Author |
Message |
sbszine
Joined: 27 Nov 2009 Posts: 4
|
Posted: Fri 27 Nov 2009, 00:38 Post subject:
4.3.1 Can't find my hard drive |
|
I've got a LiveCD of Puppy 4.3.1 that works well with my ancient Thinkpad laptop, except that it can't find the hard drive. I don't have a floppy drive and that seems to cause some problems. I'm pretty sure that the drive is physically in working order, since I can see it under other LiveCD distros.
Here are some things I've tried at the console:
Code: | # whoami
root
# parted
Warning: Unable to open /dev/fd0 read-write (Read-only file system). /dev/fd0 has been opened read-only.
GNU Parted 1.8.8
Using /dev/fd0
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) print
Error: /dev/fd0: unrecognised disk label
(parted) quit
# more /etc/fstab
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
none /sys sysfs defaults 0 0
none /dev/pts devpts gid=2, mode=620 0 0
/dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy auto noauto,rw 0 0
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/data
mount: /dev/sda1 is not a valid block device
|
Gparted just shows a blank window (no devices) and the Puppy Universal Installer reports 'Nothing to choose. If a plugin device, did you plug it in?' regardless of which hard drive type I choose. (I've tried them all.)
If I use the SystemRescueCD distro LiveCD, I get this:
Code: | root@sysresccd /root %parted
GNU Parted 1.9.0
Using /dev/sda
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) print
Model: ATA IBM-DARA-206000 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 6007MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition table: msdos
Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 32.3kB 1920MB 1920MB primary ext2 boot
2 1920MB 2048MB 128MB primary linux-swap(1)
3 2048MB 6007MB 3959MB primary ext2
|
Aaaand e2fsck reports both ext2 partitions are clean, and I can even mount them under SystemRescue. That's why I think the drive is actually okay. Any ideas?
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
Sylvander
Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 4327 Location: West Lothian, Scotland, UK
|
Posted: Fri 27 Nov 2009, 05:14 Post subject:
|
|
1. "LiveCD of Puppy 4.3.1 that works well with my ancient Thinkpad laptop, except that it can't find the hard drive"
It may be that you need to use a version of 4.3.1 built on an older kernel.
I'm using an older PC [Compaq Deskpro EN made 1999].
Because my internal IDE HDD is connected to a PCI to IDE SCSI RAID controller card, it's necessary to use a newer Puppy version, or else the Puppy cannot see the internal HDD...
But It's also necessary to use an older kernel, or else it fails to load the Puppy.
e.g. Had trouble with 4.3 using k2.6.30.5, but was OK with 4.3 using k2.6.25.16.
I also find the retro version of 4.31.1 by ttuuxxx is OK.
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
sbszine
Joined: 27 Nov 2009 Posts: 4
|
Posted: Fri 27 Nov 2009, 21:00 Post subject:
|
|
Yeah, I think the HDD is some weird SCSI-IDE hybrid like yours, so that makes sense. Where can I get a version with the older kernel? Would 4.3.0 do the trick?
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
rjbrewer

Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 4421 Location: merriam, kansas
|
Posted: Fri 27 Nov 2009, 21:25 Post subject:
|
|
sbszine wrote: | Yeah, I think the HDD is some weird SCSI-IDE hybrid like yours, so that makes sense. Where can I get a version with the older kernel? Would 4.3.0 do the trick? |
Special puppies: 21.7 or 25.16 should do.
ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/puppy-4.3.1/
_________________
Inspiron 700m, Pent.M 1.6Ghz, 1Gb ram.
Msi Wind U100, N270 1.6>2.0Ghz, 1.5Gb ram.
Eeepc 8g 701, 900Mhz, 1Gb ram.
Full installs
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
cthisbear
Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 4262 Location: Sydney Australia
|
Posted: Fri 27 Nov 2009, 21:55 Post subject:
|
|
It's quite possible that you selected Xorg...
and your drives won't show up.
Sometimes it happens.
Try Xvesa...select the resolution ...1024 x 768.
Now the drives should show up.
Open up 2 Rox file managers as per my previous posts here.
If you indeed tried Xvesa first...
go for Xorg.
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=47664&start=30
Chris.
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
8-bit

Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 3425 Location: Oregon
|
Posted: Sat 28 Nov 2009, 00:46 Post subject:
|
|
You might also try the SCSI version of Puppy.
I have had it work in some instances where the hard drive failed to show or the boot would stop after loading the kernel modules needed to access hard drives.
A combination of scsi and ide addressing can cause problems.
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
mikeb

Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 11101
|
Posted: Sat 28 Nov 2009, 09:23 Post subject:
|
|
Hey the 2.6.25 kernel will not see IDE cd drives on a pent 2 intel board so its a safe bet an older version is needed...no scsi in sight
mike
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
sbszine
Joined: 27 Nov 2009 Posts: 4
|
Posted: Sun 29 Nov 2009, 19:56 Post subject:
|
|
The combination of 25.16 and Xvesa did the trick. Thanks everyone for your help, it's much appreciated. Xvesa also seems to use 60MB less memory than Xorg, which is a big saving when you've only got 128MB to begin with.
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
mikeb

Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 11101
|
Posted: Sun 29 Nov 2009, 21:46 Post subject:
|
|
Kool ..so an older kernel solved it...I think they like [solved] adding to the title...just edit your first post
regards
mike
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
|