Mandrake 10 install can't read partition table
 

When installing Mandrake 10 Community Edition, the installer claims it can't read the partition table of either hda or hdb. However, both partition tables are actually fine - Mandrake 9.1, Windows 98, Windows NT4 and Partition Magic can all read them perfectly.

The controller is the standard Intel 440BX IDE controller. hda is a 15GB Seagate drive as master on the primary channel, hdb is a 10GB Seagate and is set to slave on the primary (secondary is used for CD-RW/CD-ROM). BIOS geometry is all set correctly beforehand, however, when I reboot after exiting the install I notice that it's been messed with and the BIOS reports both drives at about 7900MB. That doesn't affect anything, but I don't like installers monkeying with the BIOS.

Any ideas?

Check your /etc/fstab (pico /etc/fstab)

That should give you some info on whats what...

The installer does not mess with the bios - unless you found the 'mandrake 10 kills LG motherboards' bug. I don't think so. It sounds like it is a problem with the partition table. Different partition tools can have problems when trying to work with each other. Perhaps you have been a victim to this.

The 2x7900MB sounds like what mdk would want to do with a 15GB drive (~2x7900MB partitions for / and /home and a swap). Did you have mdk10 autopartition or did you use existing?

Error scenario: Unable to read partition table (of /dev/hda) when a SCSI CD-ROM is on the system.
Why: The install boot sequence failes to create the SCSI devices under /dev.
Solution: When the installer reaches the point where the error message is displayed, press CTRL-ALT-F2 to go to a console and type at the prompt "mknod /dev/sr0 c 11 0" and then return to the GUI by pressing CTRL-ALT-F7. Select "no" to deleting the drive and the install process will loop back and work the second time.

Maybe this is a solution?!

It's funny you mention that, Derek, I do have a SCSI CD-ROM! I will try that after the weekend and see how that goes. But it sounds like that's the correct workaround to me.

colnago, I couldn't get Mdk10 to do any partitioning because it wouldn't read the table, and I didn't feel like erasing all my existing partitions and starting over as it suggested I do.

That was in the errata, I've noticed now. Doh!

Hiya Derek

I just followed your instructions and it sure did work even though I had to add sr1 as well. And that on an empty disk (no partitions at all).
Thanks a bunch!!

For the rest of you:
Any one seen any info on why this happens?
For my self I've never seen it and I have used MDK since June 1998.

System:
AMD Duron 1300 MHz
SCSI controller Adaptec 2940 UA with a DAT and Plextor CD
HDA = IBM DESKSTAR IC35L060AVVA07-0
HDB/HDC = Maxtor (unknown atm) size 40 GB each

Cheers

Well, that did fix the problem. I got hit with both the gotchas in the errata, but now I have it installed. There are some issues with sound, but I think they're 2.6 kernel issues since a lot of people are having them (Fedora Core 2 as well), and my scrollwheel doesn't work. Oh, and I had a hard lockup about 10 minutes after first boot. But it is a lot faster.