Ok - I think I found an issue with 9.1

I know my copy on CD works - I have installed 9.1 on another machine. I got the image from an ftp site through the official mandrake page.

I have the following: P4 1800Mhz, Intel D850GB board, Geforce FX 5200, 2x128Mb 800Mhz RIMMS, DVD drive, CDRW drive, floppy, 80gig HDD and 60gig HDD.

I have WinXP running on hda1, and want to install Mandrake to hdb.

The problem is when ever the install program starts to copy files, it hangs halfway through installing the kernel/ I have tried the CD i know to work, and even burned a brand new copy in case the CD was no good. The installation routine hard hangs at the same point everytime. I've tried lowering the transfer rate of the CDRW drive through the BIOS, but that didn't work. The DVD drive will not read CDR's, but I know the CDRW drive is good - that's not the issue I think. I've even tried unpluggin all USB devices in case that was the issue. No luck.

Any ideas? I'm really stuck!!

At what point, as nearly as you can tell, does the installation hang? What is it doing? Any messages?

Are you booting from CD or from floppy? if from CD, try making a boot floppy and booting from it.

What image are you using for your kernel? Mandrake gives you multiple choices, depending on your system configuration.

Ok - I partition and format my drives ok etc etc. It's at the point right after the package selection - I select which components/packages to install, and then it begins 'Installing' - progress bars etc. If you click details on this screen, you can see which file it's currently installing. It's halfway through installing the kernel when the problem occurs.

I'm installing from CD and all drive activity ceases, buttons become unresponsive to rollover's, but I can still move the pointer. Even the caps lock and numlock buttons won't work.

At this point I have to reset the box. I'm using the default kernel. I haven't seen an option on selecting which kernel to install, but I am using the graphical interface.

Any help is appreciated!

When it hangs you might be able to switch screens i.e. alt F2-F6 and check for errors being displayed.

Ok - I tried using an older kernal with F1 - then 'expert alt0' at the command line.
Same thing happened.

I'm going to try the altF2-F6 and see If I can get more information on the error for you guys.

Ok - I have tried it numerous times. When it hangs it's hung hard - so pressing altF2 - F6 doesn't show anything.

I have now noticed though, that after repeated attempts, it hangs at different points of the installation. The last time I tried it got stuck very early on whilst installing Perl.

It makes me think it's a problem with the CDdrive and the data rate. Is there anyway to make an installation 'pick up where it left off'?
Could Mandrake continue installing from the point it hung on?

Did you (or anyone else) find a solution? I've got the exact same problem. I have used these CD's for two (successful) installations, but now they don't work. The only difference is I've updated my bios. I'll try going back, but.... I don't think that's it.

I found the same as you, hung at different points (I must've installed at 10 or more times now), and occasionally it would get right to the end of the install. I'd then configure devices, install lilo etc, and when it was supposed to restart, it hung. I restarted for it, told lilo to boot to linux and I get a blank screen. After waiting a long time (probably around 2 mins) it prints a line (on the graphical screen still) saying something about "no response" from my hard drive, and from memory something about interrupts.