Writing of partition table failed

[gryphon]

First off, I am new to Linux - I have an old computer on which I want to install Linux so I can play around with it.  I am attempting to install PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6, completely overwriting the existing Windows XP installation.  Under Disk Partitioning, I choose Erase and use entire disk and click OK.  I then get the message: "writing of partition table failed" and it returns to the Disk Partitioning screen.  I can't seem to reformat or repartition my hard drive.  Thanks for any help.

[menotu]

Hi gryphon - big welcome to the forum.

It could be a few things - have you had any hard disk issues prior to this?  Do you know if the disk was mounted/unmounted?

I always used the GParted LiveCD to partition my disk before doing the install and that way you can just point PCLinuxOS at the pre-set partitions during the install.

Oh, BTW, there is a later 2011.09 release of PCLinuxOS which will help you doing the first update (i.e. there won't be as many as with the 2011.06 release)

It can be downloaded from:

http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/pclinuxos/live-cd/

Post back for further help.

[pags]

Were you viewing the contents of your old XP install, possibly?

It could be as simple as a mounted partition....

The following mat be helpful (easier if done as root)

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df


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mount


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fidsk -l

Post the results of each command...