Geek question

**1100011CS** · 11-10-2009, 03:37 PM

I have 4 memory sticks and it freezes for each one. So, tried running Mint again in compatibility mode and it at least says where it's freezing. The last few lines shown is:

[2.121584] ata3.00: ATA-6: WDC WD1200JD-75GBB0, 02.05D02, max UDMA/100
[2.121635] ata3.00: 234375000 sectors, multi 8: LBA48
[2.121697] ata3.00: applying bridge limits
[2.137618] ata3.00: configured for UDMA/100

dead after that

Now, this is trying to run Mint from the CD so why is it messing with the HD?

**bos** · 11-10-2009, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

I have 4 memory sticks and it freezes for each one. So, tried running Mint again in compatibility mode and it at least says where it's freezing. The last few lines shown is:

[2.121584] ata3.00: ATA-6: WDC WD1200JD-75GBB0, 02.05D02, max UDMA/100
[2.121635] ata3.00: 234375000 sectors, multi 8: LBA48
[2.121697] ata3.00: applying bridge limits
[2.137618] ata3.00: configured for UDMA/100

dead after that

Now, this is trying to run Mint from the CD so why is it messing with the HD?

Because it makes a temporary drive to store files for quick access. Deletes it when you shut down. There is something wrong with the drive or controller on board. Is this a sata drive or ide?

**1100011CS** · 11-10-2009, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by bostinelosd

Because it makes a temporary drive to store files for quick access. Deletes it when you shut down. There is something wrong with the drive or controller on board. Is this a sata drive or ide?

Satan - heh, blackberry SureType

Sata

**bos** · 11-10-2009, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

Satan - heh, blackberry SureType

Sata

Very odd. Brand spanking new HD right?

**1100011CS** · 11-10-2009, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by bostinelosd

Very odd. Brand spanking new HD right?

Actually, the one I have in there now is the old one since the new one was doing the same thing. Gonna use the new one as an external or extra

**bos** · 11-10-2009, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

Actually, the one I have in there now is the old one since the new one was doing the same thing. Gonna use the new one as an external or extra

Really dont know. Have you ever done a bios update for your motherboard? Guess you could try that in case there is a an old bug.

**1100011CS** · 11-10-2009, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by bostinelosd

Really dont know. Have you ever done a bios update for your motherboard? Guess you could try that in case there is a an old bug.

Yes, flashed the bios last night. Anyway, thanks for trying. Guess this one is headed for recycling.

**jumbopackage** · 11-10-2009, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

I have 4 memory sticks and it freezes for each one. So, tried running Mint again in compatibility mode and it at least says where it's freezing. The last few lines shown is:

[2.121584] ata3.00: ATA-6: WDC WD1200JD-75GBB0, 02.05D02, max UDMA/100
[2.121635] ata3.00: 234375000 sectors, multi 8: LBA48
[2.121697] ata3.00: applying bridge limits
[2.137618] ata3.00: configured for UDMA/100

dead after that

Now, this is trying to run Mint from the CD so why is it messing with the HD?

Originally Posted by bostinelosd

Because it makes a temporary drive to store files for quick access. Deletes it when you shut down. There is something wrong with the drive or controller on board. Is this a sata drive or ide?

No, it doesn't. You're thinking of the ramdisk, which mostly just holds the initrd filesystem until the hard drive is mounted.

At this point in the startup sequence, linux is just trying to recognize hardware. It has, at this point, identified the controller and types of devices connected to it, and the next step is to attempt to actually see what filesystems are on those connected devices. Here's an excerpt from my dmesg:

Code:

[    2.411017] pata_via 0000:00:0f.1: version 0.3.3
[    2.411037] pata_via 0000:00:0f.1: PCI INT A -> Link[ALKA] -> GSI 20 (level, low) -> IRQ 20
[    2.411266] scsi2 : pata_via
[    2.411351] scsi3 : pata_via
[    2.413579] ata3: PATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0x1f0 ctl 0x3f6 bmdma 0xa800 irq 14
[    2.413583] ata4: PATA max UDMA/133 cmd 0x170 ctl 0x376 bmdma 0xa808 irq 15
[    2.600465] ata3.00: ATA-6: WDC WD800BB-08JHC0, 06.01C06, max UDMA/100
[    2.600469] ata3.00: 156312576 sectors, multi 16: LBA
[    2.600509] ata3.01: ATAPI: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3520A, 1.04, max UDMA/33
[    2.608336] ata3.00: configured for UDMA/100
[    2.624271] ata3.01: configured for UDMA/33
[    2.791301] scsi 2:0:0:0: Direct-Access     ATA      WDC WD800BB-08JH 06.0 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
[    2.791465] sd 2:0:0:0: [sda] 156312576 512-byte hardware sectors: (80.0 GB/74.5 GiB)
[    2.791495] sd 2:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[    2.791499] sd 2:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[    2.791540] sd 2:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[    2.791655] sd 2:0:0:0: [sda] 156312576 512-byte hardware sectors: (80.0 GB/74.5 GiB)
[    2.791678] sd 2:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[    2.791682] sd 2:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[    2.791720] sd 2:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[    2.791727]  sda: sda1 sda2 < sda5 >
[    2.816022] sd 2:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk
[    2.816107] sd 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
[    2.817149] scsi 2:0:1:0: CD-ROM            _NEC     DVD_RW ND-3520A  1.04 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
[    2.820099] sr0: scsi3-mmc drive: 48x/48x writer cd/rw xa/form2 cdda tray
[    2.820104] Uniform CD-ROM driver Revision: 3.20
[    2.820268] sr 2:0:1:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr0
[    2.820326] sr 2:0:1:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 5

So, to me, it sounds as though there's something it doesn't like about your HDD/CD setup. Have you verified the master/slave relationship between your HDD and DVD? I don't know about Dell for sure, but sometimes they use a cable select cable you and you have to leave the HDD set up for cable select.

**1100011CS** · 11-10-2009, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

So, to me, it sounds as though there's something it doesn't like about your HDD/CD setup. Have you verified the master/slave relationship between your HDD and DVD? I don't know about Dell for sure, but sometimes they use a cable select cable you and you have to leave the HDD set up for cable select.

I'm going to need a non-geek explanation of that one. Are we talking jumper settings or something in the bios?

The thing is, this freeze-up problem started before all this. I tried several tests and just assumed it was my hard drive so I bought a new one and tried to install Linux. Nothing had changed prior to this freeze-up problem starting so I can't believe it's a problem with how my HD/CD drive is setup. But, at this point I'm willing to try anything.

**jumbopackage** · 11-11-2009, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

I'm going to need a non-geek explanation of that one. Are we talking jumper settings or something in the bios?

The thing is, this freeze-up problem started before all this. I tried several tests and just assumed it was my hard drive so I bought a new one and tried to install Linux. Nothing had changed prior to this freeze-up problem starting so I can't believe it's a problem with how my HD/CD drive is setup. But, at this point I'm willing to try anything.

Yeah the jumper settings.

If you haven't done anything to your DVD drive, see what it's set to. If it's set to CS or Cable Select, chances are you've got a cable select cable. This means that one plug on the cable is "pre-wired" for master, and the other for slave. So you'll need to make sure your drive is set to CS or Cable select as well.

If the DVD drive is set to Master or Slave, make sure that the Hard drive is set to the opposite.

This all assumes you're using PATA drives. If SATA, disregard.

It could well have been your old HDD causing problems. Or any number of other things. The linux kernel should be getting further than it is, though.

**jbhtexas** · 11-11-2009, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by tim_redd

If everything works right out of the install, you'll like it. It's only when there's some random hardware issues that it gets annoying. I've really liked 9.10 so far. The only time I boot into windows now is when I want to use the slingbox.

Yeah, hardware can be a bugger. I have an old Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card (it has great AD DA converters for a cheap consumer card, which is why I keep it around). It worked reasonably well in 9.04, but support is broken in 9.10

Even when it was working, I couldn't fully utilize the card like I could in Windows.

**1100011CS** · 11-11-2009, 11:32 AM

Update: So, I'm looking into finding a cheap motherboard and find this: Dell Optiplex GX270 motherboard recall? - dslreports.com

Interestingly, it references Iowa State University:)

Anyway, I checked the capacitors in my mobo and sure enough there's a bunch that are bulging and leaking! Un-freaking believable.

Thanks to everyone that's offered suggestions.

**Psyclone Brian** · 11-11-2009, 11:35 AM

I love my Debian but have heard that Mandrake is a good starter distro.

**jumbopackage** · 11-11-2009, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

Update: So, I'm looking into finding a cheap motherboard and find this: Dell Optiplex GX270 motherboard recall? - dslreports.com

Interestingly, it references Iowa State University:)

Anyway, I checked the capacitors in my mobo and sure enough there's a bunch that are bulging and leaking! Un-freaking believable.

Thanks to everyone that's offered suggestions.

I'd say that's likely your problem. Sorry to hear that :(

Originally Posted by Psyclone Brian

I love my Debian but have heard that Mandrake is a good starter distro.

Well it was back in like 1998. It's called Mandriva now. There is a free version and a pay version. They are both more or less garbage, IMO, though they are popular in the rest of the world for some reason.

Stick with Ubuntu (or one of it's derivatives), Fedora Core, or if you're adventurous Gentoo.