Based on the fact that I had similar issues with SuSE (I've got solved years ago) I'm quite sure the problem is that Fedora (Anaconda) uses wrong drive geometry values (probably due to misleading information from the BIOS) and therefore cannot read the partition data.
Remember, my problem is, how can I get started and make Fedora (or Anaconda or whatever causes the problem) using the correct drive geometry values, so it will access my disk properly.
----------------------------------- leda:/home/peter # hdparm -iv /dev/hda
/dev/hda: multcount = 16 (on) I/O support = 1 (32-bit) unmaskirq = 1 (on) using_dma = 0 (off) keepsettings = 0 (off) nowerr = 0 (off) readonly = 0 (off) readahead = 8 (on) geometry = 82796/15/63, sectors = 78242976, start = 0
Model=SAMSUNG SV4002H, FwRev=QP100-07, SerialNo=0413J1FT515266
Config={ HardSect NotMFM HdSw>15uSec Fixed DTR>10Mbs }
RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=38997, SectSize=619, ECCbytes=4
BuffType=DualPortCache, BuffSize=1945kB, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=16
CurCHS=17475/15/63, CurSects=-78446341, LBA=yes, LBAsects=78242976
IORDY=yes, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
PIO modes: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
DMA modes: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 *udma2
AdvancedPM=no
Drive Supports : fastATA-1 ATA-2 ATA-3 ATA-4 ATA-5 ATA-6
Kernel Drive Geometry LogicalCHS=82796/15/63 PhysicalCHS=82796/15/63----------------------------------- leda:/home/peter # scanpci
pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x00 function 0x00: vendor 0x1106 device 0x1595 VIA Device unknown
pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x02 function 0x00: vendor 0x100b device 0x0020 NS Device unknown
pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x04 function 0x00: vendor 0x0e11 device 0xae34 Compaq Netellignet 10
pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x07 function 0x00: vendor 0x1106 device 0x0586 VIA VT 82C586 MVP3 ISA Bridge
pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x07 function 0x01: vendor 0x1106 device 0x0571 VIA VT 82C586 MVP3 IDE Bridge
pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x07 function 0x02: vendor 0x1106 device 0x3038 VIA VT 82C586 MVP3 USB Controller
pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x07 function 0x03: vendor 0x1106 device 0x3040 VIA VT 82C586B MVP3 ACPI Bridge
pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x0f function 0x00: vendor 0x5333 device 0x8901 S3 Trio64V2/DX or /GX leda:/etc #
----------------------------------- in /etc/sysconfig/bootloader: ----------------------------------- # Does the BIOS support LBA access. # LILO_LBA="yes" -----------------------------------
----------------------------------- in /etc/lilo.conf: ----------------------------------- boot = /dev/hda change-rules reset read-only menu-scheme = Wg:kw:Wg:Wg lba32 prompt timeout = 80 message = /boot/message
image = /boot/vmlinuz label = linux root = /dev/hda2 vga = 791 initrd = /boot/initrd append = "ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off"
image = /boot/vmlinuz.suse label = failsafe root = /dev/hda2 vga = 791 initrd = /boot/initrd.suse append = "ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off" optional
image = /boot/memtest.bin label = memtest86 -----------------------------------
----------------------------------- in /etc/fstab: ----------------------------------- /dev/hda2 / reiserfs defaults 1 2 /dev/hda3 /data3 reiserfs defaults 1 2 /dev/hda5 /local reiserfs defaults 1 2 /dev/hda6 /data6 reiserfs defaults 1 2 /dev/hda7 /netusr reiserfs defaults 1 2 devpts /dev/pts devpts defaults 0 0 /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom auto ro,noauto,user,exec 0 0 /dev/fd0 /media/floppy auto noauto,user,sync 0 0 usbdevfs /proc/bus/usb usbdevfs noauto 0 0 proc /proc proc defaults 0 0 /dev/hda1 swap swap pri=42 0 0
-----------------------------------
Isn't this fun, just like searching easter eggs?
Happy Easter!
Peter
----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Gloor" <pgloor@xxxxxxx>
To: <fedora-list@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 10:20 PM
Subject: Anaconda: i/o error during read on /dev/hda
Hello NG,
Hmm, how to explain my problem? To make it short, I have a SuSE Linux 8.0 Professional installed on a Compaq Deskpro 2000 5166 MMX with a 40GB HDD (Samsung SV4002H) and need to update to a newer kernel. At the same time I wanted to switch from SuSE to Fedora Core 3.
My HDD is devided into several partitions. One for the linux system inclusive the standard packages, one for non-standard applications I use (e.g. Lotus Domino) and one for data. Now, while keeping the data partition, I simply wanted to reformat my existing linux partition and install Fedora from scratch into the empty space I get.
This is where the problem is. After starting from the first Fedora Core 3 CD and having selected the installation language, Anaconda pops up a dialog with the message "Input/Output error during read on /dev/hda". Regardless of what I'm trying to do (booting with params, rescue cd, etc) I'm unable to reformat or recreate the partitions without loosing my data.
However, even my SuSE installation has beed running for years (I startet with SuSE Linux 6.x), I remember that I had a lot of problems with my 40GB HDD until I reinstalled anything. When I reinstalled SuSE Linux I had to manually change some drive geometry settings to overcome the problem that SuSE did not properly calculate drive geometry settings (LDA/CHS etc ?) due to a problem that the BIOS reported wrong or misleading information. After I fixed this every thing was o.k.
Now, I'm quite sure that Fedora has the same problem, but I don't know how to get it fixed. I even don't remember how I did this one time action in SuSE.
I hope anybody has an Idea and can give me a hint how to get the problem solved.
Regards, Peter
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