Can't follow install prompts

[pelouk]

gold-finger,

That looks like a pretty comprehensive reply but before proceeding I should probably let you know that when I boot (DVD or usb) with either LL2.6 or 2.4, i very quickly reach the "hanging" stage - certainly before any option as to partitions. It goes thus:-

1. Boot into Welcome screen
2. Launch install via desktop icon
3. Screen appears giving language drop-down (with English already highlighted. Click continue
4. Next screen shows detected wireless connections. Select, enter correct key and press continue.
5. Next screen gives options to install updates and/or 3rd party software. Do not tick either box and press continue button.

Then

On every install attempt I reach  exactly this point where the system just hangs.

(Except, of course for the Mint install test mentioned in my previous reply).

[gold_finger]

The mystery deepens!

So apparently you don't even get to the installation type screen before it freezes up -- correct?  (I'm not going to read back through all of the prior posts, but I'm assuming that you checked the md5sum of the downloaded LL iso file to make sure it matched what is shown on download page.  If not, do that to make sure you didn't get a corrupted download.)

But, from sound of it, you did get that far on Mint dvd -- just cancelled out of install before continuing -- correct?

If that's the case, then maybe there is something different about the LL iso that doesn't work right on the computer.

Maybe you should try going forward with install of Mint to see if it actually does install fine.  I think any version will work on the computer, but Xfce or Mate versions will probably be best on it.  (Xfce version will be more similar to LL, which also uses the Xfce desktop.)  Don't know how old the Mint dvd is that you have, but you might as well install the latest version (17.2).  Here is download link:  http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

Like I said before, best to defrag and shrink partition from within Windows before installing.

If you do get past the install type screen and install freezes after you finish inputting user info, then shutdown, reboot with Mint dvd again and run this in terminal before starting the install:

Code:

sudo apt-get remove ubiquity-slideshow-mint

Then run installer again and it shoud finish properly.

Post back here to let us know what happens.  I'm curious to see if it actually is an LL specific problem.

[pelouk]

It's HIM again!!

And, sorry to report, no further forward. I followed all of your suggestions gold-finger but still can't get the darn thing to co-operate. Here's what I've done since yesterday;-

1.  Defragged my hard drive and decided that - whichever distro would install, I'd allocate the entire HD and have it as the sole OS.

2. Attempted to reinstall LL2.4 and then 2.6 via both DVD and usb (after verifying that the MD5 sums checked out). On each attempt the install hung at the second prompt screen - i.e choice of installing updates or tp software.

3. Tried another install, this time of LXLE - both DVD and usb. Failed at exactly the same prompt.

4. Downloaded and ran Mint 17.2 from the link you provided (Did MD5 checksum). Again via both DVD and usb. Failed at exactly the same point. (Also tried your sudo suggestion on re-boot)

5. Had a final crack at it using an old copy of Mint Maya 13. This was the distro which looked promising yesterday, butgot as far as the partitioning prompt and it froze.

So, I doubt that the issue is LL specific - though it may be a Linux one - I just don't know.

My Windows 7 is so badly compromised anyway with so much malware that nothing can properly clean up that, whatever happens, it's getting junked.

Right now I'm getting by with running Puppy Linux Live from a USB and, even though it's not very sophisticated, I'm giving serious thought to installing it as my sole OS. I realise it's pretty puny to have it on 350Gb hard drive but I'm at my wit's end.

The other alternative is a trip to the junk yard with the whole rig.

[pelouk]

Just a quick p.s

In the absence of any possibility of getting a Linux distro to work for me -is there  any other  user-friendly OS you would recommend.

Chrome OS maybe???

[Valtam]

/var/log/installer/casper.log may offer some clues. Look at it immediately after the crash.

[Wirezfree]

@pelouk,


Hi,
I have been following this with interest, so what do we know.??
> Different ISO's and the md5's check O.K
Then
> Tried to install various distros via ext Disk
> Tried to install various distros via USB
All failing
The obvious common thing to rule out is the target disk..??

So, I think you said you are going to ditch the Win7 install.
So how about booting LL Live, then:
** This will completely clear your disk **

Menu > gparted
Then click each partition, then right click it, and remove/delete it. (may.?? have to select un-mount 1st)
Then you will have to click the "green upside down , left pointing arrow" to apply changes.
Then under "Device", Create new "partition table"


Now you can either, create new partitions with gparted in the free space for:
root
/home
/swap


or close Gparted, start the installer, and use whole disk.


This is all I can think of, if you have not already tried this..??

[gold_finger]

Well pelouk,

Must say I'm stumped.  Don't see anything particularly troublesome about specs of your computer.  It should handle Linux just fine.

Just to clarify -- running from the live dvd's and usbs works fine; it's just when trying to install that you have a problem, correct?

Look where Jerry recommended after crash and report back any findings.

Try what Wirezfree suggested and see if that helps.

Grasping at straws next.  Maybe current hard drive is bad.  Do you have another you can plop into machine and see if same problem occurs?  (You don't have to install to it, just see if you can get past the point you're getting stuck at now.)

All distros that you listed as tried are Ubuntu-based.  Maybe try the following others that are not Ubuntu-based to see if that helps:

AntiX -- Debian-based; nice, lightweight distro that is fairly user friendly.  (I'm posting from a machine using AntiX right now.)  Here's a youtube channel with many videos on using AntiX.

OpenSuse  -- can't remember what (if anything) it's based on, but it's not Ubuntu.

Fedora -- based on RedHat

[firenice03]

I keep checking in.. I too am curious what results with a different disk... If you have 1 laying around.. Even if its a small disk and you have success its a postive...

[pelouk]

Just an update to all of you who have been so helpful.

Tried a separate hard disk and got no better result. In the end I took gold-finger's tip and had a look at Antix. Mooched around in there and eventually installed MX-14.3.

Everything went smoothly and I'm just so happy to get anything that isn't Windows.

Actually, I'm getting the best of both worlds since I'm already running LL on my old laptop.

Hat-tip to you all again. Great forum this.

[Wirezfree]

Hi,
Glad you got something installed.

It is probably academic now, seeing that you have installed MX-14-3..

I don't know the answer to this, or if it's even possible..??
When you boot into LL Live, can the installer be run from a terminal..??
Would that have shown where/why it's failing in the install process..??

GL