Can't install any Linux (Mint, Ubuntu and Lubuntu)

Punk

Punk

Moderator
Staff member
Hey guys!

Since XP is done and my desktop will become a security threat in a few years, I've decided to install Linux on it. Thing is, when I install, it never goes past the loading screen. When you press the up arrow, you can see the scripts used and this is what I get indefinitely:

DSC_0193_zpsae5c62d8.jpg
DSC_0194_zpsca15f918.jpg


Any idea what's wrong?

By the way I ran a Memtest and nothing came up, so no RAM problem...
I have tried the latest Ubuntu, Ubuntu10.04, Ubuntu8.04, Mint and Lubuntu (both the latest).
 
Looks like a bad hard drive or maybe some bad sectors. Run some tests on it, and maybe try to repair it.
 
According to your pictures I see some invalid sectors appearing and IO errors...
Have you tryed to use KILL DISK to completely erase your entire drive sector by sector first before attempting to install?
Because if KILL DISK cannot even erase the drive properly then that is what is causing you problems.
 
I downloaded Seatools, I'll be doing the whole batch of test for now. Just started the Fix All Long, waiting for results :)

I will try the Killdisk if this doesn't change a thing.
 
Great!

Just make sure that once the KILL DISK process starts,you leave it to finish all the way to the end.During the erasing process,your HDD led must be ON which is an indication that the HDD IS being erased sector by sector.If the HDD led turns off during the erasing process then KILL DISK failed to erase your entire HDD.
This will happen when the KILL DISK erase process comes to HDD sector(s) which are physically bad and therefore cannot erase them.When that happens,the KILL DISK will fail to erase your HDD and it will probably freeze and of course the HDD led will be off.
And that unfortunately is an indication that the HDD is bad and usually bad sectors continue to spread...not always,but mostly.
 
I have ran all the test possible and it's still doing that error. I have it set up "normally"...
 
Ok finished Killdisk, didn't notice any error but the error is still there...

I guess the drive is dead, I'll just get rid of that desktop (and keep what I can keep)... So long eight years old desktop, my very first one...
 
I would also check this before calling it dead:

If it is SATA what do you have the port set to legacy/Raid/AHCI?
Click to expand...

I doubt it's set to RAID, but if it's legacy, switch it to AHCI or reverse if necessary.
 
Troncoso said:
I would also check this before calling it dead:



I doubt it's set to RAID, but if it's legacy, switch it to AHCI or reverse if necessary.
Click to expand...

I've never changed a setting on this, and it worked perfectly with WinXP... Actually reinstalled it once already...
 
You aren't installing WinXP this time. Anyway. It's just a suggestion. That setting has tripped me up a lot in the past.
 
Punk said:
Ok finished Killdisk, didn't notice any error but the error is still there...

I guess the drive is dead, I'll just get rid of that desktop (and keep what I can keep)... So long eight years old desktop, my very first one...
Click to expand...
Punk said:
I've never changed a setting on this, and it worked perfectly with WinXP... Actually reinstalled it once already...
Click to expand...

Windows XP installed because by default the XP disk works on IDE and for AHCI you would need to slipstream the AHCI drivers on the disk and create your own XP installation disk.
For the newest Linux things may be different.

You said that Kill Disk finished without any errors.Are you 100% sure?
Under "Writing block" there should have been only zeros through the entire process.If not then some sectors could not have been erased and that means your HDD is dying.
If there WERE all zeros then your HDD is probably working fine.

Also you can try what salvage-this suggested by checking your port settings in the BIOS.
You can always load BIOS optimized defaults if you think something else is also configured wrong and are unsure how to return it back.

Also I want you to try and install Linux Ubuntu 9.04 just to see if it will install it successfuly.I had problems with the newest version on my old desktop...probably because it's very old and MAYBE the newest Ubuntu did not have the neccessary drivers.It's a slim chance of course,but it's possible.Here is a download link for Linux Ubuntu 9.04 32-bit:

http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/9.04/ubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso

Also does your CPU support 64-bit OS?
If not and you tryed to install 64-bit Linux OS then it won't work either.

However I noticed that on your pictures you gave us there were few very important errors: "Device reported invalid CHS sector 0"
And the error occured more than once.
This is usually a good indication that your HDD might be dying...unfortunately.

Also does your BIOS have S.M.A.R.T. capability?
If yes,did it report any problems with the HDD's functionality?





Cheers!
 
Troncoso said:
You aren't installing WinXP this time. Anyway. It's just a suggestion. That setting has tripped me up a lot in the past.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's true I'll try that. How do you change that though?

S.T.A.R.S. said:
Windows XP installed because by default the XP disk works on IDE and for AHCI you would need to slipstream the AHCI drivers on the disk and create your own XP installation disk.
For the newest Linux things may be different.

You said that Kill Disk finished without any errors.Are you 100% sure?
Under "Writing block" there should have been only zeros through the entire process.If not then some sectors could not have been erased and that means your HDD is dying.
If there WERE all zeros then your HDD is probably working fine.

Also you can try what salvage-this suggested by checking your port settings in the BIOS.
You can always load BIOS optimized defaults if you think something else is also configured wrong and are unsure how to return it back.

Also I want you to try and install Linux Ubuntu 9.04 just to see if it will install it successfuly.I had problems with the newest version on my old desktop...probably because it's very old and MAYBE the newest Ubuntu did not have the neccessary drivers.It's a slim chance of course,but it's possible.Here is a download link for Linux Ubuntu 9.04 32-bit:

http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/9.04/ubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso

Also does your CPU support 64-bit OS?
If not and you tryed to install 64-bit Linux OS then it won't work either.

However I noticed that on your pictures you gave us there were few very important errors: "Device reported invalid CHS sector 0"
And the error occured more than once.
This is usually a good indication that your HDD might be dying...unfortunately.

Also does your BIOS have S.M.A.R.T. capability?
If yes,did it report any problems with the HDD's functionality?





Cheers!
Click to expand...

I downloaded the ISO file and booted on Killdisk. I erased my drive and didn't see any errors. Before that, I ran S.M.A.R.T. scan with SeaTools and no errors came up.

About the lines on the picture I do agree with you. I'm willing to try what Troncosco suggested before calling it quits though :)
 
Regarding to what you told me,I wouldn't say that your HDD is dying then.
Try to install that Linux Ubuntu 9.04 I gave you the download link for just to see if it will install it successfuly.
You can try the same with XP OS.Make sure you don't use a QUICK format though.During the slow format XP setup performs chkdsk to make sure that the drive is working okay.

If all of the above works (and it should considering what you just told me) then your HDD is working just fine.

So anyway try what I suggested and report back with the results! :good:




Oh man.......what the hell...I am so hungry all of a sudden! :eek:
Cya! :D
 
Ok tried pretty much everything, computer is gone :)

Thanks for the help though!
 
Have you tried removing the CMOS battery for ~15 minutes?
Then don't touch anything, boot Ubuntu LiveDVD/USB, open GParted, format the disk completely (try GPT over MBR too) and leave it unformatted.
Reboot PC (don't use the go-into-installer-mode) and try to install it again.
 
Jiniix said:
Have you tried removing the CMOS battery for ~15 minutes?
Then don't touch anything, boot Ubuntu LiveDVD/USB, open GParted, format the disk completely (try GPT over MBR too) and leave it unformatted.
Reboot PC (don't use the go-into-installer-mode) and try to install it again.
Click to expand...

Nope I haven't but I already took out the RAM/GPU/PSU and everything is ready to go to away this afternoon :)
 
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