Installation Problems | Beginning SUSE Linux: From Novice to Professional

During installation, you may get error messages or experience other difficulties. This section offers some solutions to common problems.

Problem: When I try to install, the partitioning section of the installation program talks about /dev/sda, /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, and so on, rather than /dev/hda.

Solution: If your system uses SCSI hard disks, then this is correct. SCSI disks are mostly used on servers and very rarely on desktop computers.

If you see this message and you use an ordinary computer, it's likely you have a flash memory card inserted into your card reader, or another form of external memory. Unfortunately, SUSE Linux sometimes attempts to install Linux to such devices, which are identified internally by Linux as SCSI devices. The solution is to disconnect or remove the removable memory device during installation.

Problem: When it's time to choose the packages for installation, I see the message: "No base selection available. ERROR: No proposal."

Solution: Restart the installation and, at the DVD-ROM boot menu (prior to starting the installation program), select the Installation option, and then type the following:

linux cdromdevice=hdc

This is assuming that you have only one CD/DVD-ROM device; if you are installing from a second DVD-ROM device on your system, you might need to enter the following command:

linux cdromdevice=hdd

If, after this, you find that the same error message appears, restart the installation, and then enter the following:

linux cdromdevice=hdd pci=acpi

Problem: When it's time to choose the packages for installation, I see the message: "No base selection available. ERROR: No proposal." I have a combination CD-R/RW and DVD-ROM drive, and have tried the previous solution, but it doesn't work.

Solution: Combined CD-R/RW and DVD-ROM drives can cause problems in some cases. The solution is relatively simple. Here are the steps:

Boot from the DVD-ROM and highlight the Installation option using the cursor keys.
Type the following:
```
hdc=ide-scsi
```
Alternatively, if you have two CD/DVD-ROM drives in your computer, and the drive you're trying to install from is the second of the two, type this:
```
hdd=ide-scsi
```
Press Enter to start installation.
The installation program will report that no installation source can be found. Click OK to clear the box.
The text-mode linuxrc rescue program will start. Using the cursor keys, highlight the Kernel Modules – Hardware Drivers entry on the menu and press Enter to select the option. Then select the Load IDE/RAID/SCSI Modules option in the same way.
Scroll down the list in the following menu until you find ide-scsi : SCSI emulation for IDE ATAPI devices. Press Enter to select that entry.
Clear the dialog boxes confirming that the module has been loaded. Use the Tab key to move focus to the Back button, and then highlight and select Start Installation/System in the following menu.
Choose the options to start the installation. Select the CD-ROM when asked (don't worry about the fact you're actually installing from a DVD-ROM).

Problem: The installation program seems to run smoothly, but then crashes/freezes at a random point before completing.

Solution: In the case of freezes, make sure the computer has actually frozen and isn't simply busy with a task. Check the hard disk light for activity on the computer's case and also look at the DVD-ROM drive light to see if it's flashing. Press Ctrl+Alt+F2. If the screen changes to a command prompt, your system is still running but is simply busy (press Ctrl+Alt+F3 to return to the installation GUI). If the computer genuinely has become unresponsive, reboot, and when the boot menu appears, select Installation – Safe Settings. This will start the text-mode installation program. See the previous solution on page 54 for information about how to use the installation program without a mouse.

Problem: The installation fails with the following error message: "Usb.3: read info."

Solution: This problem is caused by an incorrectly configured BIOS. Reboot the computer and, before installation starts, enter the BIOS setup program by pressing the specified key (usually the Delete key). In the PNP/PCI Configuration section, make sure the Assign IRQ for USB option is set to Enabled. (You can use the cursor keys to move around the menus in the BIOS program and use the Enter key to change various values.)

Problem: When I try to install, I receive the following error message: "The password for root could not be set. You won't be able to login."

Solution: This problem is caused by an incorrect or faulty hard disk partition table. Unfortunately, solving this problem is very complicated and can have a variety of causes. One potential solution is to choose the Installation – Safe Settings option during installation, and then ignore the automatic partitioning choices. Instead, choose to create the root and swap partitions manually. However, to truly overcome the problem, the hard disk should be erased and Linux (and Windows if necessary) installed afresh.

Problem: During installation, I see the error message: "Disk doesn't contain a valid partition table." Yet installation seems to continue normally and, afterwards, the system appears to work fine.

Solution: This is simply a glitch in the installation procedure. The error is effectively meaningless and can be ignored.