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Re: rescue disk
Hi folks,
A point to keep in mind when you try to install Linux -
The virtual terminals are active even when you are installing
Linux. You can shift to the virtual screens using the ALT +
F1..F2..F3 etc.. These virtual screens aren't necessarily
console prompts - there is one such console screen but
all the other screens indicates the state of the installation.
I don't quite remember the order of the screens but these
are the screens (without any order implied)
One screen will indicate the actions which have been completed
such as the CD has been mounted, the root volume has
been mounted etc and the other screen will indicate the
status of each operation as it takes places. For example,
this screen will indicate the number of the blocks as they
are being formatted and verified etc.
When you experience an inordinate delay while the installation
is on, it might be worthwhile to check out these other
screens as an operation might be in progress. If you restart
while the disk is being formatted, you would end up with some
very unpleasant results.
To correct your disk, you will need to do the following.
1. If your MBR is corrupt, you can try recreating the MBR (this
is a wrong term .. the MBR does not get recreated, a section of
it just gets wiped out), you can boot from a Windows 95 or
DOS bootable floppy and run Fdisk /mbr. Please note that this
operation can render your harddisk pretty seriously unusable
if the MBR in its current state is pretty badly screwed up.
OR
2. Instead of using the DOS fdisk, you can also try using the
Linux installation disk and run the linux fdisk. Check to see
what are the partitions etc and make sure that there are no
errors.
3. If you have a bootable CD-ROM drive, then you can try
to boot from the Linux CD and proceed with the installation.
If however, you have a bios which does not allow CD boots,
you will need to install using the Linux installation disk.
4. Run the complete Linux installation, please DO NOT RESTART
your machine if there is a delay. Verify that some activity is going
on by switching occassionally to one of the other virtual screens
using the ALT + Function Key combination.
5. Once the installation is through, install Lilo and enable booting
into the Win98 as well as the Linux partition.
Please remember to create a boot disk during the Linux installation.
Regards,
Prem Kurian Philip
----- Original Message -----
From: Periaswamy, Senthilkumar <senthilkumar.periaswamy@xxxxxxx>
To: <ilugc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 01, 1999 12:30 PM
Subject: rescue disk
> Hi ,
>
> I was trying to install RH6.1 on my home PC this weekend (I was
not
> able to run install in Graphical mode - The screen went blank for a long
> time - 3 mins) in text mode and I had selected Checking for bad blocks
> option. During the install, while formatting(1.5 GB partition) it
appeared
> to be in the same state without action for more than 30 mins, So I had to
> abort the install and when I restarted the system, It is now asking
for
> a Boot disk. (It appears that my LILO or MBR is corrupt). I had Win98
on
> the Other partition.
>
> 1. Is there any way I can recover my m/c to boot in win 98, I
> intend to install RH6.1 after that. (If there is no hope , I am Ok to
> format the whole hard disk and install Linux fully on this m/c.)
>
> 2. Is there any way I can create a rescue disk (of the LILO
or
> MBR) now on my second m/c where I have RH6.0 and would like to
> install Rh6.1. I cannot afford to experiment on this m/c as the
previous
> one , so if anything goes wrong while installing RH6.1 , I should be able
to
> recover to use WIN98 on this system. Please advise any precautionary
> measures I would have to take to have a safe install of RH6.1.
>
> Any HOW-TO's, FAQ's or URL's which discuss about such kind of
> problem previously encountered ?
>
> If I have provided insufficient info pls let me know , I shall
> send more details.
>
> History: I have been getting the following msg for some time now on my
home
> PC while working with the root login in Linux (which now has the MBR/LILO
> corrupt) before i attempted to upgrade to RH6.1
>
> > hda : status timed out : status =0xd0{Busy}
> > hda : no DRQ after issuing WRITE
> > ide0 : reset :success.
>
> Is there a problem with my hard disk :-( , Is there any way I can
check
> the health of my hard disk with any Linux or Windows based tools. (will
> surface scan with SCANDISK do)
>
> Thanks & Regards,
> P.Senthil Kumar
>
> ---
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>
>
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