[Indy452]

Has my HD bit the dust?

I can no longer try out different "flavors" of linux any more for some reason.
My laptop is an Averatec 3150 with a 40 GB HD. Whenever I run an install cd, the installer says It can not find a linux partition. I don't understand that cfdisk stuff so I really have no clue what to do in that black screen with white lettering. I end up exiting the install and getting frustrated.

I can't even install my ole standby xubuntu anymore. It freezes well into the install.

What is happening?

[lotuseclat79]

Hi Indy452,

When your hard drive starts making noises - like click, click, click, then you probably have a hard drive problem, and it is time to get a new hard drive and have your original drive backed up - a good thing to do on a regular basis anyway.

It sounds like your hard drive is constipated!

If you can login to any Linux, then run the command:
$ sudo fdisk -l
which should tell you the partition layout of your hard drive.

My bet is that you have no more room for any new Linux or other OS partitions.

Let us know what you discover, and show us the full output of the fdisk -l command which must be run as root (i.e. sudo preceding the command in a regular account also works as above).

-- Tom

[Indy452]

Well, theres nothing on it. Thats the problem. It won't let me install anything anymore.

I used to just use the entire disc for installs and since my last install crashed It left me with no operating system to be found.

It will run live cd's without a problem. But I use this little laptop for exploration of all the different distros. I don't keep anything permanent like on my desktop.

Its just mainly for fun but with all the computers I've ever had I have never had a HD problem before so I'm fishing around for reasons why its acting this way.

Thanks

[lotuseclat79]

Hi Indy452,

Run a Live CD, and issue the command:
$ sudo fdisk -l
and show us the full output - it should reveal how your laptop's hard drive is partitioned.

If you installed any OS using the full hard drive, then any previous installed OS would be wiped out. However, if you partitioned the hard drive into separate partitions you could have multiple versions of Linux and boot into the one of your choice.

Given that the last install crashed (during the install I presume) there is why you now have no OS installed.

At worst, given how you use your laptop, you may have to repartition the whole drive with at least a Linux swap and Linux root partition with Linux boot partition optional.

For reference, see the links in the signature of member saikee's posts for multiple Linux partitioning.

-- Tom

[Indy452]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat79

Hi Indy452,

Run a Live CD, and issue the command:
$ sudo fdisk -l
and show us the full output - it should reveal how your laptop's hard drive is partitioned.

If you installed any OS using the full hard drive, then any previous installed OS would be wiped out. However, if you partitioned the hard drive into separate partitions you could have multiple versions of Linux and boot into the one of your choice.

Given that the last install crashed (during the install I presume) there is why you now have no OS installed.

At worst, given how you use your laptop, you may have to repartition the whole drive with at least a Linux swap and Linux root partition with Linux boot partition optional.

For reference, see the links in the signature of member saikee's posts for multiple Linux partitioning.

-- Tom

root@slax:~# $ sudo fdisk -l
-bash: $: command not found
root@slax:~#


Maybe this command does not work with slax?

[lotuseclat79]

Hi Indy452,

Looks like you were already in the root account, in which case you should have issued:
root@slax:~# fdisk -l

Note: the command:
$ sudo fdisk -l
is assumed to be given from a regular user account.

-- Tom

P.S. Never use the root account when surfing the Internet - makes it easier for malware to commandeer your computer.