[Tfug] Any tips for diagnosing possible hardware problems?

[Richie Smit]

It probably isn't this, but there's a chance it could be the way the 
machine configures the I/O addresses for the CD drive. I recently had 
the same issue with Xubuntu on a decrepit VAIO slaptop. Solved by 
booting the image with the option "ide2=0x180,0x386". Found about that 
here: http://www.joechiu.com/computing/vaio/linuxon505.html  Some 
similar stuff for other distros here: http://mark.overmeer.net/vaio/

While I was searching this stuff out before, I found a bunch of other 
docs about ATA adapters plonking CD devices at all sorts of odd 
addresses, so it's not restricted to one measly slaptop.

(Oh, and Xubuntu on this VAIO is quite good actually, even if you don't 
consider it only has 128 MB. Worth keeping for a few more years.)

R.

Glen Pfeiffer wrote:
> Can anyone offer any assistance on how to diagnose which (if any)
> hardware component is bad? Here is my problem...
> 
> I have been trying to install either Ubuntu or Debian (preferred) on a
> PIII. I am confident the media is okay because both cd's have worked
> flawlessly in several other instances, but both are failing on this one
> PC. 
> 
> Symptoms:
> * Ubuntu: Reaches the "mounting root file system" stage, and hangs
> forever (well, at least an hour). I can't figure out how to see
> detailed messages, so if you think that will help, can you give me a
> pointer on that? Remember, it's not booted yet, and I don't seem to
> have access to the other virtual terminals.
> 
> * Debian: Starts the text based installer, allows me to choose my
> language, etc. Then it probes the hardware and hangs. Again, I don't
> know how to see detailed messages at this point either.
> 
> 
> I have removed most of the non-essential hardware (floppy, agp video
> card), and still have the same issue. I have also swapped out the hard
> drive as it was suspect. I have checked all the cables, and replaced
> many of them. I have tested the memory in another pc and verified that
> it is alright.
> 
> At this point I am thinking either the motherboard, cpu or possibly the
> CD drive. I haven't the first clue on how to diagnose them apart from
> replacing the part and trying again (and I don't have enough spare
> parts - these are my spares). Any help?
> 
> Thanks!
> Glen
> 
> 
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