Ubuntu won't install on SATA drive [SOLVED by installing PCLinuxOS]

GoofyGAT

Edit: As above, I installed another Linux OS, & this solved my problems - see last post for a few details.

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I recently downloaded Ubuntu v7.04 (from here) but cannot get it to install from the LiveCD because during installation it cannot see any of the SATA1 drives/partitions (2 drives, several partitions). Even the Linux file system formatted ones - ext3 & swap partitions - are not visible. The 'Prepare partition' applet in the install wizard has no drives/partitions listed - screenshot.

Prior to this, when booting-up off the CD I get the following errors, then some lines of text like various things are loading & soon after the screen goes blank (& I have to reset the PC), or it boots into Ubuntu soon after::
[ 189.250180 ata2.00: failed to set xfermode (err_mask=0x40)
[ 224.709181 ata2.00: failed to set xfermode (err_mask=0x40)
[ 260.168234 ata2.00: failed to set xfermode (err_mask=0x40)

Running in a terminal:
* sudo fdisk -l - gives nothing (it just returns to the command prompt: ubuntu@ubuntu:~$)
* sudo fdisk /dev/sda (or sdb) - gives 'unable to open /dev/sda'
* sudo mount /dev/sda (or sdb) - gives 'can't find /dev/sda....'

Incidentally, I had the same problem with Kubuntu (6.10) some months ago, so I downloaded the free version of Mandriva 2007 & managed to setup up a successful dualboot with XP Pro with the help of some guides on the web. It was the first time I had tried Linux. Amazingly, everything 'just worked' (including my ntl cable bb connection) - all with little/no input from me. All was fine for a while, until some months when I upgraded my graphics card I couldn't change the screen res beyond 640x480. After trying a few things, including starting from scratch & reinstalling Mandriva (couldn't manually install latest ATi drivers, btw), I still cannot change the res. So I though I'll move on & try something else.

If you need my PC's spec, motherboard details, etc just ask. Any help appreciated. G

MercilessKiller

Just a quick question.. Are you using Raid on your drives?

wolfman

Yeah could you list your spec. Including the graphics card you have (not an ATI is it!). The make and model of motherboard if possible, and any other drives you have (any IDE drive?).

wolfman

Also you could try this:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=568480

Upon getting the boot options I think there is an option to change the boot command line that is run. You need to add what's in the above post to the line.

And here's another:
http://fak3r.com/2007/06/22/failed-to-set-xfermode-solved/

Two parameters you can try adding.

GoofyGAT

Thanks guys. I'll have a look at those links wolfman.

No MK, I'm not using Raid on my drives.

It's a Silicon Image SiI 3112 SATALink Controller with a nVidia nForce2 ATA Controller (under 'IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers' in Windows Device Manager) if it's any help.

wolfman, my spec is:

- AMD 2800+ (32-bit)
- Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2
- ATi Radeon X800XT PE 256Mb (previously ATi 9700)
- 80Gb (x2) Maxtor 6Y080M0 Sata1
- 1.5Gb PC3200
- Pioneer DVR-111L

Btw, the MD5 hash was checked & iso image burned at 1x speed & verified.

I've added some more errors to my original post. G

GoofyGAT

OK, I'm on the verge of giving up on this. I tried a few things to no avail. I don't know how to add 'irqpoll' to the kernel line (no idea what kernel line is & how to access it!). Anyway it looks that'll only solve one problem but not the most important - that of installing Ubuntu.

Yesterday I had posted this in the Ubuntu forums as well, but haven't had a single response in 21-22 hours. May be time to bump up that post.

I may try another distro as someone suggested in one of those links, but not Edgy Eft (Kubuntu) as I've already tried it with the same result. G

P.S. If you haven't noticed, I've edited my original post (again :rolleyes:)

irnbru_2

GoofyGAT wrote: »

I don't know how to add 'irqpoll' to the kernel line (no idea what kernel line is & how to access it!).

I don't have sata drives ......

The kernel line will refer to an entry in Grub which is the boot loader.
So if the LiveCD boots like a normal install, you should get a screen showing which kernel is booting. From memory, just hit Esc which should bring up the lines of the config. Scroll to the line you want then hit 'e' and append the kernel parameter.

To change your screen resolution you will need the appropriate driver for your card. If that means downloading the ATI driver then you'll have to read up on the instructions.

wolfman

Yep that#s what I meant. When you put the Live CD in, before it's even started loading you should be presented with a list of options. One of them should allow you to change the boot entry.

Also, I'm sure I read you'd tried the Alternate install (instead of using the Live way of doing it), but this is probably worth a try. I can't install via the Live CD myself due to hardware problems, so have to install via the text-based Alternate method.

And if you want to get things sorted with your ATI card, you'll need to follow this guide:
http://wiki.cchtml.com/index.php/Ubuntu_Feisty_Installation_Guide

GoofyGAT

OK, may be too late now as I've gone ahead & installed Freespire on the 1st partition of my 2nd drive (were Mandriva was). Need to know how to set it up to dual boot with XP now - these steps should do it I hope.

irnbru, hitting Esc only gave me ^[ ^[ ^[. Also the lines of the config didn't stop scrolling so I couldn't enter anything, & there were only ~20 lines (there were several more while loading Mandriva/Freespire). Anyway, I don't think adding the 'irqpoll' parameter would've solved the install problem - it was only meant to solve the boot problem, wasn't it?

wolfman, out of curiosity, in this list of options which one would I needed to select to change the boot entry? No, I didn't try the Alternate install although I did consider it when I saw someone had suggested it in one of those forums.

irnbru & wolfman: As mentioned, I had the low res problem in Mandriva. I tried to follow an ATi manual install guide, but 1. couldn't find the 'ATI Linux Proprietary Graphics Driver' to uninstall as suggested, 2. when I ran the installer, a few things happened in the Terminal, then returned to the 'command' prompt. G

P.S. I'm probably getting some of the Linux terminology wrong in my posts, so bear with me

wolfman

GoofyGAT wrote: »

wolfman, out of curiosity, in this list of options which one would I needed to select to change the boot entry? No, I didn't try the Alternate install although I did consider it when I saw someone had suggested it in one of those forums.

Hmmm, you may find it by pressing F6. I haven't used the Live CD for ages, I could have sworn there was a way of changing the boot options. It should be there, try F6 and see what it comes up with.

And yes the alternate cd is definitely worth trying. It's all I use and it's never failed me.

GoofyGAT wrote: »

irnbru & wolfman: As mentioned, I had the low res problem in Mandriva. I tried to follow an ATi manual install guide, but 1. couldn't find the 'ATI Linux Proprietary Graphics Driver' to uninstall as suggested, 2. when I ran the installer, a few things happened in the Terminal, then returned to the 'command' prompt. G

The guide I mentioned above is quite a good one, but made for Ubuntu. Basically when changing your graphics driver, you'll need to install "fglrx".

You'll also need to amend your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. In the guide though this is all handled. I'll try googling the error you get see if there are any solutions.

Conor_3

It can't see the drives because it doesn't have the drivers for the SATA controller.

Your only real option is to pop into CMOS settings and set the SATA controller to run in IDE Mode. There's no performance penalty but the drives get listed as IDE ones which any OS can see without the need for drivers.