Re: [Cooker] Mandrake 9.1 install script is a booby-trap.
I kept waiting for the prompts from the old script and they never came. I had to run through the install three times to figure out where the script had been changed, and by then something had gone wrong with the boot sequence. I could boot into Linux but not Windows. I had to reinstall the Windows partition and to get rid of the linux bootstrap, lost all the settings for my Windows programs. I have once a similar kind of problems because I changed the size of one Linux partition. This changed the number of partition Windows see and prevented it from starting. The fix for me was to edit hidden system file boot.ini from the windows c-partition. It contains instruction how win2000/nt boot. For me it is something like: (The fix for me was to change the number 10 to number 9) [boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(9)\WINNT [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(9)\WINNT=Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional /fastdetect Another useful thin is to use win2000 administration tools for changing the drive letter windows uses for it's partitions. (This list get always resetted if you change any of the partions in the harddrive) Mika
Re: [Cooker] Mandrake 9.1 install script is a booby-trap.
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1
paul mccarthy wrote:
[snip useless ranting]
IIRC, the isolinux screens (hit F1) do tell you that you need to pass
expert mode to get into expert mode.
When I installed 9.0 the last time, I made a boot floppy in case I
assigned
the boot sequence to the wrong drive. It turned out I had, but I was
able to
get into Linux with the floppy and fix things. The Mandrake 9.1
installation
script without telling me, stuck the bootstrap on a drive with no OS
and did
not prompt for a boot floppy. (it does, but you have to scroll off
the page
to find the prompt and it is really easy to miss. I don't know if it even
comes up on an ordinary install.)
The bootloader is installed by default if the boot drive does not seem
to have a sane bootloader installed.
I kept waiting for the prompts from the old script and they never came. I
had to run through the install three times to figure out where the script
had been changed,
Why, when INSTALL.txt on the CD tells you:
If you need to rescue your existing Mandrake Linux system, insert your
Installation CDROM (or any relevant boot floppy), press [F1] at
Mandrake Linux welcome screen, then type rescue at the prompt.
and by then something had gone wrong with the boot
sequence. I could boot into Linux but not Windows. I had to reinstall the
Windows partition and to get rid of the linux bootstrap, lost all the
settings for my Windows programs.
Somehow I don't believe that. You don't say which version of Windows,
but most of them are fixed by booting the relevant installation media
and running the relevant tool ('fdisk /mbr' for win9x/me or 'fixmbr' for
win2k/winxp). And in some cases the rescue mode of the Mandrake
installation disk will do it also.
If you want to pursue a fix to this problem, please don't rant, rather
file a polite bug report at http://qa.mandrakesoft.com
Regards,
Buchan
- --
|--Another happy Mandrake Club member--|
Buchan MilneMechanical Engineer, Network Manager
Cellphone * Work+27 82 472 2231 * +27 21 8828820x202
Stellenbosch Automotive Engineering http://www.cae.co.za
GPG Key http://ranger.dnsalias.com/bgmilne.asc
1024D/60D204A7 2919 E232 5610 A038 87B1 72D6 AC92 BA50 60D2 04A7
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Re: [Cooker] Mandrake 9.1 install script is a booby-trap.
I do not understand what part of the message you consider a useless rant
or why you say that I am not being sufficiently polite. I have always
considered the Mandrake packaging of Linux to be the best available and the
installation script especially helpful. I have also noticed that Mandrake
keeps changing the install script, probably in an attempt to make the
installation even smoother and easier.
I was always able to install previous versions of Mandrake Linux without
difficulties. I am merely reporting what I consider to be an unhelpful
change in the script. My suggestions are:
1. The expert install should be an option in the script rather than a
command line parameter, as it was before.
2. Options like which partition to install the bootloader on, and whether
or not to create a boot floppy, should be clearly visible on the screen
rather than something one has to scroll off the screen to find, or click an
advanced tab.
I did not know about the various technical ways to fix the problem once it
had occurred. I just reinstalled windows xp (I had pressing work that had
to get done) and basically lost the registry settings. I still don't know
why I could not fix things based on what I knew. I was able to get back
into linux and tried pointing the bootstrap at the right partition, but it
did not boot back into the windows partition.
--
- Original Message -
From: Buchan Milne [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 3:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Cooker] Mandrake 9.1 install script is a booby-trap.
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1
paul mccarthy wrote:
[snip useless ranting]
IIRC, the isolinux screens (hit F1) do tell you that you need to pass
expert mode to get into expert mode.
When I installed 9.0 the last time, I made a boot floppy in case I
assigned
the boot sequence to the wrong drive. It turned out I had, but I was
able to
get into Linux with the floppy and fix things. The Mandrake 9.1
installation
script without telling me, stuck the bootstrap on a drive with no OS
and did
not prompt for a boot floppy. (it does, but you have to scroll off
the page
to find the prompt and it is really easy to miss. I don't know if it
even
comes up on an ordinary install.)
The bootloader is installed by default if the boot drive does not seem
to have a sane bootloader installed.
I kept waiting for the prompts from the old script and they never came.
I
had to run through the install three times to figure out where the
script
had been changed,
Why, when INSTALL.txt on the CD tells you:
If you need to rescue your existing Mandrake Linux system, insert your
Installation CDROM (or any relevant boot floppy), press [F1] at
Mandrake Linux welcome screen, then type rescue at the prompt.
and by then something had gone wrong with the boot
sequence. I could boot into Linux but not Windows. I had to reinstall
the
Windows partition and to get rid of the linux bootstrap, lost all the
settings for my Windows programs.
Somehow I don't believe that. You don't say which version of Windows,
but most of them are fixed by booting the relevant installation media
and running the relevant tool ('fdisk /mbr' for win9x/me or 'fixmbr' for
win2k/winxp). And in some cases the rescue mode of the Mandrake
installation disk will do it also.
If you want to pursue a fix to this problem, please don't rant, rather
file a polite bug report at http://qa.mandrakesoft.com
Regards,
Buchan
- --
|--Another happy Mandrake Club member--|
Buchan MilneMechanical Engineer, Network Manager
Cellphone * Work+27 82 472 2231 * +27 21 8828820x202
Stellenbosch Automotive Engineering http://www.cae.co.za
GPG Key http://ranger.dnsalias.com/bgmilne.asc
1024D/60D204A7 2919 E232 5610 A038 87B1 72D6 AC92 BA50 60D2 04A7
-BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
Version: GnuPG v1.2.2 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org
iD8DBQE/FSqmrJK6UGDSBKcRAsP3AKCP8QRzN2RB/GjC//2jdC1zDoDw4gCgvz/4
O0ZgMHdWCw+ifZgdQoSLs84=
=I1EG
-END PGP SIGNATURE-
**
Please click on http://www.cae.co.za/disclaimer.htm to read our
e-mail disclaimer or send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a copy.
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Re: [Cooker] Mandrake 9.1 install script is a booby-trap.
On Wed, 16 Jul 2003, paul mccarthy wrote: I do not understand what part of the message you consider a useless rant or why you say that I am not being sufficiently polite. Calling software a booby-trap isn't quite a compliment ... and the rest of the text contributes nothing in terms of addressing the problem, and doesn't constitute a favourable perception of your complaint (ie it's in your interest to have it removed from furrther discussion, unless I cut a technical detail of interest). I have always considered the Mandrake packaging of Linux to be the best available and the installation script especially helpful. I have also noticed that Mandrake keeps changing the install script, probably in an attempt to make the installation even smoother and easier. Indeed, one of those steps was to remove the expert/normal mode dialog, since user using expert mode should be able to find expert mode, and likely many newbies used expert mode and then complained about complex installation. I think there are some issues with the current setup (such as no-one ever sees advanced authentication options, which aren't available after installation), but you may want to consider posing your question after in a less critical manner ... I was always able to install previous versions of Mandrake Linux without difficulties. I am merely reporting what I consider to be an unhelpful change in the script. My suggestions are: 1. The expert install should be an option in the script rather than a command line parameter, as it was before. I suspect there are good reasons for the change. Maybe a better solution is to have help text at the bottom of the screen telling you where expert mode is? 2. Options like which partition to install the bootloader on, and whether or not to create a boot floppy, should be clearly visible on the screen rather than something one has to scroll off the screen to find, or click an advanced tab. Probably 80% of users won't need this, and of those, probably 60% would make the wrong choice if forced (ie install bootloader on floppy instead of in mbr or something). I did not know about the various technical ways to fix the problem once it had occurred. Did you even try the rescue mode as suggested in the INSTALL.txt? I just reinstalled windows xp (I had pressing work that had to get done) and basically lost the registry settings. I still don't know why I could not fix things based on what I knew. I was able to get back into linux and tried pointing the bootstrap at the right partition, but it did not boot back into the windows partition. You should always carefully consider reinstalling windows, it shouldn't be necessary for something like this, and if you do decide to, you should try and extract some information beforehand. Regards, Buchan -- |Registered Linux User #182071-| Buchan MilneMechanical Engineer, Network Manager Cellphone * Work+27 82 472 2231 * +27 21 8828820x121 Stellenbosch Automotive Engineering http://www.cae.co.za GPG Key http://ranger.dnsalias.com/bgmilne.asc 1024D/60D204A7 2919 E232 5610 A038 87B1 72D6 AC92 BA50 60D2 04A7 ** Please click on http://www.cae.co.za/disclaimer.htm to read our e-mail disclaimer or send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a copy. **
Re: [Cooker] Mandrake 9.1 install script is a booby-trap.
On Wed, 2003-07-16 at 18:40, paul mccarthy wrote: I do not understand what part of the message you consider a useless rant or why you say that I am not being sufficiently polite. I have always considered the Mandrake packaging of Linux to be the best available and the installation script especially helpful. I have also noticed that Mandrake keeps changing the install script, probably in an attempt to make the installation even smoother and easier. I was always able to install previous versions of Mandrake Linux without difficulties. I am merely reporting what I consider to be an unhelpful change in the script. My suggestions are: 1. The expert install should be an option in the script rather than a command line parameter, as it was before. Inaccurate. There has always been a command line parameter (well, kernel option, to be accurate) way of launching an expert install. There continues to be one, but the overall option of expert or normal within the GUI has been removed in favour of individual expert choices at various stages of the install. The rationale for this has been explained, if you search the archive. 2. Options like which partition to install the bootloader on, and whether or not to create a boot floppy, should be clearly visible on the screen rather than something one has to scroll off the screen to find, or click an advanced tab. Since this has changed, it's obviously been changed for a reason. What makes you think your opinion will cause the change to be reverted? -- adamw
Re: [Cooker] Mandrake 9.1 install script is a booby-trap.
- Original Message - From: Adam Williamson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 2:30 PM Subject: Re: [Cooker] Mandrake 9.1 install script is a booby-trap. Since this has changed, it's obviously been changed for a reason. What makes you think your opinion will cause the change to be reverted? -- adamw because people at Mandrake have obviously worked long and hard to make Mandrake-Linux the most convenient and intuitive flavor of Linux to install and configure and deserve great praise for their efforts.
[Cooker] Mandrake 9.1 install script is a booby-trap.
For some reason, Mandrake keeps changing the installation scripts for each version of the package. All previous changes were cosmetic, but this one is dangerous. Earlier install scripts prompted for expert install and creation of a boot disk. The new script moved the prompts off the main sequence (and for expert install, got rid of the prompt entirely. It is now a command line parameter.) I have three SCSI drives and the boot disk is the newest and fastest of the three. Not surprisingly I assigned it a higher SCSI ID than the first two to avoid taking them out, resetting jumpers, and shuffling them around on the cable. It doesn't matter to SCSI which one is boot drive, you just set controller to boot that one. Linux treats this drive as device sdc, however, calling the other two drives sda and sdb. Mandrake installation script defaults to writing the bootstrap on the lowest numbered disk, in this case sda. But my sda did not have an operating system on it any more. So trying to boot from such a drive gets computer nowhere. When I installed 9.0 the last time, I made a boot floppy in case I assigned the boot sequence to the wrong drive. It turned out I had, but I was able to get into Linux with the floppy and fix things. The Mandrake 9.1 installation script without telling me, stuck the bootstrap on a drive with no OS and did not prompt for a boot floppy. (it does, but you have to scroll off the page to find the prompt and it is really easy to miss. I don't know if it even comes up on an ordinary install.) I kept waiting for the prompts from the old script and they never came. I had to run through the install three times to figure out where the script had been changed, and by then something had gone wrong with the boot sequence. I could boot into Linux but not Windows. I had to reinstall the Windows partition and to get rid of the linux bootstrap, lost all the settings for my Windows programs.
