I bought Mandrake Linux about a month ago, tried to install it in my Sony Vaio running windows 95, but come with a problem. The cd installation kept getting hang-up before it started, leaving me with a I/O error and saying \"it can\'t recover from this\". So I got on one of the other linux message boards and someone told me to type in linux nomce or linux hbd=nodma. The command linux hbd=nodma work, got through most of the install, until it asked me for my video card, I must have gave it the wrong card because the screen went black. After that the whole installation got cut, because I had to reboot with finishing the install. I tried to install again, but couldn\'t and I couldn\'t delete the partition linux created.

Now I am trying to install Mandrake Linux in my HP windows 98 desktop, and I am getting the same cd hang-up I/O error. Nothing I try is working, not even those commands. Is there a way around this error? or a way to fix it? What is causing this error? and How can I successfully make it through the install?

I heard Linux has more availability then windows and I am ready to get started learning linux. I am Also ready to get rid of windows altogether!
Please Help,
Thank you for listening:-)

Go back to reinstall and hit F1. Type in the command you entered earlier a space then "expert". That should give you more options during the install and let you redo your partitions.

Hope this helps

The might work for the first computer I was trying install linux in, but now I am trying install it in a new computer and that install doesn't even start! It give me some I/0 error and tells me to restart my computer. Therefore something is block the install from communicating with the CPU and the problem is I have no clue. I thought it might have been PnP, but this is no option in the BIOS to disable the device.

Thank you,
Jenx

The CD's may be bad. Goto the download section of Mandrake Linux and do the check sum thing to check the CD's. I suspect they are bad. I just read another post and that was the problem with it.

Post back what you find. Some are more stubborn than others.

I Doubt they are bad because I try to install it on my labtop and the install started! However, I will still try what you said and keep you posted.

If that don't work, I'll bet there is something in the BIOS causing the problem.
You may also want to check this link:
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/errata.php3

Sometimes that will help.

I tried typing in linux vga=o and the patch. Nither worked and that is all that was on the mandrake site that even look like my problem!

Sorry I can't be specific but I have never had a laptop. I am pretty good at googleing though. Try these:

http://archives.mandrakelinux.com/co...2/msg12239.php
http://www.livejournal.com/community/linux/449503.html

The top one has several things to try. Read the whole thing so you won't miss one. The bottom on showed a possible fix at the bottom. May want to check the whole thing though.

Anybody else have ideas???

I am installing it on a desktop not a labtop, but I will try those sites.

Thanx