10 replies to this topic

[Broni]

Linux dumb here, so please, be gentle.

I have a netbook (Dell Latitude 2100) and it looks like there is a hard drive problem.
Originally, it came with Ubuntu, but someone installed XP on it.
Netbook is not bootable in any mode, giving me dreadful ".........\system" error.

Surely, no CD drive, so I made bootable USB stick with Ubuntu Live on it.
It boots fine and I can operate netbook perfectly fine from USB stick.
However, when I try to install Ubuntu on hard drive, it proceeds fine up to 59% and then gives me an error about possibly bad installation CD (USB stick in this case), or some hard drive problem.
USB stick is brand new and I even try to re-do Ubuntu on it, but same error.

So, my question is, how do I run some kind of disk check utility/command from USB drive?

Thanks.

[Broni]

OK, some learning process in progress :)
I ran following command:
sudo badblocks /dev/sda -s
and no bad blocks discovered.
What now?

[rokytnji]

fsck 

is the command for file system check in terminal as root user broni, in Terminal do a

fdisk -l

that is a lower case L after dash

to get a listing of hardrives on the computer so you can do a

sudo fsck /dev/(drive letter of hardrive which will be probably sda1 or hda1 depending on what fdisk says.)

I will be man down for a while yet. I got complications with eye surgery and am scheduled for another surgery next friday. So be patient with me. In a lot of pain lately.

[rokytnji]

See, with my bad eyesight I just noticed

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it proceeds fine up to 59% and then gives me an error about possibly bad installation CD (USB stick in this case),

which tells me the problem is not to where you are installing to but with your install media device. I advise a md5sum check first of downloaded Ubuntu Iso file first,

I use unetbootin to make ubuntu bootable pendrives. I am not familiar with Ubuntus pendrive install maker which is probably what you used. If it boots into live mode OK. Then It sounds like you made it ok . So maybe just your download is corrupted. that is why I suggest md5sum check first. I use 2 gig Kingston Data Travelers for usb install also. Some USB sticks don't play nice with USB install sometimes. If it is a Sandisk with U3 software. I use the U3 uninstaller first at Sandisk web site to uninstall their software first. Then format USB as Fat32 before using Unetbootin to to run installer.

[Broni]

Thanks rocky :)
At first, I used LiLi USB Creator to create bootable stick, but then I tried unetbootin.
I used Sandisk and I used U3 uninstaller and I formatted the stick in FAT32.
However, you may be right about bad download. I didn't think about it.

I just checked md5 and it looks wrong.
Downloaded file is:
a155da3e4807c033196fb9bf9d2d109c
According to this site: https://help.ubuntu....ty/UbuntuHashes (is this correct site to get md5?)
ubuntu-9.10-desktop-i386.iso md5 is: 8790491bfa9d00f283ed9dd2d77b3906

I'll try to redownload and see what happens.

Thanks again :)

[Broni]

Oh, I didn't see your other post.
I'm very sorry about your health problems :(

[Broni]

You're right.
I re-downloaded the file and this time it looks like it has correct md5:
8790491bfa9d00f283ed9dd2d77b3906

I'm about to re-do USB stick.

[Broni]

It looks like LinuxLive Key: http://www.linuxlive...using-lili.html created good bootable USB stick this time and I'm in a process of installing Ubuntu.
I'll keep you posted.

[Broni]

Soooo...it's up and running :)
It's funny, how sometimes you forget to check some obvious things....bad download.
Thanks again, rocky :)
Damn thing has been giving me a headache!!
Case closed.

[rokytnji]

Good to hear.

The time I posted. I had just got through with having a hypodermic needle stuck in my eye. To relieve some pressure from all these different eye drops I am taking. Needless to say. I am hurting,


Got another surgery scheduled next friday. Seems I am one of those 1% patients where things go wrong,. LOL. I have been a 1% all my life. So no new news for me. They promise things will get better, If nerves don't get damaged from the swelling of eyeball. Wife is frazzled but I am keeping stoic.

Quote

Damn thing has been giving me a headache!!

Me to.

[Broni]

Hey, I wish you all the best and thanks again for your help :)