today i tried to install FC6, Mandriva 2006, Suse Linux 10.1 from the respective DVDs. The system boots from the DVD but after that it is unable to find the installation media.
My configuration is as follows:
1) Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
2) Intel DG965RY motherboard.
3) Western Digital 250GB SATA-II harddisk (WD2500KS).


Are there any GNU/Linux distros which support this configuration? Can i install the same using harddisk images instead of the DVD media? (as install media is not detected).

Thanks in advance?

Try changing the IDE mode to Legacy in bios. The problem with Intel 965 boards is that the new south bridge doesn't support PATA directly. This is a problem becasue the CD/DVD manufacturers have been too lazy to implement SATA (the technology has been available for over two years). To solve this, Intel contracted Marvell to make a custom chip for PATA support. It was supposed to be invisible from the bios, but Linux detects it as a separate pci device and doesn't know how to handle it.

I have heard that Legacy mode is supposed to help get around it, but I haven't tested it yet. I have the same board (waiting for my CPU), and will test it later this week.

FC6 should support most of the other features in your system, Mandriva 2006 and Suse 10.1 won't, as the board came out after their release. I'd recommend Mandriva 2007 and/or Suse 10.2.

Tobin

I succeeded in installing Mandriva 2007 by adding "all-generic-ide" kernel parameter on boot. I didn't select legaci mode (AHCI) from the BIOS though.
Now i am facing another problem. From the grub boot menu when i try to boot the Linux it displays an error like this:

"Error mounting ext3" Kernel panic.

I suppose that Mandriva should have enabled ext3 support at the time of installation itself, then why is this error coming?

You may need to add the all-generic-ide parameter to grub's boot options. To try it, select the boot you want from the menu, and press <e>. This will enter the grub editor for that boot line. Select the kernel line, and press <e> again, then add "all-generic-ide" to the menu. This is not a permanent change. Press <enter> when done, and <b> to boot.

If that works, you will want to add it permanently to the boot menu by editing /boot/grub/menu.lst (must be root to edit and save).

Yup thanks for that info.
I have worked on GNU/Linux a bit and i performed the above mentioned steps yesterday night itself and guess what it worked!!!

I didn't have to change the SATA mode to Legacy though...

Now, Mandriva Desktop is running properly. I tried to run the 3D desktop but it displayed the message that 3D is disabled.

So, i guess i have to install the drivers for G965 and maybe XGL also.

Can u provide me the steps i have to perform for running the 3D desktop?

Do i have to perform the same steps with Fedora Core 6 too?

P.S: I'll try installing FC6 2day

FC6 doesn't work. It reaches a stage where it tries to launch Anaconda and then there is no response. Even my installed Mandriva 2007 is not booting up now.