Hi everyone,

I just got a very nice Dell 8300 Dimension (P-IV 3GHZ, 120 GB EIDE HD) with windows-XP preinstalled and would now like to get a usable OS installed on it (SuSE 9.0).

However, YaST2 is having problems recognizing the HD.
If I use the standard installation routine, it hangs at:

hdbrobing with STATUS(0x00) instead of ALTSTATUS(0x05)

If I use the safe installation routine, it hangs at:

hda:attached ide-disk driver

If I use manual settings and include hda=noprobe, it gets through the initial segment of the installation up to choice of partitions & software etc, but then says it has not found a hard disk.

I would very much appreciate any tips or comments!

Peter

Hello probins,

I have the same problem.
Suse 9.0 is not able to detect the Promise Fasttrack S150 TX2plus which is installed on this PC.
I suggest to send emails to Suse and Promise support to ask for a fix!!
When many users are doing this they might will do it.

Greetings, Ralf

I have the new 8300 as well ... but with the dual 120G Ultra ATAs Promises and the installation hangs 20 seconds in during the hda probe. I believe as do the other posts that the problems are with the drives. I sent you an e-mail with more discussions on my frustrations with Dell and Linux. Good Luck and Please let me know if you discover a solution ..... I have been tearing my hair out getting Linux on the Dell. -E

After searching the net for a while, I wonder if the answer could be to
1) wait for a distribution or kernel that supports S-ATA drives
2) Add an EIDE drive to the computer an install onto it
3) Put the S-ATA drive into legacy mode

Unfortunately, I am unsure how to try out option 3), because it doesnt seem to be supported in the BIOS of the Dell 8300 Dimension

Thanks, Emmett, for you reply, I wanted to reply off list but the mails bounced back...

-Peter

I am sure that I did not help you ...... but I am at the same point as you are. I have just about given up on the Dell ..... take my lumps ... and wait for the new kernel. Sad to say, but I think I am just not able to overcome this one .... too intense with not only SuSE but all the Linux Distros out there. I hate to have Gates win ...... but I am just about ready to throw in the towel ...
-Emmett