RH Linux 7.1 Installation problem 3

[kumarn]

Hi:

I am new to Linux and recently tried to install Red Hat 7.1 on a desktop PC (Pentium III, 450 MHz, 128 MB Ram, an empty 6 GB EIDE HD) but encountered a problem early on.

While "running sbin/loader" the installation program reads the CD for a minute or so then displays the following error message:

"failed to read /modules/module-info
install exited abnormally"

This happens if one boots off the CD or the boot floppy and
if one chooses the graphical (default) or 'text' method of installation at the boot: prompt.

Is this a case of a bad CD?

I would appreciate any comments. Thanks for your time.

KumarN

 

[ifincham]

Hi,









It certainly sounds like the installer can't read that file for whatever reason. However, there is no such file on the install CD as such - I guess its the module-info file from the actual kernel-2.4.2-2.rpm contained on the CD. So, it could be a faulty/dirty CD insofar as the installer can't read that RPM but then again some people have had this error for what appear to be installer bugs related to their CD hardware...

http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=29089

&

http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=38654

Regards

 

[kumarn]

I would like to thank ifincham for the response to my query about the Red Hat 7.1 installation problem relating to the CD. The Bugzilla Bug # 38654 that was mentioned closely paralleled the problem that I had. The first time I tried the 'boot: linux ide=nodma' command, the same problem as described earlier happened. However, it worked the second time and the installation proceeded normally.

Any comments to the following are appreciated:
a) Is the above problem related to the type of CD that one is using?

b) The installation starts immediately, apparently in a 'text' mode after the above command. Is there a way of starting a GUI install or to remain in the boot: prompt to pass other options if necessary?

Thanks again,

KumarN

 

[mikeo2l]

The best way to test your CD is to copy it to your hard drive. If it copys, its probably ok. Look for another problem.
In fact you could load from the hard drive, if RH supports the dos load option.

 

[Out0fOrder]

Hello,
CD's use the ISO9660 Filesystem. This allows for boot capability by storing a bootable image (think dd) on the beginning of the CD, which is loaded just like a bootable floppy would be.
As to the actual error. It Seems as though your CDROM drive may not be fully supported under linux, at least not the DMA transfer option. DMA Transfers require special drivers to be loaded to support DMA (I Believe its a BIOS Driver). Most CDROMs and BIOS' will work with generic drivers, however there are a few which will not.

I hope this Information was helpful

-Out0fOrder

 

[kumarn]

Thanks to mikeo2l and OutOfOrder for their time and comments about the RH Linux installation problem with the CD / CD drive. I am new to Linux and for future Linux installations will consider the suggestions i.e. copying the CD to the hard drive as well as trying to locate an enhanced CDROM driver that supports DMA transfers.

Thanks again,

KumarN