Help! I'm a newbie to Linux. I decided to install Mandrake 9.1 and dual-boot it with Windows 2000 Server. My system is a Dell Latitude with only 9.63 GB hard drive. At any rate, the first install went very smoothly and after tweeking the system I was delighted with Linux. It recognized my NIC card, which Windows 2000 did not, and it read my Windows data files with no problem.

However, since I originally installed Windows on a 2 GB partition I decided that I needed more room for Windows so I reformatted the hard drive and re-installed Windows on 4.5 GB and I wanted to install Linux on the remaining partition.

I didn't format the partition because I figured the installation would do so. However, I believe I screwed up big time because when I boot from the install CD it starts the install and then I get the message:
error in exec of stage 2 trying to execute /usr/bin/runinstall2
Fatal Error in Stage 1 I/O Error.

Sound to me like I didn't completely wipe out the first install of Linux. What do I do from here? I don't have a manual to work from so thought maybe someone reading this forum might recognize the error and come to my rescue.

Thanks in advance.

Cathy

"I didn't format the partition because I figured the installation would do so."

The installation is fairly cautious about what, if anything, is formated because Mandrake does not want to wipe out something valuable by accident. I suggest that you go through the installation again and pay close attention to how Mandrakes sets up the partitions and which ones it will format.

You did not hurt anything with the failed install as long as you did not format a partition that you wanted to keep.

This is what I found when I did some research --> Mandrake 9.1 beta 3 may not correctly read Mitsumi CD ROM drives. Do you have a Mitsumi cdrom? Anyway, I suggest you download the latest .iso If you already did so, you should try Mandrake 9.0. It should be okay.This is where I got this info from:

https://qa.mandrakesoft.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1656#c1

JailBait

I guess my message wasn't clear. I had no problems installing Linux the first time around. However, I wasn't aware that I could repartition the hard drive from within Linux so I tried reformatting the hard drive and re-installing Windows 2000. That install went fine and the system boots to Windows but when I try re-installing Linux I get the Fatal Error messages.

I'm guessing there are traces of Linux left in the MBR and that why I'm getting the message about error in stage2 trying to execute /usr/bin/runinstall2. How do I wipe that out of the MBR and start fresh?

Thanks for any help. I'm completely green when it comes to Linux

Formatting the Windows partition and formatting the Linux partition are two separate issues. When you do your Mandrake install have Mandarake format the Linux partition during the first phase of the install.

"I'm guessing there are traces of Linux left in the MBR"

When you installed Windows it appropriated the MBR for its own use. When you install Linux Mandrake will install a bootloader, either lilo or grub, on the MBR. During the install you tell Mandrake to set up the bootloader to give you the choice of booting Linux or Windows.

I'm a newbie to Linux as well and I think I've got the same problem. Mine is on a Dell Optiplex GX1 (desktop).
Pentium II 350 MHz
64 Mb Memory
10 Gb HDD
I've already installed Mandrake 9.0 without a hitch.
It seems to have difficulty finding the CDROM. Immediately before the error messages as described by xtec2 it displays a message: "Trying to access Mandrake Linux CDROM (drive SAMSUNG SC-140B)".
I suspect that there is something wrong with the CDROM driver(s) but I know so little about Linux I don't know where to go from there.

Over to the experts. In the meantime I'll see what I can do with Mandrake 9.0

I've just been thinking about what I wrote (isn't is funny how writing the problem down can clarify it for you?)

I think I'll put a different CD drive in the machine and see how that goes.

It wouldn't boot from the spare CD drive that I had lying about. I'll have to get the screwdriver out and take one from another system. That can wait a while.

In the mean time. the same error is reported in MandrakeSoft BugZilla. "Mandrake 9.1 beta 3 may not correctly read Mitsumi CD ROM drives". Looks like it wasn't fixed from the beta. Or maybe it fixed only for Mitsumi drives 'cos they didn't know about Samsung and whatever xtec is using.

saga-lout,

I figured out my problem and it wasn't a hardware problem. After trying 6 or 7 times to reinstall Linux and getting the same error I went into rescue mode. I had no idea what I was doing but figured I'd give it a shot.

It got me passed the error and I reinstalled Linux but this time, I didn't get the GUI just a prompt. So, I went into Windows (because I'm dual booting) I used FIXMBR and then reformatted my D drive and got rid of Linux.

One of these days I'll try again but it doesn't seem to be ready for "prime time" just yet.

Xtec2

xtec2

Thanks for that.
I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that the error message is something of a catchall meaning "I can't read the CD". I've tried it with a different cd drive in the same pc and another different drive in a different pc.

I think my problem is with the install disk which I burned from an iso I got from a magazine cover DVD. I'll stick with Mandrake 9.0 until I can get another disk and test out my theory.

I was just posting my experiences in case it helped some other poor soul.

I have been trying to work on an error when attempting to install Mandrake 9.1


"I can't access a Mandrake Linux Installation disc in your CDROM drive (SAMSUNG CD-ROM SC-140). Retry?"

this infamous error I am unable to resolve, I tried searching everywhere on the issue but solutions I have found are swapping out cdrom drives, which the drive I have right now is perfectly fine.

KERNEL MESSAGE:

6>end_request: I/O error, dev 16:00 (hdc), sector 148
4> ISOFS: unable to read i-node block
4>hdc: command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
4>hdc: command error: error=0x50

retry-

6>end_request: I/O error, dev 16:00 (hdc), sector 148
4> ISOFS: unable to read i-node block
4>hdc: command error: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
4>hdc: command error: error=0x50



LOGS:

mounting /dev/hdc/ on /tmp/image as type iso9660
have to insmod isofs
succeeded isofs
mount failed: Not a directory
have to insmod ide-cd
succeeded ide-cd
have to insmod sr_mod
succeeded sr_mod
looking for ide media
IDE/1: hda is a ST38421A
IDE/0: hdc is a SAMSUNG CD-ROM SC-140
looking for scsi media
looking for Compaw Smart Array media
looking for DAC960
mounting /dev/hdc on /tmp/image as type iso9660
have to insmod isofs
succeeded isofs
mount failed: Not a directory





Make and Model:
Hewlett Packard Pavilion 466 celeron/ voodoo 5 only video card change, everything else is fine cdrom boots/ floppy/ hard drive. The system currently runs Mandrake 8.1 internet services/ FTP/ Samba/ games/ CD's/ music and video/ I enjoy Mandrake 8.1 so much I decided to try and do a install and or upgrade to 9.1. I downloaded all the .iso files 1-3 from mandrake.com, the i586 ISO images, burnt them in Nero with file>burn image>.iso cd 1 etc, everything went fine.

with the above errors I am getting I am unable to resolve and feel it will be awhile searching the net for an answer. If anyone has any information regarding this please reply or drop me an email bgigi@bellsouth.net, I could try a network install or ftp server install but I wont, I have Mandrake 8.1 up and working fine.


thanks for your time, and any at all help would be greatly appreciated.


~billy