[arch-general] Problems with install Iso
Hullo all, I tried to ask this a couple of days ago and for some reason it ended up as a flame war about chakra between people I don't even know and I'm not sure what triggered it, so I'll try again. I've used arch for many years and always been happy (I actually run it on 5-6 machines which I maintain ok). My laptop got a libreadline file problem after upgrading, so after backing up I just decided to reformat the drive the the latest arch linux iso I downloaded last weekend intending hence to use kde4.3, and have been spectacularly unsuccessful in getting the drive formatted using the install iso. with the /arch/setup program I tried auto to do the whole drive (it was a brand new seagate 500gig HDD) > no action, just sat there. I tried using CFDISK > create partitions > then the setting the mount points didn't recognise any partitions were there. After a couple of reboots and retries it did recognise the partition was there, but wouldn't let me allocate mount points. On one occasion it allowed me to allocated mount points but then just died. To prove to myself that it wasn't the drive I tried the chakra alpha on it which recognised the partitions and installed ok but this I've removed as I want arch proper. I'm at a loss to know where to head because this is my software developement machine (private not in any way related to a business) and I've been reduced to using xfce4 (not that bad actually) on an old drive, but all my email is in kmail (7+ years of it) which I don't want to have to import into thunderbird and kmail won't run on the machine with the corrupted installation. So, is there anyone who could give me a hint as where to proceed - I've tried re-downloading the iso and reburning it and the md5's are ok. Rescue disks or Knoppix read the partitions fine. Is there any way I can paritition and format with an external tool, then use the command line to install a base arch system so I can bypass the installer? Any help, even if you answer off list would be appreciated. Regards Richard
richard terry schrieb:
I tried to ask this a couple of days ago and for some reason it ended up as a flame war about chakra between people I don't even know and I'm not sure what triggered it, so I'll try again.
Sorry about that, it happens. However, this post has more details about what exactly failed in OUR installer, so Dieter will probably reply later.
I've used arch for many years and always been happy (I actually run it on 5-6 machines which I maintain ok).
My laptop got a libreadline file problem after upgrading, so after backing up I just decided to reformat the drive the the latest arch linux iso I downloaded last weekend intending hence to use kde4.3, and have been spectacularly unsuccessful in getting the drive formatted using the install iso.
with the /arch/setup program I tried auto to do the whole drive (it was a brand new seagate 500gig HDD) > no action, just sat there.
I tried using CFDISK > create partitions > then the setting the mount points didn't recognise any partitions were there. After a couple of reboots and retries it did recognise the partition was there, but wouldn't let me allocate mount points. On one occasion it allowed me to allocated mount points but then just died.
As I said, Dieter will be the most competent to help here, I don't know the exact cause and all, but I might be able to offer you an ugly workaround: As you seem to be good with Linux and Arch, you can try the following: - Boot the Arch install CD, partition everything as you like it and mount it manually before even launching /arch/setup - Skip all "mount partitions" steps in /arch/setup and simply proceed to the package selection/installation. - Adjust your fstab manually after you finished installing This used to work in our old installer once you found out where /arch/setup wants its destination to be mounted. I don't know if AIF has safeguards to prevent you from installing without letting it mount partitions before (If it does, you can comment them out in the script, the live system is read/write). The fact that AIF doesn't allow you to select the newly created partitions looks very much like a bug. I'll wait until Dieter has time to reply.
Thomas Bächler schrieb:
As you seem to be good with Linux and Arch, you can try the following: - Boot the Arch install CD, partition everything as you like it and mount it manually before even launching /arch/setup - Skip all "mount partitions" steps in /arch/setup and simply proceed to the package selection/installation. - Adjust your fstab manually after you finished installing
This used to work in our old installer once you found out where /arch/setup wants its destination to be mounted. I don't know if AIF has safeguards to prevent you from installing without letting it mount partitions before (If it does, you can comment them out in the script, the live system is read/write).
The fact that AIF doesn't allow you to select the newly created partitions looks very much like a bug. I'll wait until Dieter has time to reply.
Instead of "/arch/setup", please try "/arch/aif -p interactive -d" and save/upload the log files from /var/log/aif/ that will be created. That will be useful in any case.
On Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:22:40 +0200 Thomas Bächler <thomas@archlinux.org> wrote:
As I said, Dieter will be the most competent to help here
You and Gerhard said it all. I only want to add: even though the manual/workaround-method that Thomas explained may work (the mountpoints are prefixed by '/mnt' btw, so '/mnt/boot' for '/boot' on the target system) I would only use it as a last resort. First try the other things that were mentioned. Dieter
Am Mittwoch, den 19.08.2009, 19:05 +1000 schrieb richard terry:
with the /arch/setup program I tried auto to do the whole drive (it was a brand new seagate 500gig HDD) > no action, just sat there.
I tried using CFDISK > create partitions > then the setting the mount points didn't recognise any partitions were there. After a couple of reboots and retries it did recognise the partition was there, but wouldn't let me allocate mount points. On one occasion it allowed me to allocated mount points but then just died.
First: best way is to open a bugreport (http://bugs.archlinux.org/index.php?project=6) so that this isn't lost in ML threads. Myself never noticed such during my/our tests. AIF uses the normal tools for partitioning and making filesystems. So you could try 2 things: a) Try using the normal tools to see if there is a problem with 2.6.30 kernel or the tools. Make (with fdisk or cfdisk) to partitions on the HD. Format these partitions afterwards (a reboot is not neeeded), for ex: mkfs.ext2 /dev/sda1 mkfs.ext3 /dev/sda2 mount these partitions to /mnt mount /dev/sda1 /mnt mkdir /mnt/test mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/test Would this test work? b) Start aif in debug mode and give us the log file. Instead using /arch/setup start it with: aif -p interactive -d -l Best to go on with auto prepare. When you got stucked with above errors you could look at the output on tty7. And please give us the logfile /var/log/aif/aif.log after you could step further.
Regards
Richard
Gerhard
On Wednesday 19 August 2009 04:05:25 am richard terry wrote:
Hullo all,
<snip>
I've used arch for many years and always been happy (I actually run it on 5-6 machines which I maintain ok).
My laptop got a libreadline file problem after upgrading, so after backing up I just decided to reformat the drive the the latest arch linux iso I downloaded last weekend intending hence to use kde4.3, and have been spectacularly unsuccessful in getting the drive formatted using the install iso.
<snip>
Regards
Richard
Richard, When you find a solution that works, would you mind posting it here. I have a number of boxes that I will be moving to Arch and if you can save me from having to reinvent the wheel, it would be much appreciated. -- David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E. Rankin Law Firm, PLLC 510 Ochiltree Street Nacogdoches, Texas 75961 Telephone: (936) 715-9333 Facsimile: (936) 715-9339 www.rankinlawfirm.com
participants (5)
-
David C. Rankin
-
Dieter Plaetinck
-
Gerhard Brauer
-
richard terry
-
Thomas Bächler