Slackware 12.1 Install Hangs During Package Install
 

Prior to the Hang, what gets my attention is the Setup program takes well under a minute to format the target partition, clearly not enough time. The target partition is around 26GB. It was previously partitioned and formated NTFS and checked for errors in Win2k.

The Full package install will begin, but after a few minutes, the activity lights on the hard drive and cd drive will go out, and then no more progress.

The Slackware CDs were bought directly from slackware.com and are labeled May 2008.

Swap is /dev/hda1
The target partition is /dev/hda2

Here is some hopefully relevant info:

from fdisk
Disk /dev/hda: 30.7 GB, 30736613376 bytes
16 heads, 63 sectors/track, 59556 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 1008*512 = 516096 bytes

/dev/hda1 start 1, end 8139, blocks 4102024+, id 82, system Linux Swap
/dev/hda2 start 8140, end 59556, blocks 25914168, id 83, system Linux

from the bios
IDE Channel 0 Master Maxtor 33073H3
IDE Channel 0 Slave _NEC DVD_RW ND-3500A
IDE Channel 2 Master Maxtor STM3160815AS
IDE Channel 3 Master Maxtor STM3500630AS

Channels 2 and 3 are SATA
HDD SMART is enabled
ATA 66/100 Cable Msg is enabled.

Thanks

If that ever happens the first thing that I will is check the integrity of the files of the install CDs, mount it and cd into the root directory of the media and then run:

md5sum -c CHECKSUMS.md5 | less

to inspect line by line if a file has failed the checksum

md5sum -c CHECKSUMS.md5 | less

All the files passed with an "OK".

It did give the message:
md5sum -c: WARNING 12 of 1563 computed checksums did not match.

but the first 12 lines of the file CHECKSUMS.md5 are comments for the user.

H/W related: Overheating? Check coolers/fans? thermal compound stiff and dry?
what's the temperature(s) immediately on reboot?

S/W related: run top in vt2 (on "the other channel Alt+F2" ;-) )

newer occurred to me (few dozens of Slackware installs)

OR:
try on vt3 dmesg in a timely manner (try to hit dmesg at them moment of freeze?)

look for "sda: 51 seek complete drive ready error" or the like

Yes it seems like it could have been heat. I failed to mention it but it usually didn't hang on the same package twice.

I had some issues with the computer shutting down without warning in Windows. I had to Disable the Shutdown Temperature and Warning Temperature in the BIOS, until I got a better fan/heatsink (which I did immediately). I also used a fresh application of thermal compound.

So back to this problem, the cpu and hard drives felt nice and cool, but I rearranged the drives for better ventilation anyways. It didn't fix the problem.

Even though it may not be the best trouble shooting I decided to play with the BIOS settings. I made the following changes:
HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability [Disabled]
ATA 66/100 Cable Msg [Disabled]
Shutdown Temperature [Disabled]
Warning Temperature [Disabled]

Then it installed no problem. So I'm thinking flaky hardware, or a heat issue. But its installed so I'm good for now.

Prior major upgrade:
step 1:
buy a decent PSU :
It's a problem-killer (I work in a PC-service-workshop ;-) )
step 2:
as You please... (provided step 1 is +50EUR ;-) or second hand)

YMMV, but since i'we got a decent PSU (~1kg) I only hav S/W problems if any... ;-P

Slackware 12.1 formats my 80GB drive in well under a minute so I don't think this is a problem.

True. I realized that after it successfully installed.

onejack:
What did 'brake the spell'? In Your oppinion?

Looks like I was mistaken about the BIOS settings. I did a reinstall partly because I wanted to find out more about the problem.

It was hanging just like before, regardless of the BIOS settings. I liked your suggestion about possible power supply issues, so I tried a different PS. The original PS was a Thermaltake Purepower 500 ATX 12V 2.0. I replaced it with a generic 500W PS I wasn't using for anything, no change, still hanging during the package install.

I tried switching to another console ctl+alt+f6. Of course I picked f6 arbitrarily, it didn't occur to me there might not be a vt6, but anyways thats what I did ignorant or not. Back to the point though, after pressing ctl+alt+f6, the package install started up again, and finished with no errors that I'm aware of. No other console came up.

The only problem I'm having now, which I also had before, is in X with my radeon 9250 PCI video card, which I think is another story--maybe has to do with DRI.

???
You switched just to vt6 (!?)
and it went trough,
except no console shown?
Now _that_ is funny
:-)

re PSU:
You catch my drift, judging by the make of Your original and current PSU - all i can add : take a look at Xilence too ;-) it's a sort of new company.
BTW I also sport a Tt PSU at the moment.