I am trying to install fedora core 7 on my laptop having sata hard disk but i get the message no hard drive found on. I have used both IDE and AHCI mode to no avail. When i try to install Redhat 12.0 enterprise edition, I get same message. Can someone help.

If you can try newer version of Fedora like F9 that has just come out, you might get out of your problem. The older versions of kernel do not support SATA drives. You can still install F7 if you can toggle the legacy settings in BIOS if you are allowed to.
And better not use thread titles like Urgent. The Mods and senior members would not like it for this forum is community driven and people help you giving their time. I hope you get away from their smacking.

Support for F7 was dropped when F9 was released. Please use a supported version.

There is no RedHat 12.0. RedHat went up to RH9 then restarted with the RHEL(X.X) series. RHEL5.2 is current.

I don't know what's worse, telling members to RTFM or telling members to just use a supported version. But that type of attitude isn't really the LQ way.

As for the problem, I don't think an updated version is going to necessarily help the actual issue, might but unsure with the lack of info. As far as I know, SATA support was included in FC7, so the issue lies elsewhere possibly. If the original poster gave a little more details about his hardware, drive make and model, maybe laptop make and model, we might be of more help.

I think it's a perfectly reasonable response. If someone is attempting to install an old version of some Linux distro and they're having problems such as 'no hard drive found' my first suggestion would be to try using the latest version of the distro. Maybe using the latest version will solve the problem and maybe it won't but it's so easy to try and it doesn't cost anything to get the latest version that it's worth suggesting. There's no point in installing FC7 when FC9 is already out, it's in the OPs best interests to use a version where they'll get security/bugfix updates, which they won't for FC7.

I agree with arizonagroovejet on this one. To me, it's not unreasonable to ask folks to use the tools they have at their disposal. If you point someone to the instructions/manual, you give them the tools and knowledge to solve their own problems, gain knowledge, and maybe help others.

Using a supported version of the OS helps, too. I used to know all sorts of things to do with Mandrake 9.1, but that was years ago. Even though you MIGHT be able to shoehorn that onto current hardware, you won't gain anything at the end of the day, except an unstable environment with no support.

To me, LQ is about guidance...if folks don't know what version is current, or know where to get MAN pages from, telling them what's what is of more use. Lead them to the answers, and let their knowledge grow...

Tricky

There are a ton of reasons to push members to use supported versions. The first is that it is just easier. It is easier on them becuase they will have updates, both security and bug fixes. Also members will have current experience with that particular version, which vastly improves the chances of someone knowing the problem. Each version of each distro is going to have its own quirks and personalities, if you are not current on those you can miss an obvious solution. Every new version supports more hardware better. Fedora had support for sata clear back to FC4 but it was not until FC6 that it covered most of the chipsets. There were(and are) chipsets that were unsupported (relatively rare) or poorly supported. It is better for Linux becuase it broadens the hardware base and it prevents needless security breaches (good for everybody not just that computer) that would have been prevented by security updates.

I think you guys took my response out of context. By all means, tell members there are updated versions available that might fix the issue but if that's going to be your only response and solution, to me, you're really not helping them. Perhaps they don't have the capabilities to upgrade or download a new version. Maybe they got the version they have from a magazine or another source. Maybe they're in an environment where they have to run such a version that might be outdated to those that keep bleeding edge technology around 24/7. We don't know, but we should at least attempt to help them with their current situation before just telling them to upgrade, cause that's not always the solution. To me, that's just telling them to RTFM which shouldn't be our only response.

I mean, if we just tell people to upgrade to solve their problem cause they're a release or two behind, well hell, I could probably answer 50% of more of the threads started with such a response and be on my way.

I'm with Trickykid on this one. FC7 just isn't that old, and SATA support is in it.

Once OP has it up and running, there is a more than decent chance that he'll be able to upgrade online.

Could you imagine all the threads with responses of.. "You're distribution is not updated, update please before we'll help you... " I'm sure the membership to this site would start to decline if that was the case.

I personally have gone as long as 2.5 years without upgrading, and then only did it because some new software I wanted to use wouldn't work.

You can use a model T as a daily driver if you wish. But when it comes time to work on it how many people are around who really know how to fix it? The same thing applies to running versions that are beyond EOL (end of life).

We can assume that the OP is pretty new to Linux (RH12.0 reference). Why have them fight with a version that they can no longer get any updates (new ones)? Isn't it better to start them with a version that has current support available? Once you know how to secure a system you can run it for as long as you wish beyond EOL but when someone is starting they do not have that knowledge. Why cripple them from day one?

Last I checked Fedora still strongly advised doing a clean install rather than attempting a version upgrade online. So why have them install F7 just to reinstall a supported version. And no, not ALL sata chipsets were supported on F7 (or later for that mater), just most. If the older versions were perfect why would they come out with new versions?

If you are not updating your distro to the current packages (within that version) you are shooting yourself in the foot. The reason new versions of packages are released is usually to fix a bug (sometime just more features). So expecting a user to have the system fully updated (within a version) is a reasonable request. Tons of minor headaches are fixed each week(just look at F9 today versus on release day).

For an experienced user to choose to use a version beyond EOL is one thing, but for a new user it is something very different.

Lets see, this is a Newbie Forum, right? TrickyKid advocates not giving Newbies the "BrushOff" in a Newbie forum, Right? Of course if a "Newbie" had the necessary background to comprehend the contents of a Man page he wouldn't be a "Newbie", would he?
Unless a responder knows that the existing Distro is specifically the causal factor of the problem presented by the "Newbie" advice to install an updated Distro would fall into the evasion of valid response area right alongside "RTFM" wouldn't it?
Not for me to say that giving a "Newbie" a "Brushoff" in a "Newbie"Forum" is a Cheap Shot, but I do advocate that the Post Count be Decremented by 10 for each unhelpful/Brushoff/Cheapshot.

This is a little off topic:
While you are right - as well as the others IMO - who cares about the post count?

OK so the OP sort of eliminated the Version Issue when he stated same issue for Fedora and Redhat. Is anyone going to ask the Newbie any probitve questions to elicit enough information to resolve the issue. I would ask the questions myself except I'm a newbie myself and I am just interested in the resolution. :-)

The only question I can think to ask: "What is the error messagge" That of course leads to: "Is there a Hard Drive Test on the CDs you are trying to install from"?