mandrake 8.0 installation probs

[shyrjiin0]

Ok i've been having this problem for the past few days and have tried everything i know (which ain't much) to fix it. I get to the step where you create and format your partitions. I have win 2000 in one partition that's 7.8 gigs, i have a linux swap in another that's 214 megs, and i have a linux partition that is 2.4 gigs. I format it and all that and click done, it formats it but before it can load and install the packages i get this error message

An error occurred
invalid hdlist description
''
in hdlists file

no idea how to fix it, please help so i can install this thing finally!

[subnet_rx]

I had the same problem with Mandrake. It just kept doing that. I just got Red Hat 7.1 and had no problems. I really didn't want it to rewrite my partition table and take out my Windows partition, so I just decided to scrap it. My other comp runs Mandrake 8.0 just fine though.

[bdg1983]

I've seen that exact same problem posted here on a few occasions. It could be that you have either a corrupted download or bad burn.

[shyrjiin0]

I would try out a different one but i lost my dsl awhile ago and am broke.. i spent a week dling mandrake 8 and REALLY don't feel like doing it again, hopefully someone else will respond with some type of fix

[rch-tech]

I feel your pain.
I had the same issue with 7.2. I got that same error. When I was getting that message though it was during an FTP install. I ended up downloading the ISOs and it worked. I would have to agree with whoever said maybe you got a bad burn.
Best Bet, work at McDonald's on a weekened and go buy a distribution at the store if you can't download another copy.
You might want to search in this forum because I am pretty sure I posted this question too.

[NancyGirl]

Hey shyrjiin0 if you trust me with your street address, I'd would happily mail you the 3 CDs for Mandrake 8.1.

I know my CDs are good. I have successfully installed from the CDs several times now.

Mail me if you want them. nancy@nancygirl.net

[subnet_rx]

well, I've got to say, I don't think it's the CD's. I installed it on one computer, then started installing on another computer and got the error. A few weeks later, I had to reinstall Mandrake on the first, and used the same CD's with no problem. It could be the CD's, but that led me to believe it wasn't.

[rch-tech]

Originally posted by subnet_rx:
<STRONG>well, I've got to say, I don't think it's the CD's. I installed it on one computer, then started installing on another computer and got the error. A few weeks later, I had to reinstall Mandrake on the first, and used the same CD's with no problem. It could be the CD's, but that led me to believe it wasn't.</STRONG>

I also seem to remember having this issue when setting up Grub and LILO, is this a fresh install on a completely blank and unpartitioned drive?

[shyrjiin0]

No i have a 7.8 gig partition for win 2000 on the same drive..

[lilrabbit129]

I'd try going for 8.1,

when i installed 8.0 on my machine a few months back i had nothing but problems... after fiddling around a lil with 8.1 me and linux have formed an "acquantance" =)


-ME

[Icculus]

Originally posted by shyrjiin0:
<STRONG>Ok i've been having this problem for the past few days and have tried everything i know (which ain't much) to fix it. I get to the step where you create and format your partitions. I have win 2000 in one partition that's 7.8 gigs, i have a linux swap in another that's 214 megs, and i have a linux partition that is 2.4 gigs. I format it and all that and click done, it formats it but before it can load and install the packages i get this error message

An error occurred
invalid hdlist description
''
in hdlists file

no idea how to fix it, please help so i can install this thing finally!</STRONG>

set you partitions when it gives you that , reboot and dont set the partitions they should already be there , or something to this effect , fromt here on out you should be able to install mandrake , see you messing up the partition tables and its going AHHH no HD cause no set parameters are in place , nothing a reboot shouldnt fix

[shyrjiin0]

I've tried that many times, when i put the cd in and start to configure and install i don't constantly mess with the partitions i've tried just clicking "use existing partition" and then done and it does the same thing, more than once but i guess i can try it again

[bdg1983]

I've been trying to remember what the solutions were for the previous posts on that particular error.

Either a bad download, bad burn, a bad memory module or the drives are not setup correctly.

Anyway you can swap out the memory and try again?

I didn't get much from a Google search though you might do better searching around Mandrake's site or their usergroups.