Fresh install problems - freezing on format / copying files

[apieroux]

Hi

New to Linux/Ubuntu here. I've trawled through the forums for this issue, but none seem to be quite like it, or with a solution that works. If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.

Decided to take the plunge with Linux yesterday and I'm struggling. I'm trying Ubuntu 8.04 desktop i386 live cd, although have tried the Kubuntu iso too with no success.

Was originally trying to install alongside an XP install on a Vaio PCG FR102 512mb ram with 60GB HD and inbuilt Nvida GeForce Go 7400 video card. The XP install has no significant data on it that couldnt be lost (luckily!)

First attempt (Kubuntu disk) the CD booted but did not go further than the non-GUI first screen where you choose language.

I redownloaded ubuntu (version as above) and set about the install via the live cd - went for a full install. All went well (after using safe video option - mad green and yellow patterns were pretty but not practical)

I told it where i was, keyboard settings etc and then elected to go for a guided install on the primary hard disk - after that, entered my name and password and left it to go.

It froze on the 'partitions formatting' screen - no mouse, no cd or hd activity. After 20 mins+ I rebooted and unsurprisingly XP wouldnt boot - no major loss for me at this stage - was happy to experiment and I still have my orginal XP disks if I need to go back.

Since then I've spent the last 24+ hours trying to get something to work.

Here's what I've tried - not strictly in order, but as a variety of routes with much repetition!:-
Have re burnt the ubuntu iso at a slower speed.
Have gone into bios and disabled my floppy disk
Have redownloaded the iso and reburnt at 4x
Have blanked the whole HD using Pmagic (it found another NTFS partition) and tried to install on a completely blank HD
Have manually set up my own partitions (Ext 3 + 1 swap partition) and tried to manually set the mount points
Have tried all settings on the partioning dialogue box that there are (Guided, manual etc)
Have taken out my wireless card, USB Mouse, USB Keyboard - everything that might be a conflict - only thing possibly removable now is the monitor (I know its a laptop, but the screen died a while ago so I removed it and use ext monitor only!)
Have booted in ubuntu without installing (looks lovely by the way, wish I could install it!), which worked fine most of the time - tried to use gParted from there to reset the partitions.

Basically, everytime gParted or the installer gets going it gets so far (either to partitions formatting - if I've chosen that or theres partition work, or through to "copying files" if theres not - somewhere between 5 and 22% - then it freezes - again, no mouse no cd or hd activity.

Occasionally it doesnt even get as far as the installer before crashing. I've run disk checks, memory checks and I haven't had any problems in Windows.

I'd love to move to open source, and I don't mind getting my fingers dirty up to a point, and I like what little I've seen of the interface, but am starting to think it might be something fundamental about my slightly old and worn system?

Can anyone prove me wrong, show me that its something I can affect and get me going again, otherwise XPs reclaiming a user - at least until I get a new system and i hear more good things about Ubuntu/Linux!

Based on what I've said here the only other things that I've thought of are to try the alternate installer CD - will try and download that now, so theres a few hours to go before I revert to XP if that doesnt work - or maybe trying a V7 release - would that make any difference?

So let's see how good this famed support community really is!!

Thank you for listening... any thoughts?

[apieroux]

OK - brief update.

I downloaded the alternate CD install iso, burned that nice and slowly and tried that - it seemed to get so much further, going through a lot of installing from the CD. Then on a blue screen with a grey box in the middle titled "Select and Install Software" and the progress bar at 6% it says "Please wait".

At first I thought happily how much better this seemed to be - it's even telling me I should be patient - its now been 15 mins without any activity or movement. I cant even check if the same freeze has happened as theres no mouse on this one - it being text based.

Any thoughts? Should I wait longer and do as I'm told, or crash out - if so, any suggestions as to what might be causing it, or how do I create a log to find out theres something offending?

All help appreciated.

Thanks

[samyslo]

Hi,

I am having the same problems as you, and I have the same computer as you, a Sony Vaio PCG FR102 (AMD Athlon XP, 256 ram, 120 gb). I've tried everything (instaling with dvd, cd, ubuntu, opensuse, mandriva...., but the computer always freeze during the instalation. Please reply if you found a solution.

bye

[kaotiK0c]

Same problems here! I am running a SOny VAIO PCG-FR130. Have tried the above almost in the same order, with no succes. Live CD itself runs GREAT, I am writing this post from Ubuntu---it will just NOT install. Always freezes (disk actvity stops, cursor locks, and then CD spins down) between 5% on partitioning and 23% on installing system.

Did either of the two previous posters find a solution? Thanks!

[samyslo]

Hi there,

Nothing new. Today I will try to contact the Sony Vaio customer support, if they know something about this issue. I think that the problem is in our comoputer and not in the installation!!??!
If I will get any news I will let you know.

regards

[kaotiK0c]

Latest, have tried Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Xubuntu hoping that I was running into RAM issues (512mb on system), but all have the same exact problem. Have not tried alternate CD yet, that is my next step.

[kaotiK0c]

Okay, installing from Xubuntu 8.04 ALT cd and it got to: "Installing the base system" 6% Retrieving libss10.9.8...

and has frozen here. HDD activity stopped, then CD spun down.

If anyone can advise I would greatly appreciate!

Thanks!

[kaotiK0c]

Almost success....got past Base System install, past User Info, to "Select and Install Software", and it froze at 6%...just says "Please wait..."

Only thing I did differently was to tell the Partitioner to partition "with LVM"....(NOT encrypted LVM)

tried "Repair Broken System" option from CD but it just kept wanting to reformat, which would force me to start again. So am just going to try a clean install with LVM again.

[samyslo]

The sony support service replied:

Please note we can only support the preinstalled Operating System that came supplied with your Sony VAIO.
For further assistance, we can only refer you to your software vendor.


Now I am again on start point. I rally don't know what to do..... :S

If somebody has some new information, please bring it on.


thx

[amethyst00]

Hello to everyone !
I encountered the same problem on a desktop, not a laptop.
I think you must be patient. The install process freezes several times !
When you launch the install CD, press F6 and try some of the cheatcodes. Cf. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

Good luck !