Problems installing on HD connected to SiI SATA

[carlosparamio]

Hi,

I've problems on installing FC2 on my computer. I've an Asustek motherboard with Silicon Image 3112 Serial ATA controller, and a SATA 80Gb HD (/dev/hde). I have two Linux distros (Fedora 1 /dev/hde1 and Debian Sid /dev/hde2) on it, plus a partition for swap (/dev/hde3) and last for /home /dev/hde4).

When I boot from FC2 DVD, and it's looking for old Fedora installations, it fails to mount my partitions. I ignore that, and continue, because anyway I wanted to overwrite my FC1 installation. But then FC2 tell me that my partition table is corrupted, and it isn't possible to continue. I couldn't udnerstand that, because my both linux installations are ok.

Then, I try to follow the instructions that FC2 tell me, so I decided to clean the disk. If I clicked on "OK" to accept to delete all partitions, then I get a new error (Device I/O error) and resets. So I boot from a Knoppix CD, clean the disk completely, and also overwrite MBR with zeros (/dev/zero). Again, I boot from FC2 DVD.

This time, I can create my partitions to install it. Ok, I did it, and then installation continues copying all necessary files to disk. When finished, I reboot my computer, but during booting of the kernel it fails to access to the disk, and it's no possible to use it.

I've readed some posts about kernel 2.6 errors because it doesn't use LBA to addressing the disk. Instead, it uses CHS mode. I've readed also about forcing LBA mode on the BIOS, but the problem is that I can't set addressing mode from my SATA controller. So my questions are:

1) Can't I install FC2? Is that k2.6 error fixed on newer kernel releases (if any)? There will be a FC2.1 release wich fix this problem?

2) What's the recommended mode to use for addressing the disk? How can affect one or another to the others OS on the disk?

3) Is possible to use some kind of boot parameter for the kernel to force LBA mode?

4) Can I use some other method to install FC2? I tried to upgrade from FC1 also, and it works, but when it installed kernel 2.6 and I boot again, I got the same problem.

Thanks a lot.

[boyzonder]

To answer your 1 - 4 questions first:

1. I don't think Fedora will come in minor versions, and you don't want to wait half a year for FC3

2. Check here: http://www.techimo.com/forum/t110670.html

3. I don't think so, but check Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt in your kernel source directory

4. I wouldn't upgrade from FC 1, because it's surely possible to make a bootable install... just keep trying

You can boot your system in rescue mode from the DVD by typing "linux rescue" at the boot prompt. It should find your installation and mount it in /mnt/sysimage (or something like that). Go to this directory and type "chroot /mnt/sysimage". Now / is the root of your installed system. Use sfdisk in whichever way the solution pointed out above suggests.

Good luck!