for over 6 years, many different Linux flavors and versions and on many different computers. I'm currently running FC 3# and it's been working beautifully since I installed it many long months ago. Last night I decided to give FC 4# (Final) a try so I download all of the ISO's from the official site, burned them in K3B and inserted CD 1#. Then, I went through the normal process of installation (just like I always have) and got some weird window popping up with all kinds of "anaconda" errors in it and "report", "debug" and "close" buttons at the bottom of this window. No matter which option I chose, the install terminated.

So I tried to install again and I got some message about not altering the partition until after I had already rebooted...huh???.

I ended up trying 3 different computers, different hard drives (with different pin arrangements), different graphics cards/monitors, changed the memory, etc, etc. Still no luck. The installation always goes fine until I reach the point where the "Formatting/File System" window pops up. The blue progress bar in this window will move about an 1/8'th of an inch and then stay there forever. I end up just shutting the computer down and trying again but it's always the same. I can't seem to get past this to install the programs.

*** My specs ***

Standard, home-built PC
ATI Rage 128 Pro Ultra video card
512MB RAM
KDS Visual Sensations monitor
40G HD

A few other things. I disabled SELinux (just like I always do). I left the firewall enabled and allowed FTP, HTTP and SMTP (again, just like I always do). I chose "automatically partition" (just like I always do). I installed the personal desktop (just as I always do). I selected "remove ALL partitions from this system" (just like I always do). The CD's were new, my CD/RW works just fine, no problems downloading/burning, etc.

I'm also getting a "Loading sata_via drivers" message at the very beginning. What's that all about?.

Anyway, any help I can get would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank's!

What happens when you install FC4 using “manually partition with disk druid”?

I get the exact same errors when Anaconda tries to start installing packages. I'll post them here if I can get them copied to a floppy.


Your motherboard has built-in Serial ATA using a VIA chip (mine does as well, Abit KV8), so it loads the driver/module in order to recognize any disks attached via SATA

I solved this problem a long time ago and did a beautiful install on three separate computers. Make SURE you do not aleady have a partition on the HD you plan to install Linux on and it works just fine. It should be a low-level or completely formatted HD w/ no partitions (FC4 will create it's own).

I had the same problem. It wouldn't work if I tried to create any new partitions, and wiping the disk of all partitions wasn't an option because I didn't want all the partitions gone, so I inserted a Debian disk and got it partitioned, then went back and booted into the Fedora set and just chose mount points for them and it went fine. I still wound up not running Linux in the end, as I had a showstopper graphics problem. And with these problems one after another I decided to give it a while before I try Linux again. I'm not terribly happy with the way it's been not coming along.

I've been on linux and off linux since Redhat was relatively new. And it's been love it and leave it. Love it when I'm coding, hate it at all other times. How long before real Multimedia, a decent install, an intuitive user-friendly configuration system... ? Debian at least got up and running, just with VESA at 800x600. And no easy way to select the graphics card and go from there. I'm 10 years older now. I DON'T want to spend my hours tweaking with a system just to get graphics going. Come on... even if you don't use the right-click on the desktop idea, or system prefs, do SOMETHING about it. And a head's up... the development tools could use some work too.

If you're still motivated, I'd try Debian. It was a single 108mb cd to burn, didn't have to go through a crapload of check media stuff to see that it burned correctly, and the net install was smooth and easy. And even if the graphics weren't great, at least I could log in to the machine. Just not enough resolution for me to do any productive work.

...Frank

If you are running new, exotic hardware, no matter which linux distribution you use, you are going to have problems, at least until the drivers catch up with the hardware.

That’s the way it is and that’s the way it will always be, until the hardware vendors start supporting their products with good linux drivers. Don’t blame linux for your hardware problems. Blame the hardware vendor(s). Try to install xp on a state-of-the-art motherboard system and see if you can do it without the vendors’ drivers CD.

I would hardly call my 2002 Gateway 400VTX a bleeding edge computer, yet it did the exact same thing.

I am going to try again, making sure to manually set the HDD up - I hate the Logical volume setup anyways. I'll post my results.



Edit:
Looks like I was right about the logical volume - when I did the manual configuration I got rid of the logical volume - and the install proceeded properly.

I also noticed that the only viable partition from the original install attempt was the primary one created for boot.

Might want to try this in your situation - it might work