[lug] Install 'Linux' on a used (i.e. refurb/cheap) Pentium computer: need help/advice

[Paul Condon]

On 05/13/2013 02:21 AM, stimits at comcast.net wrote:
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Paul Condon <pecondon1 at gmail.com>
> To: BLUG <lug at lug.boulder.co.us>
> Sent: Sun, 12 May 2013 20:03:14 -0000 (UTC)
> Subject: Re: [lug] Install 'Linux' on a used (i.e. refurb/cheap) 
> Pentium computer: need help/advice
> ...
>       One feature of my situation is that there are a lot of read errors
>       reported on the Alt-F4 screen. and I have no basis for saying that
>       they are significant vs. results of the probing for information
>       about the hardware.
> ...
>
> Read errors from what? If they are from a CD drive then they likely 
> have a lot to do with issues even if you have a version of linux that 
> should install fine. One thing is that some of the older media used a 
> dye which is not necessarily compatible. Same with the drives...not 
> all of the older drives handled shorter wavelengths well. If you have 
> another CD drive (assuming it isn't a HD error), try that. What were 
> the read errors?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web Page:  http://lug.boulder.co.us
> Mailing List: http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/mailman/listinfo/lug
> Join us on IRC: irc.hackingsociety.org port=6667 channel=#hackingsociety
I think the read errors are on the hard disk. One that is particularly 
puzzling to me is grub-install hanging for a long time and then 
terminating with a message that it is unable to *read* the MBR. Why does 
it need to read it? Or does that question reveal the depth of my ignorance?

Puzzled,
Paul
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/pipermail/lug/attachments/20130514/f4f17a80/attachment.html>