Installation Frustration

[RBKnowles]

Hello out there.
I desperately want to install Linux but am being prevented from doing so by obscure error messages.
I have tried to install Redhat and Caldera distributions in every single way - hard disk, ftp, NFS etc...
I shall give you the results - both distributions stop the install at about the same point.
Hard disk (from a Windows partition to a clean disk) - fails to mount directory containing Linux setup files.
NFS - can't find NFS server (I know its there and the path s right)
FTP - can't access FTP server (although I have heard rumours that firewalls can prevent this?)

All hardware is correctly identified by the setup so what is going on?
Please please help

Rob

[FamMan]

I don't have an answer for that but if nobody does then go to http://www.linux.org. Click on support. Then click on HowTo's. You might find your answer there.

[ssinger]

Sounds like your unable to access the network. How are you setting up your network settings DHCP? or are you manually entering them. Either way ensure that they are correct, it's also a good idea to see if other machines on the network can ping your IP address.

Also make sure that your NFS server is setup such that your workstation has permission to mount the appropriate drive.

[Tiny]

I ran into a couple of these when trying to install RH 5.2 on an Alpha system. The solution to the HD install "Unable to mount directory" was because the RPMS directory under the RedHat directory was in lowercase instead of uppercase. The CD I burned it on screwed it up so I had to rename the directory to uppercase and then it worked fine.

The FTP install can be failing for two reasons. If your network card isn't supported, it won't work but won't tell you it isn't supported. This happened to me on my Alpha system. If your network card is supported, you should try contacting the FTP server by IP address instead of hostname.

Tiny

[RBKnowles]

Thanks Everyone
I am now running Linux quite happily (or is this a lie...)
It turned out to be a combination of bad directory naming and old-ish install disk images.
I'm off to my own little Linux planet