Wondering if this is normal for a slackware install?

nicdaug · 02-13-2006, 12:26 AM

Ok, I've decide to to do a dual boot on my laptop running xp. As I am currently installing slackware (not sure which version, 10 I think) there is a message scrolling the bottom of the screen.

grep: /var/log/mount/slackware/a/tagfile: Input/output error
^
^
^
Is that normal or is there a problem with the install?

odevans · 02-13-2006, 12:35 AM

Sounds like your download was corrupted or the CD is damaged. You could check the MD5 sums of the isos to narrow it down. If you end up having to re-download slackware, why not go for the latest version 10.2.

nicdaug · 02-13-2006, 12:48 AM

Well it just decided that the kernel is corrupt. However I don't believe this to be a problem with the disk, but rather a problem with the hardware. I only say this because I have a pre existing copy of slack(it was not downloaded from the net) and my comp claimed that the kernel for suse 9.1 was corrupt as well. Any ideas? The only thing I can think of is that I am trying to set it up as my hdd being ide, but I'm not sure if it's ide or scsi. I can't seem to be able to find the specs on my laptop.

odevans · 02-13-2006, 01:11 AM

Slack was complaining that the SuSE kernel was corrupt? I think I'm misunderstanding that.

What laptop do you have? Someone here may have a similar model or have a handle on where the specs are. If you have a working linux install, or a live CD to run, lspci -v | grep -i ide (and/or grep scsi) might help.

Yalla-One · 02-13-2006, 01:24 AM

It's too early to say if how relevant this is, but I've seen similar behaviour from a PC I bought off eBay which turned out to have a memory parity problem (256MB RAM of one type, the other 256MB chip of a nother type).

The slackware installation bombed at various places, complaining about source medium etc, and I wasted 4-5 perfectly good CDs on writing new Slackware CDs before an IT guru (you know, the real guru type that doesn't see much daylight

) brought some tools that found a problem with the memory. Once that was fixed, the problems with "bad media" and similar went away.

While your problem may be different, it's worthwhile checking, as Windows doesn't complain as much, but choses to bomb out at random places, where Linux tends to be more strict to begin with and then stay rock stable.

-Y1

nicdaug · 02-13-2006, 01:29 AM

Sorry, I worded that poorly. I had the kernel issue when I attempted to install suse, which I ultimately scrapped. And then when I tried to install slack it also had a problem with its own kernel.

My laptop is an eMachines M5405, now before anyone goes off one the fact that emachines are crap (I know) it runs well for basic computing. I bought because it was cheap and I primarily use it for school. I just don't think I can constantly use windows. It gets on my nerves.

Yalla-one, If my memory is two different types eMachines is going to have one pissed off customer to deal with, seeing as how I haven't upgraped since it was shipped from the factory. Or I'm headed down to BestBuy to smack around their "geek squad guys"

odevans · 02-13-2006, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicdaug

Or I'm headed down to BestBuy to smack around their "geek squad guys"

You need a reason for that?

Just kidding! No, I'm not.

Yes I am. Seriously though, I see what you mean about there being little/no info on your laptop available on the web. Personally, I've never seen a scsi laptop (not that that says much), and when I was shopping for notebook HDDs a couple of months ago, I don't remeber even seeing a 2.5" SCSI HDD, though I am sure they exist.

If you're concerned about your memory, you could always try running memtest.

Have you tried using a live CD like knoppix or slax?