files of size 0 on iso
 

I downloaded the mandrake v9.2 iso and tried to make a network install from an nfs server on a windows computer. The install crashed on "stage 2".
When i looked at the iso, i realized that some files needed by the install program were empty.. (runtinstall2, for example)
I tried to get the iso from a different ftp site, checked the signatures, all is the same...
So then, i got the v10.0 iso; same problem, same empty files.
I ended up burning a mix of the iso and the missing files (downloaded from ftp) on a cd, and the install is now able to complete... sometimes.

Did anyone have the same problem?
it may not look too bad like that, but it took me 2 days of download, install, troubleshooting and frustration to finally install linux :(

Vincent

I suspect your problem is hardware specific, otherwise a lot more people would have seen it.

Perhaps your CD burner is faulty? Can you mount the ISO using a loopback without burning it to a CD to check it?

Have you checked the md5 sums of the ISO?

Mark.

That's what i thought at first, but i checked md5 signatures, all ok.
Actually, i used CDRWIN to have the image of the iso on a drive letter without burning it so i could save a cd.. but the same files are 0 bytes, so later, i mixed the right files with the iso and now i have a "complete" cd.
I looked for someone having the same problem and the only post i found was also on this site, but didnt help:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...003/01/2/40746


here's a link to the list of empty files: (i didn't want to clutter the post with this)
http://inf2170.tripod.com/autres/empty.txt

There's also some empty files in the \Mandrake\mdkinst\usr\share\locale directory but i suspect this is normal since it's for different languages support. (?)

I was wondering if it could be a problem with redirected/mounted directories on unix systems? I use win xp, maybe it's supported in a different or incompatible way?

I wonder how come almost no one has this problem!?

Vincent

If the ISOs match the checksums and when you mount they have missing files, then it's meant to be like that.

Did you get the ISOs from a trusted source? (ie. a trusted website, not your best friend, who might have messed them up!)

Actually, i found what was the problem: my NFS server was on a windows system. I think that windows is unable to follow symbolic links on the cd (if there are any? honestly, i didn't check but my guess is that this is the problem).
Anyway, i pulled a cdrom drive from my new computer, plugged it on the old linux-to-be computer, and everything worked perfectly.
I finally installed slackware.. and i am very happy with it :)

Thanks for your help!

Ah OK I didn't guess that it would be the problem, but I'm glad you reported back the solution so that we know for next time someone has this problem.