debian linux installation help

[Wh@l3fish]

hello all,

I'm trying to install a linux distro as a second OS on my system, but I seem to have hit a snag right at the beginning. I've got hold of some debian cd's and i'm trying to install from them. The cd boots up fine, then it gets to the options screen, and it fails when it tries to detect and mount the cd-rom drive, meaning it can't go any further. It seems to want a driver, but I can't find any for linux (it's a samsung sh-s203p). Is there any work around where I can just fudge it and get it to work somehow?

All help gratefully received!

[alsenior]

when you boot it you need to add the following option

 all-generic-ide

that should sort it

[Wh@l3fish]

thought i was nearly there!

I used your method, alsenior, (or the similar for this distro, which seemed to be generic.generic_all_ide=1) and it took a lot longer to boot, then hung for a while with hda: lost interrupt coming up. After a couple of minutes of inactivity, it then seemed to find the cd-rom, then hung for another couple of minutes. It then booted into the selection screen, I selected the languages e.t.c.Then on to the cd-rom detection and mounting, and then the same problem as before.

Anything else to try?

[Steve B]

are you using Etch or Lenny?

[Wh@l3fish]

It's etch

[directhex]

Try a lenny disc (fish about for a recent beta or daily). Etch is a little old, so hardware support is less than ideal

[Wh@l3fish]

Thanks. I've just downloaded Ubuntu 8.10, after I saw the other thread on here which i'll try tonight. Do you think that might help?

[alsenior]

should work as ubuntu uses a very recent kernal on the cd

[Wh@l3fish]

Ubuntu worked a treat, very easy to install! Thanks for all your help