cdrom mount before Linux is installed
 

Hi

My problem is posted in the Linux-Newbie forum at this site just look out for my username and the subject is

"cdrom unable to mount 1/2way during install"

I wasn't sure whether to list it there or in this forum so I chose both, kind of.

The subject heading makes it seem like the same thing everyone else was asking about but it is different because I want to know how to mount during the install process before Linux is actually installed and not after it's already on the system.

well well , i am not unable to get your point properly but then its simple when you load or install linux, it locks your cd rom until the next cd is required for example in RED HAT 9.0 there are 3 CDS, so as you start installing it you do it by booting it from CD and then automatically mounts it and when the second cd is needed it unmounts it, at this stage youcannont use any commnands as your linux is not installed yet..

WEll if this is not the correct solution then do reply... i shall look forward to help you again.

I tried my first Linux installation on a 4GB computer with Windows already installed. My aim was to have a dualboot computer with Windows using about 2.8GB and Linux getting only about 1.3GB of hard disk space.
This first Linux installation went fine but was not very user-friendly, i.e., no GNOME or KDE environment, only X because I was trying to scrimp on space.

However, I had no idea how to get to Windows after I installed Linux because Windows did not show up on the list when I rebooted the system.

So, I tried to reinstall, again from a CDROM, because I wanted a more user-friendly version and I wanted to see what happened to the Windows.

I deleted all Linux partitions and repartitioned the hard drive at the beginning of this install process using the Automatic partitioning tool. From this, I saw that the Windows partition was still intact so I couldn't figure out why it didn't show up during boot as an option.

Anyways, I continued with the Linux reinstallation. I went through all the configuration processes with the graphical installer without any problems. It actually began to install smoothly enough until it asked for me to insert (CD) disk 2. I inserted the the CD, clicked "OK" and got an error message saying "The CDROM could not be mounted"
I don't understand how the CDROM could not be mounted if it had been reading from the first CD and installing the files. Maybe it's that I don't understand what "mounted" really means.

I'm new at this so the only thing I've tried is taking out the CD and putting it back in before clicking "OK" but I keep getting the same message.
I've also tried doing the entire thing over but I still get the same message.

What should I do?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Nothing much to add
 

Just remember a few commands:

mount the cd drive manually - do this AFTER you put the CD drive - IF the install isnt picking it up:

#mount /dev/cdrom

or

#mount /dev/hdb (if above fails)

check to see that it is mounted:

Simply run:

#mount

Next the part you might want to pay attention to.
Force an Un-mount of the drive if it is mounted so you want to remove the CD:

umount /dev/cdrom


And finally, to force an ejection (after unmounting of course). Even now I find I still need this even with X windows:

#eject -r

tibs4eva -
Make sure you are not using a very old CD drive. Also it might mount more cleanly if its clean! - make sure the disk is clean. Still having problems? Your disk is probably fecked. Burn a new one.

"Windows did not show up on the list when I rebooted the system "

Make sure to reconfigure your boot loader. What are you using - LILO? If co edit your lil.comf file in /etc ( /etc/lilo.conf )
Make sure Lilo is set to the root of the drive as opposed to the partition Linux is on -i.e. /dev/hd1 instead of /dev/hda1
or if its s-ata etc. /dev/sda instead of /dev/sda1

Remember you must run lilo binary to save changes.

So, edit the file (use vi or whatever - vi /etc/lilo.conf)
then run #/etc/lilo -v or just #/etc/lilo

Thanks for your suggestions!

The problem with the CDROM that I was having was that I never got to install Linux so I couldn't use those mount commands because Linux wasn't installed yet. It was while I was installing Linux that I would get that problem. Since the 2nd disk couldn't get read then the installation would basically hang.

Anyways, I just emptied the disk entirely and put on back Windows, and Linux.

But now I'm still getting that same other problem where Windows doesn't show up in the list at reboot. I can only boot in Linux.
Oh and I'm using GRUB not LILO.
Also, Linux is Red Hat Linux version 7.3.

Please do not post the same thread in more than one forum. Picking the most relevant forum and posting it once there makes it easier for other members to help you and keeps the discussion all in one place.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/rules.php

tibs4eva -- please do not create a new thread in a new forum that refers to an existing thread in another forum. This is considered cross posting, and is against the LQ Rules, because it scatters any useful replies across multiple threads, thus making it harder to find any useful replies.

I have asked that this thread be merged into your original post, which contains more background information. -- J.W.