[NTLUG:Discuss] Install Mdk 8.2, RH 7.3 - Hang - Huge HDD - BIOS

[greenglow484@juno.com]

Thanks to all who responded.  I appreciate the help from each of you.

The HDD was not/ is not dead.  As mentioned in previous post, Windows is
able to see, and write from and to, the HDD partitions OK.  So was Linux
on prior version installs and booting/ usage.

> 
> Linux doesn't use BIOS 
> information for disk access (on x86 anyway) after the kernal is
loaded... 

It appears to have been this, or something similar, as Mike posted last
night.  The installer used by newest RH & Mdk appears to require BIOS
info;  unlike older versions, if it can't initially get it from the BIOS,
it stops and_will_not_time_out;  it will sit there until  Micros~1 
freezes over.

I solved the problem by reinstalling Mandrake 8.0, instead of the 8.2 I
was trying.  After 3 failed install efforts, due to installer crashing
each time trying to create the X config. using XFree 4 (I had experienced
this before, but had forgotten about it --  but that's another story),
Mdk finally got installed, and my /var and / partitions are on that HDD,
in addition to another 2,  ext 2 partitions, 20 Gig each, just extra
partitions, and Mdk is functioning just like it always did.

Plus, installing the older version means that I again have sound on my
installation, and the ZIP ATAPI 100 drive is installed and works OK, both
of these chronic problems for me in Linux, I regret to say.  Thus, will
try to upgrade packages, etc., instead of freshly installing.  

Thanks again to all.
--
  Douglas D. Darnold	Principal/ Attorney
  LAW OFFICES OF DOUGLAS D. DARNOLD <greenglow484 at juno.com>
  P. O. Box 12461	Dallas  Texas 75225-0461	Voice: 214-368-8884


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