RE: [tlug] Can't install RH 8 to Seagate Barracuda

[patrick.niessen@example.com]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jean-Christian Imbeault [mailto:jc@example.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2003 6:00 PM
> To: tlug@example.com
> Subject: Re: [tlug] Can't install RH 8 to Seagate Barracuda
> 
> 
> David Bernat wrote:
> > 
> > Sometimes fdisk goes on autopilot and puts an
> > 8 MB partition on a disk without notification
> > that it's doing so.
> 
> I used a utility called BooIt NG to wipe the MBR and all 
> partitions. I 
> assumed that there was nothing left.
> 
> I am now using it again to format the disk with one FAT-32 partition. 
> It's going through a surface defect check right now, but it's 
> really slow.
> 
> If this utility doesn't find any surface defects what would be the 
> recommended course of action? Is there a recommended tool for 
> checking 
> the HD itself I should use?
> 
> If the HD doesn't present any surface defects but the installer still 
> gets stuck what course of action is recommended?
> 


I don't think this problem is related to the hard disk, but more with the
controller and the kernel.  If this thing has a some sort of IDE Raid system
as you indicate, than it is probably pretending to be a SCSI controller of
sorts.  In that case you may have to load the specific driver, before
proceding with the install.  So only if you have the correct kernel module
can fdisk and others recognise the disk geometry. It may also be related to
some sort of kernel parameter that you have to pass at the isolinux boot
prompt.

Also, if it is raid than you will not refer to the disks as /dev/hda but
rather something like /dev/ida/c0d0p1.

A basic testing procedure is also, to use a third disk (like old desktop
disk 20G) and put it in, and do the same operation as with the baracuda.  

Patrick