i'm kind of new to linux, so please excuse me if i word this a bit wrong.

Ive just updated my suse 9.1 system to kde 3.5 using the online update section in yast. After the update had finished, i restarted the machine, and now, when it boots up, i get:

hda: dma_timer_expiry: dma status == 0x24
hda: DMA Interrupt Recovery
hda: lost interrupt
hda: dma_timer_expiry: dma status == 0x24
hda: DMA Interrupt Recovery
hda: lost interrupt

and so on. Thats as far as it gets - once it hits that point, its a constant loop with them 3 lines being repeated (to see if it was constant, i left it in boot for an hour, and it still did that.

Does anyone know what this is or how i can fix it - ive tried searching google, but everything on there is exactly the same, and doesnt even mention what causes it, let alone how to fix it.

thanks

Try a repair with the installation CD/DVD.
Reboot with the installation CD/DVD do as though you would reinstall but choose 'repair the system' when you see that choice on the screen.
If that doesn't work, you have no choice but to reinstall.
After that don't use the Yast Online Update to upgrade KDE.
Rather add supplementary repositories for KDE and GNOME in the Installation Sources section, and use Install/Remove Softwares to upgrade KDE.
You should find more details about that procedure by searching the forums.
Good luck.

You could also try to boot with the option ide=nodma (to be entered at the boot menu, just type).
Then check the DMA parameters of you IDE controller in YaST.