Linux Install/partition problem

[RobBoberts]

I started with Windows XP on the entire hard drive. I then started the Linux Mandrake install which resized the partition, created partitions for Linux, and starting installing files/programs. It locked up at the cups printer install. I restarted and now have the Lilo boot menu. I wanted to do the linux install over. I was able to boot into Windows XP where I deleted all the partitions except for Windows XP NTFS and the small 31MB EISA Configuration partition(maybe the wrong thing to do?). When I boot off the Mandrake install CD's and run the install, I get "I can't read type partition table of device hda, it's too corrupted for me ". and then I can not find any place to put Linux. What do I do from here?

The entire error message from the Linux install is:
I can't read type partition table of device hda, it's too corrupted for me
I can try to go on, erasing over bad partitions (all data lill be lost!).
The other solution is to not allow DrakX to modify the partition table.
(the error is extended partition: INTERNAL ERROR: bad device (37GB)
MDK::Common::Various::internal_error() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/partition table.pm:347
partition_table::_ANON_() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/partition table.pm:348
partition_table::will_tell_kernel() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/partition table.pm:189
partition_table::adjust_main_extended() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/partition table.pm:166
partition_table::remove_empty_extended() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/partition table.pm:287
(eval)() called from called from /usr/bin/perl-install/partition table.pm:282
Partition_table::read() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/fsedit.pm:151
usr/bin/perl5/vendor_perl/5.8.5/MDK/Common/Func.p Fsedit::_ANON_() called from m:318
MDK::Common:func::catch_cdie() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/fsedit.pm:162
(eval)() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/fsedit.pm:149
Fsedit::get_hds() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/install_any.pm:1391
/usr/bin/perl-install/install_steps_interactive.p Install_any::getHds() called from m:249
install_steps_interactive::setupSCSI() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/install2.pm:78
Install2::installStepsCall() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/install2.pm:120
Install2:setupSCSI() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/install2.pm:639
(eval)() called from /usr/bin/perl-install/install2.pm:638
Install2:main() called from /usr/bin/runinstall2:36

Televison will make radio obsolete.

 

[fdalmoro]

Try booting knoppix and fixing the partitions with fdisk /dev/hda or I think it also has a gui partition tool. Maybe the mandrake CD has a recovery boot option where it takes you to a prompt to try and fix the box.

A long shot but a shot non the less is you can try to fix the partition table by booting a windows 98 boot disk and doing fdisk /mbr.

Don't delete or modify any more partitions in XP.

good luck

Fernando

 

[RobBoberts]

there is a partition in front of the Windows NTFS partition that trys to load linux.
Right now I am thinking of creating the partitions that I deleted telling lilo where they are and then trining a linux install.
I don't know how many or how big I should make the partitions though.
Any ideas?

Televison will make radio obsolete.

 

[fdalmoro]

if this is just going to be a home/test machine you don't have to worry about it too much. Create a swap partition first (the closer to the beginning of the drive the faster it will seek) about twice the size of your RAM unless you have 1GB RAM in which case you can make it the same as RAM.

Then create another partition for / and that should be it. If you want to get technical and waste space you can create a 4GB /usr, 1GB /var, 1GB / and rest on /home but I honestly don't see the use of it.

If it's going to be a server for web, firewall, DNS, DHCP or anything of that nature then yes go ahead and make a couple of partitions just to make sure tha for example /var takes over your whole drive and crashes it. or if one partition goes bad you don't loose all of your data in /home.

Fernando

 

[RobBoberts]

Cool Thanks!
It is a home/test/learn linux system. So I will go with just to two partitions. I am guessing I will need to tell lilo about them or maybe I should just boot on the Mandrake install CD and let it do its thing after I partition and format?


Televison will make radio obsolete.