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

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----- Original Message -----
From: "David L. Anselmi" <anselmi at anselmi.us>
To: BLUG <lug at lug.boulder.co.us>
Sent: Wed, 15 May 2013 05:19:47 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [lug] Install 'Linux' on a used (i.e. refurb/cheap) Pentium computer: need help/advice

Paul Condon wrote:
> 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?
...

FYI, if a single bit of the boot record used is bad, you're screwed. The boot record is the cornerstone of system startup. You could boot from a bootable CD instead, but if MBR is bad, possibly other information on disk geometry is bad as well.
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