Trouble installing using LiveDVD, install freezes or fails

cjsheets · n00b Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 3

I've used Fedora for about a year now, and I recently decided to switch to Gentoo.

I downloaded the LiveDVD, booted to it, and so far have been unable to successfully
install. I tried 2 methods several times. My first attempt was to select the "Networkless"
install mode, which works fine until I reach "Step: Unpack stage tarball" which freezes at

"Copying dev-lang/perl-5.8.8-r2 (50/116)"

This happens every time, in both the GUI and command line modes of install. The second
attempt i made was to select the "Standard" install mode. When prompted to create the
base system, i left "Fetch stage from internet" selected, clicked browse, and navigated to
"/mnt/cdrom/stages/" where i selected the "stage3-x86.." tarball. I then selected "Snapshot"
as my tree sync method.

After that point, i pretty much left the default options unless a change was absolutely necessary,
and selected only gnome and the one dependency noted in the left column,

This install method fails every time i try it.

Any advice on fixing this or an alternative method of installation would be greatly appreceated.

Millzee · n00b Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Wales

You could try the minimal CD, if the internet works for on it (it didn't for me) or a non-Gentoo liveCD/DVD that detects your net hardware. Either way, you're still following the same instructions in the Gentoo Handbook.

Hope that helps,
Rob.
_________________
Gentoo x86 with KDE.
Athlon 64 X2 4200+, Nvidia GeForce 7600 GS 512 Mb, 4Gb RAM, 470 Gb HD space.

cjsheets · n00b Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 3

I have reason to believe my problems could be drive-related, not installer related.

Thanks for the advice, i appreceate your time.

Millzee · n00b Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Wales

I take it then you mean related to your HDD? Since a network installation shouldn't crash like that if the problem is the CD drive.
_________________
Gentoo x86 with KDE.
Athlon 64 X2 4200+, Nvidia GeForce 7600 GS 512 Mb, 4Gb RAM, 470 Gb HD space.

cjsheets · n00b Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 3

yea i think it is a problem with the HDD.

not even a corrupted drive necessarily, I used to run my 2-36Gb Raptors in Raid 0
for performance, and a little while back i decided to run them separately and for some
reason, one of the two drives hasnt been the same since then.

Point being, i cant install other OS (that are known to work) to the drive either so i'm
pretty positive the problem is on my end.

Thanks again for the help.

fullaxx · n00b Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 8

I have this problem to.
I have checked the drive for badblocks: all clean,
I have tried 2 different cd drives, same effect.
I have no idea what the problem is,
but every time it will hang at the same spot.
dmesg shows no errors, so I dont think it's hardware related.

Millzee · n00b Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Wales

Are you also using the liveDVD? I'd be interested in knowing if this could be a liveDVD problem.
_________________
Gentoo x86 with KDE.
Athlon 64 X2 4200+, Nvidia GeForce 7600 GS 512 Mb, 4Gb RAM, 470 Gb HD space.

Ehnvis · Guru Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 305 Location: /dev/random

If you do a search on the forums you will see several people that has the same problem and all has been given the same answer.

Drop the liveDVD/liveCD and get the minimal cd then install manually using the handbook, I know its a pain the first time but you will learn so much more about the system and how it works.
_________________
HP NC 4010, Pentium-M 725 1.6GHz w/ 1Gb RAM, 60Gb Hitachi Travelstar.
Running Gentoo-2.6.21-r4 (again as 2.6.22 kernels hogs CPU), all but SD reader works fine.