Can't get the installer to run on laptop.. eh :/ [SOLVED]

[spewnr]

Ok, this is something that has me a bit baffled and I'm not sure how to fix or workaround this problem.

I have a Compaq Evo N1015v which is currently working fine with a Slackware 9.1 install on it.
I wish to upgrade it to Gentoo using a Gentoo 2004.2 Live CD install obtained from Linux Format magazine.

But when I try and boot from the CD it hangs while trying to mount the CD..weird considering it has already booted from the CD and boots the kernel and loads modules.

The following is the error it hangs at..

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starting device management daemon v1.3.25 for /newroot/dev
>> Attempting to mount CD:- /newroot/dev/cdroms/cdrom0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

It just sticks there with no errors or progress, the only error that the kernel outputs upon the boot process is from kmod.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
kmod: failed to exec /sbin/modprobe -s -k scsi_hostadapter, errno = 2
kmod: failed to exec /sbin/modprobe -s -k scsi_hostadapter, errno = 2
kmod: failed to exec /sbin/modprobe -s -k scsi_hostadapter, errno = 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is there another way I can boot this? Possibly using a bootdisk of some sort?

I know there is no problem with the actual CD provided by LXFormat, as I have installed Gentoo 2004.2 using the same disc on my desktop.

Any ideas on this would be appreciated, as I would like to get my Gentoo mobile!

Cheers

[mgraham76]

Since the error suggests it is trying to load scsi modules, try passing the noscsi when you boot the livecd.

[spewnr]

i have tried passing all options to the kernel at boot time, with no successs
i think iil try getting the installer to use a custom kernel somehow.
*shrug*

after going back and having a quick look, i noticed the gentoo cd doesnt have a 'noscsi' option, it has a 'doscsi' option...and passing 'noscsi' anyway has no effect, it still comes up with those errors and still no progress..

[spewnr]

ok I have managed to progress a little further on this issue..

if i load the 'smp' kernel from the bootdisk, it manages to get past mounting the CD, but gets as far as ' * Starting pci hotplugging...' and just hangs after that, and the 'nohotplug' option doesnt seem to stop this from occuring.

well, back to fiddling..i wont let this beat me

[spewnr]

ok, this problem is now solved..i think...
resolved by loading the smp kernel (oddly enough) and disabling every option possible
now i can get to tweakin my laptop