Ok, so I've been trying to install Linux, but I just can't get it to work for some reason. I've been trying to install Mandriva 2005 LE and I couldn't get that to work so I downloaded Mandriva 2006, but that wouldn't work either. I don't understand why I can't get this to work, my computer is more than adequite to run Linux. I have a P4 2.4 running off of a 865PE chipset.

Initially I tried booting from the CD, but it would only show the initial screen where you hit enter to install, but then the progress bar would fill up and then the screen would go black and nothing else would happen. Then I made an install disk from the cdrom.img file found on the CD (I tried this for both 2005 and 2006) and that wouldn't work either. I actually got pretty close once when I accidently used the 2005 boot disk and put the 2006 CD in. It actually made it all the way into the installer, but then it said something like the CD and floppy weren't syncing up properly.

Currently I'm running XP and I was planning on making a dual boot system, but at this point, I don't know that I'm going to be able to because I'm quickly losing faith that I'll be able to get this to work. Anyone have any idea why my computer is being so ridiculous and won't let me install Linux?

Welcome to LQ!

Did you check the md5sum of the iso files before you burned the CDs?
Instructions here...

No I did not try that because I was unaware that you could do that in windows. I don't really remember where I downloaded the files from in the first place, but I'll find them again and re-download them along with the MD5sum file so that I can check to see if it downloaded properly. Thanks for the suggestion.

Sometimes this kind of problem happen when the Installation disc doesn't work well with the graphics card in your system. So, instead of doing a graphical install, what about doing a Text mode install?

And check out about the framebuffer option when you start the installer, the help can usually be shown when you hit F1, F2, etc. before you hit enter. Just follow the instruction on the boot-up screen.

Some USB devices that fail to initialise can cause the installation to fail here... remove any USB devices if you can and try then.

You don't need to download the iso images again, you just need to get the md5sums
and check them. The site I referenced will have them.

Ok, I downloaded the DVD iso file for Mandriva 2005 LE and checked the md5sum of the file and it was correct. I then burned the file to DVD at 2X and tried to boot from DVD again and that didn't work as usual and then I tried it using a boot disk, and that didn't work either. I tried text install as well at typing linux fb and linux vesafb, but it's still not working. It reads the disc, says loading program into memory, and then eventually gets to a screen where it says proceeding, please wait... and then it never does anything.

I decided to try and install Fedora Core 4 instead and that would not work either. It gives me the following error message:
VFS: Cannot open root device "<NULL>" or unknown-block (9,0)
Please append a correct "root=" boot option

That's a more descriptive error than what Mandriva was giving me, but I don't have a clue what that means... Are these problems related to what was occuring with Mandriva? Anyone know what's going on here. I'd prefer to get Mandriva working as opposed to FC4, but if I have to go with FC4 then I guess that would be alright. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, hopefully the next one will work!

That error sounds like you don't have a kernel with support for your hard drive.
Is it a SCSI or a SATA drive?

If you have the time, CD, and bandwidth; you might try Knoppix. It probably has
support for more hardware than either of those right out of the box, and you
might get a better idea of the issues.

No my HD is just a regular ATA drive...an 80 GB Seagate drive. I actually want to install Mandriva on my secondary HD, which is a Western Digital 12 GB drive.

I had considered using Knoppix, but I would really rather have it installed on my system than have to run it from CD.

GO into your BIOS and find where it mentions "legacy USB" stuff.

DISABLE those legacy usb options. I had something similar happening to me a few weeks ago. I think my BIOS (MSI 865PE Neo-2 platinum board, also a 865 chipset) had something in there regarding "enable usb for legacy devices" or somesuch. Try that and post back.

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Dude you are awesome! That stupid little BIOS setting is what has been causing me all these headaches. I have been trying for like a week to get Linux on my system, and I have been getting so mad because I just couldn't figure out why I couldn't get it to work. Thanks a ton for that suggestion, you just made my day.

You're quite welcome. Have a good one!

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I did mention USB like 8 posts ago!!! lol

yes -- when you mentioned "remove usb devices" I recalled how I fought my BIOS settings. I guess the 22 cent question in this situation is "IS it enough to either just physically remove the devices or disable legacy USB support"? In my own case I left the USB device (my USB trackball) plugged in and was able to use it. Having stated that I lean toward the need to disable the legacy feature in the BIOS but still plug them in. How could a person use them if they're not plugged in?

Does that make sense to anyone else?

It makes sense yes

I first saw the problem on mandrake 8 and then on 9, if i used expert text setup i was ok, but if i tried a GUI setup it would lockout before it got to the first menu. In my case it was the mouse i used, and disabling Lagacy suport didnt help, it was text setup or use a ps2 mouse.

I was able to plug the mouse in after the system installed and it was fine.

Also i find with my USB memory stick plugged in i get the same probs with grub and lilo at boot