Using cfdisk utility for slackware installation

hulk321 · 09-15-2007, 01:15 AM

Hi,

1.boot from cd
2.when i put the command "cfdisk /dev/hda or cfdisk /dev/sdc" it says "this disk is read only-you dont have permission to write".

what do i do to get this slackware installed????

AceofSpades19 · 09-15-2007, 01:18 AM

you have to remount as read/write to be able to parition it

Alien Bob · 09-15-2007, 05:58 AM

AceofSpades19, (c)fdisk has nothing to do at all with "mounting".

hulk321, cfdisk may be trying to open the wrong device? Look at the output of

Code:

fdisk -l

and try to determine which device is your hard disk.

Eric

hitest · 09-15-2007, 08:20 AM

sdc sounds like it may be a cdrom drive to me.
On my SCSI unit I use:

#cfdisk /dev/sda

hulk321 · 09-15-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alien Bob

hulk321, cfdisk may be trying to open the wrong device? Look at the output of

Code:

fdisk -l

and try to determine which device is your hard disk.

Eric

i am using two hard drives;80GB and 160GB. both are SATA drives. i have logged on as root i.e.root@slackware:
i have used cfdisk -l
it doesnt do any thing or show any thing (give list) but goes into it i.e.
root@slackware# fdisk -l
root@slackware#
thats it!!

2.i have tried this too

root@slackware# fdisk /dev/hda
when i go for p command it doesnt show any of the drives there at all (i have first ntfs boot drive on which windowsxp is installed)

what do i do???

Alien Bob · 09-15-2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulk321

root@slackware# fdisk -l
root@slackware#
thats it!!

This means that Slackware does not find any hard disk at all. What kernel did you try to boot from?

Eric

hulk321 · 09-15-2007, 10:45 AM

Alien,

i am not sure about the kernle but it is Slackware 10.1

Alien Bob · 09-15-2007, 10:54 AM

Slackware 10.1 ? I assume there is a reason not to install the latest Slackware?
Slackware 10.1 has support for SATA drives when you use the sata.i kernel at install.
Whether this kernel works for your disks I don't know. The best thing to do is boot the Slackware 10.1 install CD and then type

Code:

sata.i

followed by ENTER.
I hope it will find your disks then. Otherwise, give Slackware 12.0 a thought. That will recognize your SATA disks (but runs a 2.6 kernel, and maybe you need that 2.4 kernel).

Eric

hulk321 · 09-15-2007, 11:39 AM

Alien,

i have tried sata.i nousb kernel option but the same results i.e. perhaps it isnt recognizing my hard drives???

currently i dont have cd burner that is why i am relying on slackware 10.1

please advice what to do now??

hitest · 09-15-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulk321

Alien,

i have tried sata.i nousb kernel option but the same results i.e. perhaps it isnt recognizing my hard drives???

currently i dont have cd burner that is why i am relying on slackware 10.1

please advice what to do now??

If you can not afford to buy a copy of Slackware 12.0 from Patrick you can get an inexpensive copy from a Linux CD site. I used this site before I had a functioning CD burner. They are reliable and you can't beat the price.

Discount Linux CDs

perry · 09-15-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulk321

Alien,

i have tried sata.i nousb kernel option but the same results i.e. perhaps it isnt recognizing my hard drives???

currently i dont have cd burner that is why i am relying on slackware 10.1

please advice what to do now??

if you can burn a cd get yourself a good diagnostic from VectorLinux:

Code:

http://vectorlinux.osuosl.org/veclin...d-LIVE-RC1.iso

burn that and boot up your system on your cdrom. when inside, look under System Tools->gparted! once there, you'll get a full diagnostic as to what's going on with your hardware as well as setup your partitions as you want and do it graphically

best advice i can give at the moment (besides checking out my thread on a 12.0 install!)

- perry

ps.
"currently i dont have cd burner" looks like a trip to the library or your buddies house for you!

AceofSpades19 · 09-15-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alien Bob

AceofSpades19, (c)fdisk has nothing to do at all with "mounting".

hulk321, cfdisk may be trying to open the wrong device? Look at the output of

Code:

fdisk -l

and try to determine which device is your hard disk.

Eric

You are right, sorry I was a bit tired last night, wasn't thinking right

hulk321 · 09-16-2007, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perry

if you can burn a cd get yourself a good diagnostic from VectorLinux:
[code]

Perry thanks for the advice. it seems like there is no alternative but to burn the latest iso and the software your talking about(i am sure this will solve my problem if graphical:P)

today is holiday cant buy a cd burner.
any other advice to save the money (CD Burner) :P

MQMan · 09-16-2007, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulk321

today is holiday cant buy a cd burner.
any other advice to save the money (CD Burner) :P

Don't buy a burner. Buy the latest Slack CD/DVD instead. It'll be cheaper, and it will support Pat in maintaining Slackware.

Cheers.

hulk321 · 09-16-2007, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MQMan

Don't buy a burner. Buy the latest Slack CD/DVD instead. It'll be cheaper, and it will support Pat in maintaining Slackware.

Cheers.

the trouble is the latest version isnt available in near by markets; they are windows OS dominent!!

Slackware 10.1 shouldnt have any pproblems installing as it isnt that old kind of version.

any other advice to follow apart from burning cds/lastest iso (i agree with these options and will try but wanna solve the problem with existing resources; if possible)????