possible h'dware failure?

[eXtremist]

Check this out:

sometimes, when I try installing RH7, I get problems.. The error occurs after I boot from the CD.. The install procedure makes it to "Running /sbin/loader" (can't remember if that's the exact line -- it happens right before "starting anaconda.. this may take a few minutes") and then stops.

When it works, it says the mentioned line, the CD reads, then it loads anaconda and finishes the install.
However, when it doesn't work, it stops at the mentioned line, and the CD read light stays lit. If I press ctrl-alt-F3, it shows a screen with a bunch of info on it. Here, about every 5 seconds, "hdb: lost interrupt" pops up.

I usually have to try about 15 times before I can get it to work. Once anaconda is loaded the install goes off without a hitch. I checked the CD and there are no scratches on it (I only burned it a few days ago). I also tried copying the whole CD to my hard drive, and that went without any data errors.

Does anyone know if this is a software bug within the RH7 installation? I've been using my CDROM in windows for years and I've never had any problem with it. I figured if there was a bad sector on the CD, it would have told me when I copied the whole thing to my HD, and if there's a corrupted script or file on the CD, wouldn't the error happen EVERY time?

Also, once linux is installed, I have no problem with the CDROM at all.. I can copy the CD to the hard drive in linux, and linux has no problem with it..

I'm confused.. Why does it only give me errors sometimes?

[Molecule Man]

Many a burn will have errors that are not seen by the burning software. You might try reburning the cd at a lower speed and see fi there are less problems. Also when you boot to a cd, you are going to be more susceptible to errors on the cd than if you use atapi drivers.

If you got it installed, I wouldn't worry about it. Check out Adaptec's/Roxio's mailing list (http://www.roxio.com/en/jhtml/subscription/cdrnewsletter.jhtml) if you want to know more about the results of errors on burns.

[ 12 March 2001: Message edited by: Shad ]

[eXtremist]

huh?

beta section of what?

[Molecule Man]

Check my reply again. The first time There was a totally different message. Must be a bug in the software.

[eXtremist]

Okay..

So is there any way to make this CD more reliable? It sucks having to keep pressing RESET until the install GUI completely loads. I usually have to try it a bunch of times before it finally goes through.

[eXtremist]

Okay.. Well, I think I figured out this problem. I moved the drive from primary slave to secondary master and it worked!

I still have another problem I'm dealing with though (see other post on this board).. :(

linux is a never ending loop of learning. Just as you think you have your system running smoothly, you find some hardware that isn't working right :(