Will Mandrake 10CE Install on SATA?
 

As a new Linux user (:newbie: ), I decided to install Mandrake 10CE after hearing that it is the best place to start for new usrs like myself.

Previously, I had easily installed Fedora Core 1 and forund the excellent installer had even set up a dual boot on my system to allow me to run WinXP on my single 120GB SATA drive. My reasons for uninstalling FC1 were due to the difficulities I have getting it to work with my Nforce2 MB (something to do with the kernal being 2.4??) and the reccomendations that Mandrake 10 CEwould make my life much easier, espically it instantly detected the nforce2 network adaptor on my board.

I downloaded the CE version of Mandrake 10 and after selecting my packages, setting up the partions and such, watched the install work through the process of installing. At random times the installer froze (no mouse movement), requiring a cold reboot. I treeid many times to install.

Reading through this forum it seems there could be an issue with the SATA drivers. Is this true?

I managed to get Mandrake to install twice, but this was through perserverance and continuing from previous failed installs. The finished install did not work corrcetly so I removed it. I did however notice that dissapointly, I no longer had a choice of which OS to boot into.

So my choices are as follows: Reinstall Fedora Core 1 to learn Linux, with wonderful multiboot options, but no detection of my Nforce2 motherboard features. Or keep perserving with Mandrake 10 that I cant get a decent install of and does not allow me to boot into Win XP. What should I do?

My thoughts are this:

1) With SATA is Mandrake doomed to fail to install?
2) Is it possible to install a bootloader to run either Mandrake 10CE and Win XP together. If so, what would you reccomend?
3) What can I do to restore my boot to WinXP if I completly remove Fedora Core 1 (only way I can boot Win XP now is GRUB Stage 2)
4) Any other help you could give to me!?

Thanks for reading through this post. I really want to learn more about linux, but cant at the moment.

Thanks
Graham

Since 10.0 Final is out you should have used that. CE is really a fancy name for beta ;)

1. You did not say which motherboard you have but SATA works on my DFI NF2 Ultra Infinity with 10.0 Final. As long as you don't use it in a RAID array you shoud not have problems.
2. I run XP and Mandrake using the default LILO boot loader. You can even change it to default to either operating system using the Mandrake config tools. I have heard of too many probems with GRUB so I would not touch that if your going to dual boot with NTFS.
3. If you mess up the XP boot loader, then you can restore it using the Windows XP CD.
4. Mandrake 10.0 seems to work very well with a NForce2 motherboard for me, in fact better than a KT400 that I tried. You might have to disable RAID in the bios before you install the operating system, and maybe disable APIC if you got a ABIT board.

@pain:

1. is 10.0 Final the same as 10.0 Official?
2. when you installed Mandrake on your SATA drive what configuration did you use? standard of expert install? ext3 or linux raid partitions? what model and what size is your SATA drive? i'm asking 'cause i'm having trouble installing mandrake on my new Maxtor 160GB SATA HD....

@so noob:

i'm getting the same freezes as you during install ever since i got my SATA drive... however, before that i had it installed properly and mandrake also comes with boatloaders, just like fedora.
to restore the system so that only WinXP boots, boot from the WinXP CD and select the repair console. an enviroment similar to DOS will load. just type "fixmbr" and press enter and answer with a "y" to confirm overwriting the MBR. after that type "exit" and the computer will reboot.

Sorry I should have said 10.0 Official

After I set up the BIOS to only enable what I actually use, I used the standard default install and let Mandrake do it's thing. I got a Western Digital H/D.

Graham,

try this while installing mandrake:

on the first screen, where it asks you to press enter for normal install or F1 for additional options, press F1. then type "linux noapic nolapic" and press enter.

using these options, linux installed without freezing for me.

also, if your motherboard has 2 SATA ports, but you use only one SATA drive, type "linux noapic nolapic hdg=noprobe" instead. this will make the boot process faster.

hope this works for you

Thanks
 

Thanks for your returns guys. Was away housesitting so not wrote back to say thanks b4. Mandrake installed absoutly fine!