HELP: Mandrake Linux 9.0 Installation !!!!

[gsethi]

Hello

I have a Compaq laptop on which i am trying to install linux. I currently have Windows XP on it and have partitioned the drive for linux.

now, when i put the mandrake CD in the laptop and boot, it goes through its normal routine, recognizes my Hard drive, but at Partition check, i get this note and it just hangs there:

Partition Check:
hda:spurious 8259A interrupt: IRQ7.

the computer just hangs there and nothing happens. I dont know what to do as i am a newbie for Linux. I was able to install Mandrake Linux on my desktop successfully and it works perfectly on it but it wont install on my laptop.

I tried installing Slackware Linux on my laptop and it would install properly but it wont recognize my integrated Realtek NIC on my laptop to access internet.

any help would be nice here, either help me to install Mandrake or tell me how to install NIC drivers for Slackware....

thanks

 

[AkumaBao]

Are you using a burned CD, or a retail copy? Also, did you try to install with the text console?

 

[gsethi]

a burned copy...

I used the same Mandrake CD on my Desktop and it installed perfectly.

no, i havnt tried to text mode......should i try that ? i am little scared to use text mode though...

this comes up when i boot to the CD, and i get that First screen that says to press F1 or Enter. I press F1 for more options and then type "linux" or "expert" or "text" to start installation and it goes through some stuff and there it hangs at this stage...

any clues ?

 

[earthman]

It probably won't work without a patch as there is something about either the hard drive or its controller that is confusing it.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Try text mode, if that doesnt work modprobe 8139.o? Do a search on 8139 here (full text search if you are a subscriber, if not respond and Ill do a search tomorrow for the exact command). Im probably botching it horribly right now, but chances are its a horrible 8139 chipset and will work just fine when the proper module is loaded.

You can also search google.com/linux using the exact error you recieve and see if that turns up results. I would do it, but Im in no condition to be googling at this point in the night😕

Lastly, can we gete the model number, or atleast hardware specs (preferably both if you know them) so it would be easier to assess the problem?

 

[gsethi]

Ok i am confusing you guys:

1) I cannot install Mandrake Linux 9.0 That Error that i told you guys above, i get it while installing Mandrake Linux 9.0

2) Then i tried to install Slackware Linux 8.1 and it install perfectly and works fine. Only problem, it doesnt recognizes my integrated NIC. the nic is a Realtek 8139 series.

Laptop:
Compaq Presario 900z
AMD Athlon 1500+ processor w/ DDR memory

hope that helps...I have no clue how to install drivers under linux....any help there would be good too.

thanks

 

[Bremen]

In Slackware try the following as root:

modprobe rtl8139
/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1

This assumes you configured your network when you installed the distro, otherwise use 'netconfig' instead of the second line. This *should* work :0)

EDIT: updated modprobe statement.. I think it should be right :0)

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey...but chances are its a horrible 8139 chipset and will work just fine when the proper module is loaded.

What's so horrible, exactly? I haven't used the 8139 in my laptop all that much, but it seemed to work well enough.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: cleverhandle

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey...but chances are its a horrible 8139 chipset and will work just fine when the proper module is loaded.

What's so horrible, exactly? I haven't used the 8139 in my laptop all that much, but it seemed to work well enough.

There is a very good reason those network cards are so cheap... 😛