ISOLINUX Boot Error

[fclinux64fx]

Hi all,

I am writing in regards to a problem I have with loading Fedora Core 3 on a PC with the following specs

Pentium 166 MHz
64 MB RAM
4 GB Maxtor Hard Drive
and
2 GB Seagate Hard Drive
4 MB S3 PCI Vison Graphics Card
8X8X32 CD-RW Drive
10/100 Ethernet Adapter

Now please note that I am only using this PC in pure text-mode ( no graphics what so ever ) as a Small Server

This is the error message I recieve when I try to boot from the CD

ISOLINUX 2.11 2004-08-16 isolinux loading spec packet failed, trying to wing it.

isolinux: Extremely broken BIOS detected, ast ditch attemp with drive = FF
isolinux: Disk error 01, AX=426F, drive FF

Boot Failed: press a key to retry....

Also, the CDs are not faulty. The MD5SUMs have been verified, there was a proper burn of the discs, the whole nine yards. In addition to that I have installed Fedora Core 3 on other systems with these same disks, and they have been perfectly clean, and fast installs.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[tejas]

I'm wondering if your processor is too slow.

As far as I've seen, fedora comes in two versions
i386 and x86_64
you probably have the i386 version

as yours does not meet the min. speed, It might not be able to install

Try damn small linux or something, perhaps fedora is too resource consuming.

correct me if I'm wrong

[fclinux64fx]

Well does the processor speed prevent Fedora Core install from even being booted?

I don't mind using another distro, its just that it should work regardless right?

[markkuk]

Originally Posted by fclinux64fx

isolinux: Extremely broken BIOS detected, ast ditch attemp with drive = FF
isolinux: Disk error 01, AX=426F, drive FF

Isn't this error message pretty clear? It's not the CDs and not the CPU speed, your BIOS is incompatible with the boot code.

[nhusted]

I would suggest using damn small linux or an older version of redhat if you can find it. The 486/33 we've got laying around the house has verion 7.x or 8 of redhat on it and it runs fine (if you want to stick with redhat). It runs X with KDE and used to use Opera to browse the web. It' sounds overkill for what you'd end up using it for.

[w5set]

I would suggest resetting your bios to default settings--making sure the cd rom boots first and saving it--another thing you just might try is checking the BIOS battery voltage--if it's under 2.9 volts or so--that will make a mess or the bios settings once in a while.
The age of the 166 says it just might be time for a new battery.
Running a 166 in pure text mode will work for a server--not a fast server--but it do simple stuff with out much load on it. If it recognizes your net card without any trouble--just getting the bios set to something any distro will work with should get you started--but a 166 is slow even in text/terminal mode.--64 meg memory is ok for what you are running--unless it's a complete lamp server.....
fix the bios--default settings......