What linux distribution that won't give me any trouble installing when using ata 100 card?

[stingbandel]

Hi, I bought RH 7.1 and it's pain in the a$$ to install it using ultra card 100. I always got Li and been trying to fix it for several weeks without any luck so does anybody know what kind of linux that won't give me that stupid Li error? Also what is the best linux distribution out there... please no RH... tired of it already.

Thanks


Darno

 

[nofuse]

Slackware 8.0 offers a version of the kernel that supports ATA100 drives. I'm sure others do as well but why use anything other than Slack?

 

[stingbandel]

slackware? is that something like RH or Suse or Mandrake? Newbie here and never heard of that. More info please. Thanks

Darno

 

[MGMorden]

Slackware is a little less newbie-friendly but a VERY good distro for the more experienced Linux users. Slack 8.0 does have the 2.4.5 kernel so you'll have virtually all the most up-to-date drivers for IDE controllers. One suggestion though that seems to alleviate a lot of problems when using an external controller: install LILO to the MBR of hda. I don't have have linux on my hda drive, it's on hde on my Ultra33, but I still install lilo to /dev/hda and it works beautifully. Just set the boot device as your main hard drive and go to town.

 

[stingbandel]

How do I install Lilo to hda when hda is CD Rom? Both my hdds are using controller card. Mind PM me with more explanation on this? Thanks

Darno

 

[MGMorden]

Well in that case my whole line of reasoning messes up . i'd say to make a boot disk during the install process (I think most distro's install routines let you do this). Then recompile your kernel with the option to boot off-board controllers first. That will make /dev/hde be /dev/hda for Linux (swaps mb controller and the external). Then reinstall lilo to /dev/hda (really /dev/hde) and that should work. Lilo in my experience just doesn't like to be installed to anything other than the first disk (or what it thinks is the first disk).

 

[stingbandel]

Hi, I have the boot disk but I dunno how to recompile the kernel. Is there anyway you can teach me how to do it? THanks



Darno

 

[Bremen]

I'd have to agree with Mister Morden. Your problem is not with RH but LILO. Another distro might set up LILO correctly, but I doubt it. External controller cards generally require you to tell LILO they're SCSI or something along that line (might also be lba32)

 

[stingbandel]

I am sure 100% also the problem is LILo but I can't configure how to fix the LILO and it's really making me so frustated. I need help like how to configure the lilo step by step since I am really newbie

Darno