Giving Ubuntu another go with Dapper Drake

Just 3 days after trying (and failing) to install Ubuntu’s Breezy Badger (v5.10) on my VIA EPIA ME6000, Dapper Drake was released (v6.06), so tonight I’m giving it another go. In order to sway things in Ubuntu’s favor, I’ve stretched an ethernet cable across the living room so at least I’d have an easier chance of getting an internet connection up and running.

Sam Ruby recently noted:

What hadn’t occurred to me — even though it is obvious in retrospect — is that I had a functional Ubuntu system available to me — even during the install.

It seems that this version merges their bootable Live CD option with the desktop install CD so that the installation process (now technically optional) actually happens from within a completely functional Ubuntu environment. I’m curious what this means for the Knoppix crowd? So before double-clicking the “Install Ubuntu” icon, I fired up Firefox and was able to visit Google and my blog. Really, what more does one need?

The first hiccup occured when I tried to set the system time. I selected the correct timezone and clicked the “Set Time” button, set the time, and the installation window would no longer let me click the “Forward” button to continue. I couldn’t tab between buttons, I couldn’t click on anything within the window. All I could do was move the window, maximize it, or minimize it. I couldn’t even close it. Errr. At least it hadn’t locked up. So I restarted the system.

Now I’m giving it a second try. This time I’m not going to change the time—which at least is now set correctly. I got through all the initial installation configuration steps, but at some point during the erase hard disks and repartitioning step, I got the following error:

Failed to create a file system

Hmm. Not good. So it prompted me to try again, and now the “Installed system” dialog box is stuck at 15%, at the Detecting filesystems… stage. I’m starting to believe something is actually wrong with my hardware—which is somewhat strange given that it’s pretty much been sitting untouched for the last year.

In the File Browser, when I try to access the hard drive, I get the following error:

Unable to mount the selected volume
error: device /dev/hda1 does not exist
error: could not execute pmount

Hmm. And this is the second hard drive I’ve tried in this machine. Given that the case pretty well compresses everthing when all put together, I’m starting to wonder whether there could be something wrong with the IDE cable. Perhaps one of the wires got pinched? It just seems strange given that I was able to install Breezy Badger on this drive the other day.

After switching out the hard drive, I’m now getting “Warning! CPU has been changed.” BIOS errors. Sheesh. I think something’s wrong and it’s not Ubuntu. Time to call it a night.

The saga continues: Ubuntu on a Mini-ITX, take 3

Sunday, June 4, 2006 11:25pm
Tech

relatedposts

12 comments

name
blog (optional)
comment
Marc
6/5/06 4:09am

Hmmm, strange. Ubuntu works like a charm for me and lots of other people. I hope it’s not your hardware. Maybe you should report your problems on the Ubuntu forums and maybe someone will have a solution?

jackie
6/5/06 1:37pm

we’ve installed ubuntu about a gazillion times. email Ryan for help.

Jim
6/8/06 8:31am

I have the exact same “Failed to create a file system” error, at 15%. Trying to install on a Dell SC420 computer.

Computer previously had fedora core 3 on it, and was working fine.

Did you ever solve this? please let me know… “jim at dailybuzz dott net”

imehesz
6/10/06 1:55pm

hi you all

exact same thing… i already posted on ubuntu’s forum. I had debian before it worked just fine. (and the live version of 6.06 is working fine on this machine: compaq armada m700 laptop PIII 650MHz, 12GB HDD) if you guys find anything helpful please let me know (imehesz@gmail.com)

justin
6/10/06 2:16pm

Thanks for the comments all, I’ve updated my experience so far on Ubuntu on a Mini-ITX, take 3, but still having no luck.

imehesz
6/12/06 3:51am

on the ubuntu forum they recommended to install the alternate (text mode) CD. which is not that fancy (i mean the installations part!). and it WORKS.

Jim
6/14/06 5:42am

Downloaded the alternate install; will try this afternoon!

Jim
6/15/06 5:29am

Alternate install worked flawlessly. The steps to install were exactly the same, it just used ascii/DOS text boxes and OK buttons instead of a graphical UI.

postlts
6/17/06 10:08am

USE ALTERNATE INSTALL CD. i had the exact same problems and the alternate installation cd worked. it is the exact same installation except it’s text. no need to know any commands, you just use the arrow keys and [enter] key.

Yuri
8/21/06 12:54pm

I just finished installing Dapper Drake (graphical user interface) on a Dell Latitude D800. At first, I also had a “Failed to create file system”. I installed Dapper Drake on an external usb disk (/dev/sda). What I did the second time I ran install was “edit the partition manually”, but since I already ran the install before, the partitions where setup correcttly and I didn’t have to change them.. When the install starts, it also checks /dev/hda1 (which is a partition created by Dell with utitlity tools) and it finds a problem (something about FAT16…) with that partition. Install advises you to go back and correct the problem (I suppose this is the point where the install gives you the “Failed to create a file system”), but you can also click continue… tadaa! I’m happy with Dapper Drake!

paco
1/21/07 11:52pm

I also had problems with the standard graphical install and the filesystem error. Manually editing the partitions (or just leaving them as they were and formatting them) worked for me as well. I didn’t get any errors at all after that.

markfowler
4/21/07 11:37pm

my install with 256meg rag hung at 15% also. while downloading the alternate install, i tried going in my bios and lowering the shared video memory from 32megs to 8megs and my install went through. i had set up the disk partitions prior to the install and used the manual partitioning option.