Problems re-installing PCLOS 2009.2 on Toshiba Satellite L305D- [[SOLVED]]

[LeoKline]

I am having the worst problem ever formatting my HDD and installing PCLOS. I have tried several different things and keep getting similar end results. I will follow the install prompts and when I boot the system it loads super slow and the HAL daemon fails and a virtual daemon? I don't know what these are-sorry.  It also comes up with INIT fails and wireless fails along the way and takes me to a screen that says localhost login.  which, if I enter root and root the computer becomes a terminal window.  I have a 300GB HDD by Toshiba.  I am just not sure what else I can do.  If you need more information please ask, and be patient, I am still learning.

Thank you for your time,
 Leo

[menotu]

Hi Leo

I am having the worst problem ever formatting my HDD and installing PCLOS. I have tried several different things and keep getting similar end results.

Is the problem the "format" or the "install"

which, if I enter root and root the computer becomes a terminal window.

Whilst in the terminal windows have tried typing

startx (and press return)

this should log you into the GUI desktop.  You'll then be logged in as root which gives you full access to install PCLOS.

Have you checked the Md5sum on the CD you burnt? If you have and it is okay you may want to try burning another disk but burn it at a very slow speed.

One final thing - have you considered downloading the new 2010 version of PCLinuxOS? Its currently in beta status but is very stable, so you may want to give that a whirl

[LeoKline]

Thanks for the reply.

I am not sure whether it is the format or the install.  I have used the disk and installed PCLOS on a couple other machines, so i think the disk is ok. 

When the screen said localhost login, I typed root and then password root and it gave me the root prompt.  I typed startx and it just returned to the root prompt.  Would it help if I first format the hard drive to all zeros? then try it?

I didnt mean to answer a question with another question, just tossing ideas. If I didn't answer the question completely or correctly please let me know. I am fairly new to PCLOS, but Im learning fast, and I love it!

Thanks for the help.

Leo

[kjpetrie]

Is this when booting from the livecd or after installing it onto the hard drive?

The first thing to try if it is installed, is to type "video" which will give you a menu-based interface to set up your video system correctly. If that doesn't help you will need to check further, in which case...

Did startx give any errors?

Can you have a look in /var/log/Xorg.0.log (use the command "less /var/log/Xorg.0.log") and look for messages beginning with (EE).

If you can copy the file to another medium and then paste it here so we can read it that would help a lot, as it's difficult to copy down and reproduce error messages with enough detail to be useful. Failing that, a digital camera is a good way of recording screenshots from a text-only display.

[menotu]

didnt mean to answer a question with another question, just tossing ideas. If I didn't answer the question completely or correctly please let me know.

No problems whatsoever - ask away!

I am fairly new to PCLOS, but Im learning fast, and I love it!

You've got some interesting time ahead then    One you've ironed out any hiccups you have in your system I'm sure you'll begin to enjoy it even more....

Read kjpetrie's post and follow his suggestions, and I'm sure you'll get there 

[LeoKline]

This occurs after I have installed the system from the live cd and then restarted the machine.  startx says invalid entry. When it is starting it gives Daemon failures and sometimes INIT failures.  I dont know what those are. lol. I am using another HDD right now, but tonight I will look for the EE errors.

is the zeroing the HDD not accomplishing anything?

[kjpetrie]

It does sound as if something is badly wrong with the installation, so zeroing the disc and starting again might be a good option.

[menotu]

This occurs after I have installed the system from the live cd and then restarted the machine.  startx says invalid entry. When it is starting it gives Daemon failures and sometimes INIT failures.  I dont know what those are. lol. I am using another HDD right now, but tonight I will look for the EE errors.

is the zeroing the HDD not accomplishing anything?

Have you got any other OS's installed on your Tosh HDD?  If you haven't simply reformat it and I'd suggest creating 3 partitions:

1 x 50Gb formatted as Ext 4 (this for your PCLOS install)
1 x 245Gb formatted as Ext 4 (separate partition for your Data)
1 x 5Gb for Swap

Then try installing PCLOS again.
If you do have another OS on it recalculate the sizes quoted above.

Another option you could try is to check that your PCLOS CD is okay by checking the md5sum.
The iso size should be 683.1MB (723.898)

If it turns out to be a bad burn or the iso size is wrong, download it again and burn it but try burning at the CD's slowest possible burn rate; this will help prevent any burn problems occurring.

When it is starting it gives Daemon failures and sometimes INIT failures.  I dont know what those are

You may want browse this when you have a mo' :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_%28computer_software%29

[LeoKline]

I will check those things out and report back later this evening.  Would there be anything wrong with trying to install the 2010 beta 2 first to see if that works? Then, correct me if im wrong, when the final version comes out, back up the /home partition, and just reinstall and only format the / partition? I am getting the hang of this. I am so glad to be away from windows, although I had really bad sweats and the shakes the other night....I digress. I will let you all know later this evening.

Thanks,

Leo

[LeoKline]

Ok, so zeroing a HDD takes a little bit of time, learned something new. I zeroed the HDD and installed PCLOS 2009.2 off of a newly burnt disk (at slowest speed). Same problems, so I zeroed the disk again and installed PCLOS 2010 beta 2 and it would not load up and started giving some of the same errors.  I zeroed the HDD a third time and installed Backtrack 4, install would not complete.  I did some research on my HDD and called Toshiba. They are having problems with this type of HDD.  This is the third HDD I have gotten from them.  The first two went bad when I was running windows on them and just thought it was typical windows B.S. (stuff  ) apparently it is the HDD itself.  I put in another HDD and everything works great on it.  So I guess after all of that it is just a bad HDD. Thank you all for the suggestions and helping me with this, I have learned quite a lot through this process.  Viva La PCLOS!

[menotu]

Ok, so zeroing a HDD takes a little bit of time, learned something new. I zeroed the HDD and installed PCLOS 2009.2 off of a newly burnt disk (at slowest speed). Same problems, so I zeroed the disk again and installed PCLOS 2010 beta 2 and it would not load up and started giving some of the same errors.  I zeroed the HDD a third time and installed Backtrack 4, install would not complete.  I did some research on my HDD and called Toshiba. They are having problems with this type of HDD.  This is the third HDD I have gotten from them.  The first two went bad when I was running windows on them and just thought it was typical windows B.S. (stuff  ) apparently it is the HDD itself.  I put in another HDD and everything works great on it.  So I guess after all of that it is just a bad HDD. Thank you all for the suggestions and helping me with this, I have learned quite a lot through this process.  Viva La PCLOS!

At least your no longer in "limbo land" wondering what to try next, but as you say I'm sure you've learnt a great deal whilst finding out the underlying cause.

Are you going to ask Tosh for a different HHD model? because if, as they state, their are ongoing issues with the drives they really shouldn't be selling it as its not "fit for purpose"

Having a new drive you'll soon be able to try the 2010 final version when it comes out.

[LeoKline]

Yes, I am going to see if they can just send me a new HDD, something other than the current model becuase that would be awesome to go through all of the trouble shooting again just to loose the new 2010 final and all my files. Speaking of that, what is the best way to back up files? I called carbonite and they said they were "actively working to create a Linux compatible program to run their software, but from what I have learned with Linux, there is probably a better solution out their now....if this goes too far, I will create another thread.

Thanks!

Leo

[menotu]

Yes, I am going to see if they can just send me a new HDD, something other than the current model becuase that would be awesome to go through all of the trouble shooting again just to loose the new 2010 final and all my files. Speaking of that, what is the best way to back up files? I called carbonite and they said they were "actively working to create a Linux compatible program to run their software, but from what I have learned with Linux, there is probably a better solution out their now....if this goes too far, I will create another thread.

Thanks!
Leo

Hi Leo

I use DropBox for online backup.

I find it an excellent product and extremely simple to use. You get 2GB of space for free, with more space being available for a monthly fee.

Its just matter of copying your files into your DropBox folder(s) and it does the uploads automatically, plus if you have more than one PC it will auto "Sync" the data between them.

It also gives you the option of restoring deleted files for up to 30 days.

You can also have shared folders which let "you share or collaborate on a set of files. When someone joins a shared folder, the folder appears inside their Dropbox, and syncs to their computers automatically"

AND its in the PCLinuxOS repo's!

Note: dependent on your ISP's upload speed it can take a while to backup lots of data