read errors from ubuntu livecd -- cannot install
 

Hi guys.

I am trying to install UBUNTU 8.04.1 on my pc, a compaq presario. The pc is currently running Winxp pro SP2. I have installed an esata drive (300 gig) for ubuntu on this pc. If successfully installed, this will be a dual boot system.

My problem is that the livecd I built comes up with errors; on three files, according to UBUNTU, after I got UBUNTU to check and verify the integrity of the livecd I built. During install, i get a lot of splashfs messages, saying that it can not read a page, or block, or something.

I have checked the md5sums. First, against, the official UBUNTU md5sum and the ISO I downloaded. And then the md5sums of the livecd. Both checks passed. I built the live cd using infrarecorder software as suggested by the ubuntu install docs.

I have another PC, an HP Pavilion. I tried the livecd on that machine, and ubuntu has no problem reading the livecd from that machine and coming up. I did not install on that machine. I shouldn't. That, however, tells me that the livecd was created correctly.

Is there a hardware problem with my dvd/cd writer or reader on the compaq presario? I am not sure, but if it is, how come I can generate md5sums from the livecd that check out with the md5sums I created from the ISO I downloaded, and then unpacked on my hard drive. I did this on winxp pro.

Is this a driver problem? Meaning that Ubuntu's dvd/cd driver may be different from what I am using on my machine. If it is, how do I get around this problem? How do I found out what driver ubuntu is using for my dvd/cd rw.

My dvd/cd writer on the Compaq Presario is a Lightscribe 16xDVD RW. The HP Pavilion has a SuperMulti Drive with LightScribe Technology. I wrote to a cd-r media, not a cd-rw; I set the write speed to 4 when I built the livecd. At one point, I even set the speed to 2.

I have already built more than half a dozen ubuntu livecds, none of which ubuntu can read on my machine. I have also ran some hardware diagnostics on the dvd/cd rw in winxp pro. The test results were satisfactory.

Hardware? Driver? Any other possibilities?

well its not a driver problem. it may be a bum driver or possibly some bad ram. you should run memtest to make sure there are no errors in your memory. i would have to say that the ram would be the most likely candidate considering the fact that it sounds like the drive is in good, working condition.. if you have more than 1 stick of memory you might consider taking one out and seeing if the problem recurs. then if it does, take out the remaining stick and throw the first stick you took out back in. try that as well as memtest & see what happens..

After testing the RAM, try swapping out the CD drive if you can; if you don't have a CD drive to swap with, you might try booting and installing from an external HD, USB stick, or else pull out the HD, install a basic system, make sure the initrd has all the drivers you'll need to boot, edit 'fstab' as appropriate, and put the HD back into the computer.

Hi everyone. Thank you for your replies to my post.

I am doing a memtest now, using ubuntu. It is a looooong process.

To pinniped: Sorry my BIOS does not have the capability to boot from a usb stick or an external HD. Your other suggestion, "pull out the HD, install a basic system, make sure the initrd has all the drivers you'll need to boot, edit 'fstab' as appropriate, and put the HD back into the computer", confuses me. Do you mean the HD with the winxp pro in it?

Let me explain first. I'd rather leave my first drive with the winxp pro untouch. I'd be in serious trouble if I lose that for an extended period. I do have backups, but I did assure everyone in my family that the winxp pro won't be at risk, nor their data on the HD. My plan actually is a dual boot system where the BIOS or something allows me to choose the OS to boot.

In short, I'd rather not pull out the c drive where winxp pro is currently installed.

If you only have 1 HD and you were going to install to the XP disk, then yes - pull out the XP disk. Since it has XP, it is risky - if XP boots first it might deactivate itself because the other machine has a different CPU ID.

The safest thing to do (if bad memory wasn't the problem) is to swap the CD drive; different generations of drives have problems reading different generations of disks as the dye used in the disk changes.

I did manage to install the Ubuntu 8.04 on my esata HD. So I am feeling great. It's not dodgy RAM in my PC either that was causing it -- the ram passed its tests. Instead, I reread the installation instructions for Ubuntu, and it does say that there's a possibility that one might not be able to install from a live cd. It didn't give an explanation; instead it suggested other ways of installing ubuntu, aside from the standard install with live cd.

I chose to install ubuntu inside Windows, one option available in the live cd install. It's done via WUBI. Ubuntu was installed (in Windows) without a hitch; no problems reading the live cd at all. Worked quite well too; but it could be made faster if this was installed outside of Windows according to the docs. That's exactly what I did, move the ubuntu inside windows to the esata drive, using LVPM. I now have a dual boot PC for ubuntu and Winxp.

It's an ubuntu driver problem, isn't it?