Hi,
I'm trying to install Mandrake 9.1 on my laptop (Compaq 700UK).
I am already running Windows 2000 Pro. I have created the linux partitions with partition magic (one for linux, one for swap, one for my data, all linux partitions).
I have downloaded the three iso files which I have burned. When I start my computer booting on CD, the screen for the installation of Mandrake appears. I press Enter, the process starts. Then it detects my configuration I think (not sure, it's the first time I install Linux). Think he's lookink for USB Devices, and then, there is an error message "could not uncompressed........this could be an hardwrae failure or a problem in linux kernel". Then it tells me that nothing can be done, and i have to reboot my computer.
Doaes anybody know the problem and how I can solve it?
Thanks for your answers.

Not sure this will help but hit F1 and then

That might help. Worth a try.

I had a similar message (unable to decompress) with different Linux distributions on a machine with faulty system memory (RAM).

Maybe you need more RAM memory for that installation?
Or maybe the Swap partition you created is too small?

Just my 2c.

I have the same of u are, same massage .. USB device ....
I get the cd from my friend ... he burn for me...
then i tell him to burn the 1st cd again ...
and then the instalation run normally ...

Try to find 1st cd ... the problem maybe on it...

thx ...

Thanks for your help.

've made a check of my ISO files with MD5sums.
It seems ISO files are corrupted...None of the three checksum match.
Is there a way to fix the damaged files ?
Or should I download new ISO files again ?
I don't understand how it's possible to have errors in files during downloads, explanations would be welcomed !
Thanks for your help.

swap partition has different file system than other linux partitions...maybe you formatted it ext3 (and it should be linux swap...)
now it's to late to say this, but you should have let mandrake do the whole partitioning thing by itself...

I think my partitions are OK. I've created them with partition magic, with the option "installing a new OS->Linux", so it creates the linux partition and asks for the swap partition to be created (I answer Yes, so I think it does the job correctly...). When I look at my partitions with PM, I have:
linux --> Linux ext2
swap --> Linux Swap
home --> Linux ext3

I can still delete my linux partitions, and starts again on the CD to make it creating partitions on his own. But I think I've tried it at the beginning of my Mandrake installation; I knew Mandrake could do this, but it wasn't ok, so I've tried something else. I really think it's an ISO files problem. Now I think I have to find other ISO files, don't I ?

yes, it's probably iso problem...i had problems downloading iso files becuse it happenes frequently that download is aborted couple of MBs before the end...you should use some download manager - i recommend FreshDownload - it's free, and it' great ) - it downloads everything to a temp file and after download is finished, it creates a file - so it's 100% not corrupted
here it is: http://www.freshdevices.com/

Well, I've downloaded my ISO files with a download manager called Star Downloader, which gave me good results in the past. No problem with disconnections, but apparently errors can pass "through" this kind of software...That's why i hesitate downloading again ISO files. The best way would be to find them around me, or to get the "official" CD. I think it's possible to get them for few money (<10€ or 10$), but I don't really know where I can find such services.

i got my 3 mdk9.1 cds for 6€, LinuxPro Magazine included
you should try to check the magazine stores if they have something like that...
unfortunately, i haven't seen mdk in computer stores (only RH, but for obvious reasons...)
why don't you ask your local L(inux)U(ser)G(roup) (you can contact them via email or something) - they'll have it...

check out ftp://raven.cslab.vt.edu, that is a 100Kbps download server

get 9.1 and burn a new set of cds

best of luck

- perry

you can also use bittorrent (if you have it). It checks the downloaded files for any errors while downloading so when you're finished, you can be sure that the isos are ok. It can also resume downloads without problems.