Unable to install Ubuntu 8.04.1 x86_64

[jmlm1977]

Background... I'm an old UNIX V developer (10 yrs) from way back at AT&T BEFORE GUI interfaces existed!!! THen spent 20 years doing IBM MF stuff. Now trying to 'relearn' UNIX.

I'm trying to install Ubuntu 8.04.1 x86 64 bit version. This is a clean install on this (new) desktop. DOwnloaded the iso file and used ISO Buster to unpack it so that I can burn an install cd using Nero Express 7.

Can't seem to get past the boot stage and never get to the Ubuntu splash screen. The CD drive light flashes 6 or 7 times quickly then stops and XP Pro then boots.

Note that I tried to install Fedora v9 x86_64 and made it to the language selection panel, then the keyboard and mouse go away and the system is basically frozen. I tried to boot the x386 version of Fefora v9 and have the same symptons as the UBUNTU install as described above, only a few flashes of the cd drive and then XP Pro boots.

I'm concerned that my setup is 'too new' to be supported???
Is there something simple I missed?
Does anyone have any suggestions? Any thing I need to do to my system before trying to install (like unplugging all USB devices, partitioning the 2nd HD although UBUNTU is supposed to step thru partitioning and formatting, etc)?

The drive I want to install Linux on is 300GB unformatted, unpartitioned drive.

My basic system is using an AMD64 Dual Core 6400 x2
4GB memory
Dual 300mb drives (one for XP, one for Linux)
DVD RW
DVD R
Hanns-g HW191D monitor

Thanks in advance for any help / suggestions...

Details below:
Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name JTM-D-0B9F2CBA0 (Home Desktop)
User Name Jim

Motherboard Properties:
Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Product M3A
Version Rev 1.xx
CPU Type Unknown, 3200 MHz
Motherboard Chipset Unknown
System Memory 3328 MB
BIOS Type AMI (01/02/08)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)

Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT (512 MB)
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (750GH3CY05257)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Realtek HD Audio output

Storage:
IDE Controller ATI IDE Controller
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive WDC WD3200AAJS-00YFA0 (298 GB, IDE)
Disk Drive WDC WD3200AAJS-00YFA0 (298 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-115D
Optical Drive SONY DVD-ROM DDU1615
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 305234 MB (223827 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard Microsoft USB Natural Keyboard Pro
Mouse Logitech HID-compliant MX320 Laser Mouse
Game Controller Microsoft PC-joystick driver

Network:
Network Adapter Atheros L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Controller (192.168.1.100)

Peripherals:
Printer Canon MP730 FAX
Printer Canon MP730 Printer
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB Device Logitech USB MX320 Laser Mouse
USB Device Logitech WingMan Extreme Digital 3D (USB)
USB Device Microsoft Integrated USB Hub
USB Device Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro Composite Device
USB Device Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro Hot Keys
USB Device Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro


--------[ DMI ]-------------------------------------------------
BIOS Properties:
Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
Version 0501
Release Date 01/02/2008
Size 1024 KB
Boot Devices Floppy Disk, Hard Disk, CD-ROM, LS-120
Capabilities Flash BIOS, Shadow BIOS, Selectable Boot, EDD, BBS
Supported Standards DMI, APM, ACPI, ESCD, PnP
Expansion Capabilities ISA, PCI, USB

System Properties:
Universal Unique ID 4016F0B4-08B9DC11-8356001F-C6A19264
Wake-Up Type Power Switch MF7083G01608854

Chassis Properties:
Chassis Type Desktop Case
Boot-Up State Safe
Power Supply State Safe
Thermal State Safe
Security Status None

[ Processors / AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+ ]
Processor Properties:
Manufacturer AMD
Version AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6400+
External Clock 200 MHz
Maximum Clock 3200 MHz
Current Clock 3200 MHz
Type Central Processor
Voltage 1.5 V
Status Enabled
Socket Designation CPU 1

[ Caches / L1-Cache ]
Cache Properties:
Type Internal
Status Enabled
Operational Mode Varies with Memory Address
Associativity 4-way Set-Associative
Maximum Size 256 KB
Installed Size 256 KB
Supported SRAM Type Pipeline Burst
Current SRAM Type Pipeline Burst
Error Correction Single-bit ECC
Socket Designation L1-Cache

[ Caches / L2-Cache ]
Type Internal
Status Enabled
Operational Mode Varies with Memory Address
Associativity 4-way Set-Associative
Maximum Size 2048 KB
Installed Size 2048 KB
Supported SRAM Type Pipeline Burst
Current SRAM Type Pipeline Burst
Error Correction Single-bit ECC
Socket Designation L2-Cache

[ Memory Devices / DIMM_A1 ]
Form Factor DIMM
Type Detail Synchronous
Size 2048 MB
Speed 800 MHz
Total Width 64-bit
Data Width 72-bit
Device Locator DIMM_A1
Bank Locator BANK0
Manufacturer

[ Memory Devices / DIMM_A2 ]
Form Factor DIMM
Type Detail Synchronous
Size 2048 MB
Speed 800 MHz
Total Width 64-bit
Data Width 72-bit
Device Locator DIMM_A2
Bank Locator BANK2
Manufacturer

[Ryadt]

Have a try installing with the alternate cd and see if it works. You can download the alternate cd from the ubuntu homepage, just make sure you check the box where it ask u if you want to download the alternate version.
hope it helps.

[prshah]

DOwnloaded the iso file and used ISO Buster to unpack it so that I can burn an install cd using Nero Express 7.

Equally

Why unpack it and use ISO buster etc? Why not just use Nero's "Burn Image" option to burn the ISO to make a bootable, live CD?

What you describe sounds to me like a bad burn.

[ktrnka]

You unpacked the iso? The iso needs to stay in the same format as you downloaded. In Nero 7, are you selecting to "burn image to disc"? Otherwise if you made a data cd, it wont boot.

If you can't find that option in Nero, download Deepburner.

[petronell]

When you have unpacked the ISO and burnt it you have removed the system flag from the disk, so the BIOS does not believe it is a system disk and does not boot from it.

All you need to do is burn the image using Nero and don't use ISObuster. That should do the trick.

daveR

[jmlm1977]

All,
Thanks for the iso burn info. Turns out I was using the wrong Nero utility to do the burn. I'll use the correct one and use the ISO BURN option and try that. Thanks for the tip.
Jim

[jmlm1977]

I was able to install Ubuntu Hardy version, although unsuccessfully. I get the following error....

udevd-event[2377]: run_program: ' /lib/udev/vol_id' abnormal exit
udevd-event[2379]: run_program: ' /lib/udev/vol_id' abnormal exit
udevd-event[2384]: run_program: ' /lib/udev/vol_id' abnormal exit
udevd-event[2387]: run_program: ' /lib/udev/vol_id' abnormal exit

BusyBox v.1.1.3 (Debian 1:1.1.3-3ubuntu3) Built-install (ash)
(initramfs)>

Now my questions. I saw some fixes listed on another site but don't understand what they are doing. I'm too new at this, so here goes...

Someone suggested:
First fix:
Boot Live-CD, mount linux partition an type in terminal:
sudo cp --parent `dpkg -L libc6 | xargs` /path/to/disk
Now, check the system @ chroot


The libc references above don't mean anything to me at this point because I'm unfamiliar with the architecture. Anyone know what this is? Do you enter these commands from the initramfs prompt?

Someone else suggested...
update-initramfs -u fixed the issue

Is the update-initramfs command entered from the initramfs prompt?

Others mentioned instlling live-initramfs.
How do you install live-initramfs with the package manager? How do you run the package manager?
WHAT IS THE PACKAGE MANAGER?!!!??! Aaaahhhhhh....

Should I try the x386 version of Hardy ? If so, will the install put it in its own partition or will it overwrite the x64 version? Will it prompt me to put it in its own partition?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm REALLY new at installing an OS other than MS.

Thanks for any help in advance.

[Seisen]

What speed did you burn the cd at, its always best to burn them at the lowest speed possible.

[BDNiner]

All the commands are entered from the Terminal. When you boot to a live CD you can access the terminal from the main menu in Accessories. If you use the 32bit version your computer will only use one of the cores from your dual core processor. This is an issue i supposed with only AMD processors.

The package manager can be found in the main menu under System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager. The package manager provides an interface to browse and download packages (software) from ubuntu's servers and whatever other server you want.

When you boot you can choose several options for partition your hard disk. there is a program that is avaliable on the live cd called gparted, it can be found in the main menu under System>Administration>Partition Editor. that will show you the partition layouts of your hard disks. Depending on how many disks you have it can take up to 20 mins to finish scanning the disks and get to a point where you can edit the partitions. I would read up on partitioning on the ubuntu documentation site before you get started.

[jmlm1977]

I burned the CD at 16x. I'll try to reburn at 4x.

When you say 'terminal', do you mean from the 'initramfs' prompt? or do I need to boot (install) a live-cd version of ubuntu and from the live version i will find the menus you mention to access the package manager?