Can't get Ubuntu/Fedora to boot on Eurocom Laptop with Raid 5 and 2 x grahpics cards
 

Hi, thanks for such a great supportive network especially for new users to Linux. It is giving me the confidence to try and get this problem sorted and get over my windoze separation anxiety.

I have finally taken the plunge to go Linux like I knew I should have about 10 years ago, but it aint happenin for me. Probably trying too hard on the first go.

I have tried to install the latest versions of both Fedora and Ubuntu on my laptop both onto a new partition on my hard drive (partition magic) and then also by re-formatting the entire drive from scratch, but I keep getting no joy in booting up the system. Just a lank screen with a blinking cursor to nowhere.

The only Distro I have up and running is Puppy, but I can only boot from CD as the HD install also does not start up.

I have tried the latest Ubuntu iso file and Fedora 10 as the Disk bundled with the Magazine and also the down load iso file (i.e. including the x86_64).

Fedora keeps giving me a Bios Hand-off error no matter what changes I make to the setup.

I have used the install CDs to check the drives and the install CDs for errors but all are clean.

It might be the nature of my system. I have a EUROCOM D90xC PHANTOM-X Laptop - and I know some of you just said serve you right for having such an over spec machine!

I imagine the laptops specs or setup is giving the install engine a hard time. If anyone can see a reason in the specs why I am not going to install Linux in the near future, then please let me know so that I can again dutifully, but grudgingly go back to Windoze XP.

These are the specs of my system:

•EUROCOM D901C PHANTOM-X; 17-inch; Widescreen; WUXGA 1920-by-1200 pixels;
•2.0 Megapixels; WebCam; internal USB interface
•2 x 9800M GTX cards in SLI. 2 GB’s of Video RAM
•Intel Quad Core 2 Processor Q9450: 2.66GHz; FSB1333; 12MB L2; LGA775; PENRYN 45nm; 95W
•8GB; 2x 4GB DDR2-667; 200pin; CL-5; PC2-5300 - 2 SODIMMs
•RAID 5 Setup; 3 x physical hard drives
•200GB; SATA-300; 7,200rpm; up to 3Gb/s; 16MB cache; 2.5-inch
•200GB; SATA-300; 7,200rpm; 3Gb/s; 16MB cache; 2.5-inch
•500GB; SATA-500; 5,400rpm; up to 3Gb/s; 8MB cache; 2.5-inch; 9.5mm
•8x Multi DVD +-RW/-RAM Burner; PATA/IDE; Dual-Layer; Tray-based; w/ Software
•via ExpressCard or PCMCIA slot, internal Turbo Memory slot or via USB port
•Wireless Routers Available ... see below
•7-in-1 Card Reader; MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini-SD/MS/MS Pro/MS Duo

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

PCK

Hi,

Nice box! I had a look at their website and they seem to support Linux on your model: http://web.eurocom.com/EC/ec_model_config1(1,188,0)

I can't see why it wouldn't work though. Can you give us more information. Does it hang at the installation boot?

Oh and watch out about using a RAID where disks are not the same size.

Seems to install OK, but just won't boot up. The graphical interface during the instal does not look the saemas described in the magazine though. There is never an opportunity to format a partition in the install initiation phase.

The 2 disks in Raid 0 are the same size, the 3rd disk to make the raid 5 is a different size, though it doesn't show up as a disk that can be formatted or written to when installing the software.

My feeling is that it is a Bios setting that is not allowing the install to go through to boot-up. I will contact Euocom directly and see if they have nay answers and post them back.

Good news - I have Ubuntu up and running on 2 other laptops and am very impressed so far. One is a brand new off the shelf Toshiba R500. the other an older Dell that has a new lease of life now. The use of Crossover to instal Windoze software as needed is an amazing bonus on these 2 machines. I AM A CONVERT - I AM FREE OF WINDOZE!

Extactic even though I am having trouble getting the PMCIA 3G Broadband Modem working on these laptops, but will ask those questions in the appropriate forum.

Thanks for the reply, as suggested, the smalest of ideas can crack a problem in half. Going to Eurocom Now (Doh!).

Regards, PCK.

I am going to guess that your system uses fakeraid rather than true hardware raid (almost all motherboard based raid is fake raid). That has a HIGH probability of being the issue. Try setting your bios' disk setting as non raid and see if that clears up the issue.