Install Hangs

[JimmyCrackedCorn]

My Install hangs when i try to partition using gparted. Itried using it through the live cd before install and it does the same thing. It seems to have something to do about writing to the disk. it shows the partitions and seems to start but goes nowhere Im trying to install 1.7 on my averatec 6100 laptop. any suggestions

[DaddyX3]

You might investigate the BIOS really good. I've run across two different manufacturers lately that have a BIOS level protection for overwriting the MBR or erasing it. I would seriously look at that and turn off the BIOS option if one is found.

[JimmyCrackedCorn]

Thanks, I was thinking it was something like that but there arent any security settings that related in the bios and the security settings are all disabled. When i got it it came with a 3dvd image with xp and a lot of other garbage. I also just downloaded the gparted-live-0.3.6-5.iso and tried that..It mounts the root file system then i get a bunch of squashfs unable to read errors. unable to execute bianary files.and many many more..argh!

[LeadFingers]

It may or may not help but you could try Parted Magic live CD
http://partedmagic.com/wiki/PartedMagic.php?n=PartedMagic.Downloads
Some newer systems are having problems with Sata CD's & DVD's
you might try putting your partition tool on a flash drive and see if that helps.

[JimmyCrackedCorn]

Thanks for the suggestions, I used the Parted Magic live CD and after wiping the drive..etc I was able to get partially through the install. It failed at various stages, i tried a few different distros that all seemed to fail around the same point. I finally tried the 1.7 (695MB) iso burned onto a DVD it failed the first time and worked the second?? I guess ill have replace the hard drive at some point..is it worth running off of usb?

[cowboy]

Have you tried running Hardy? Reason being had a tough time trying to install any Distro that was Linux in my Lap..1.8 will be around the corner after Hardy becomes final..i believe..take note that it is beta still and has a few issues..saying this before you replace the hard drive..

[LeadFingers]

Thanks for the suggestions, I used the Parted Magic live CD and after wiping the drive..etc I was able to get partially through the install. It failed at various stages, i tried a few different distros that all seemed to fail around the same point. I finally tried the 1.7 (695MB) iso burned onto a DVD it failed the first time and worked the second?? I guess ill have replace the hard drive at some point..is it worth running off of usb?

You're not the first one to have 1.7 install on the 2nd or 3rd try.
This doesn't mean your harddrive is going bad.
There are several DOS programs available in a 2 floppy set (or bootable CD), that will test the integrity of your drives.
See the web page for which ever drive you have, they can usually be found there, under Disk utilities.
I wouldn't buy a new drive until I knew for a fact that the old one was bad.
As Cowboy mentioned, Hardy is just a few weeks from being stable and shortly after,
TheeMahn will be releasing 1.8. The support in 1.8 will be much better and may solve all your issues.

[DaddyX3]

Thanks for the suggestions, I used the Parted Magic live CD and after wiping the drive..etc I was able to get partially through the install. It failed at various stages, i tried a few different distros that all seemed to fail around the same point. I finally tried the 1.7 (695MB) iso burned onto a DVD it failed the first time and worked the second?? I guess ill have replace the hard drive at some point..is it worth running off of usb?

I would blame the DVD drive before the hard drive. Sounds like a classic example of either a bad burn (burnt to fast?) or a DVD burner on its way out. I do have experience with this