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-   -   Installation Detect Disk Freeze / Hang (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/installation-detect-disk-freeze-hang-877197/)

JBKAL007 04-26-2011 11:27 AM

Installation Detect Disk Freeze / Hang
 
I have a problem with getting my Linux distribution (Debian amd64-bit) to install. Everything works the way it should - from booting a live CD/DVD (any distro) to running the text-based or gui installation right after bootup. Up until the Linux installation gets to the step for detecting my SATA hard disk drive(s), but before (or at the same time as) initiating the partitioning step, it'll freeze/hang my screen and my CD/DVD drives instantaneously - and the only fix is a forced shutdown and/or hard reboot.

I don't know what causes this, but I tried googling online and all that I really found out was that it might be an issue with running 32-bit vs 64-bit installations - but this is not the case; from running Gparted on Knoppix 32-bit or the partitioning step during a Debian 64-bit installation. Also, I read a random post online related to running kernel commands / parameters alongside the installation (e.g. acpi=off or something similar) stating that it might help?

Anyone got any ideas or solutions? I'm a real newbie when it comes to Linux (though, I'm quite knowledgeable when it comes to computers and technology, and Windows) - else I wouldn't be posting in this forum sub-section, hehe. I can't quite get my head around this one - despite trying my best to find a solution online beforehand.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help me out!

jogl_z_8 04-26-2011 08:23 PM

Have you tried burning another net install CD or DVD? Preferably from a different mirror.

JBKAL007 04-27-2011 06:51 PM

I did not try a different mirror, but I doubt that would help. I tried downloading and using the Debian 32-bit netinstall to see if that would work and it still freezes/hangs at the same spot. Like I said before, it also hangs when I run Gparted on a live CD distro (e.g. Ubuntu, KNOPPIX, etc). When I run the Debian setup, it always freezes/hangs on the "partman" step for partitioning - as if it cannot detect my hard disk drive(s) or it runs into some type of error and/or loop to cause the installation to freeze/hang like that every time.

I tried changing around my boot priority devices to use my CD/DVD drive(s) first in my BIOS and it seems that didn't help. I also tried using "acpi=off" as a kernel boot parameter as well - again, that didn't help either. It's always at the partitioning / detecting my hard disk drive(s) installation step that it freezes/hangs. Should I just try a different distribution altogether? I may just go and try out Ubuntu or another non-Debian based Linux distribution if I can't figure this out. I've been trying to install Debian for a few days now, but if I can't partition ANY of my hard disk drive(s), then for that matter, how am I suppose to install ANY Linux distro to begin with? I really want to get Debian installed, as it is my preferred Linux distribution of choice.

Anyways, any more help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!


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