Anaconda: i/o error during read on /dev/hda

Fri Mar 25 14:33:10 UTC 2005

Below is some information about my current (SuSE) config. Take a look at the 
various values concerning the drive geometry (CHS, Sects, LBA etc).

Based on the fact that I had similar issues with SuSE (I've got solved years 
ago) I'm quite sure the problem is that Fedora (Anaconda) uses wrong drive 
geometry values (probably due to misleading information from the BIOS) and 
therefore cannot read the partition data.

Remember, my problem is, how can I get started and make Fedora (or Anaconda 
or whatever causes the problem) using the correct drive geometry values, so 
it will access my disk properly.

-----------------------------------
leda:/home/peter # hdparm -iv /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
 multcount    = 16 (on)
 I/O support  =  1 (32-bit)
 unmaskirq    =  1 (on)
 using_dma    =  0 (off)
 keepsettings =  0 (off)
 nowerr       =  0 (off)
 readonly     =  0 (off)
 readahead    =  8 (on)
 geometry     = 82796/15/63, sectors = 78242976, start = 0

 Model=SAMSUNG SV4002H, FwRev=QP100-07, SerialNo=0413J1FT515266
 Config={ HardSect NotMFM HdSw>15uSec Fixed DTR>10Mbs }
 RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=38997, SectSize=619, ECCbytes=4
 BuffType=DualPortCache, BuffSize=1945kB, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=16
 CurCHS=17475/15/63, CurSects=-78446341, LBA=yes, LBAsects=78242976
 IORDY=yes, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
 PIO modes: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
 DMA modes: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 *udma2
 AdvancedPM=no
 Drive Supports : fastATA-1 ATA-2 ATA-3 ATA-4 ATA-5 ATA-6
 Kernel Drive Geometry LogicalCHS=82796/15/63 PhysicalCHS=82796/15/63

-----------------------------------
leda:/home/peter # scanpci

pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x00 function 0x00: vendor 0x1106 device 0x1595
 VIA  Device unknown

pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x02 function 0x00: vendor 0x100b device 0x0020
 NS  Device unknown

pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x04 function 0x00: vendor 0x0e11 device 0xae34
 Compaq Netellignet 10

pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x07 function 0x00: vendor 0x1106 device 0x0586
 VIA VT 82C586 MVP3 ISA Bridge

pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x07 function 0x01: vendor 0x1106 device 0x0571
 VIA VT 82C586 MVP3 IDE Bridge

pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x07 function 0x02: vendor 0x1106 device 0x3038
 VIA VT 82C586 MVP3 USB Controller

pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x07 function 0x03: vendor 0x1106 device 0x3040
 VIA VT 82C586B MVP3 ACPI Bridge

pci bus 0x0000 cardnum 0x0f function 0x00: vendor 0x5333 device 0x8901
 S3 Trio64V2/DX or /GX
leda:/etc #

-----------------------------------
in /etc/sysconfig/bootloader:
-----------------------------------
# Does the BIOS support LBA access.
#
LILO_LBA="yes"
-----------------------------------

-----------------------------------
in /etc/lilo.conf:
-----------------------------------
boot    = /dev/hda
change-rules
reset
read-only
menu-scheme = Wg:kw:Wg:Wg
lba32
prompt
timeout = 80
message = /boot/message

  image  = /boot/vmlinuz
  label  = linux
  root   = /dev/hda2
  vga    = 791
  initrd = /boot/initrd
  append = "ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off"

  image  = /boot/vmlinuz.suse
  label  = failsafe
  root   = /dev/hda2
  vga    = 791
  initrd = /boot/initrd.suse
  append = "ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off"
  optional

  image  = /boot/memtest.bin
  label  = memtest86
-----------------------------------

-----------------------------------
in /etc/fstab:
-----------------------------------
/dev/hda2       /       reiserfs        defaults 1 2
/dev/hda3       /data3  reiserfs        defaults 1 2
/dev/hda5       /local  reiserfs        defaults 1 2
/dev/hda6       /data6  reiserfs        defaults 1 2
/dev/hda7       /netusr reiserfs        defaults 1 2
devpts  /dev/pts        devpts  defaults 0 0
/dev/cdrom      /media/cdrom    auto    ro,noauto,user,exec 0 0
/dev/fd0        /media/floppy   auto    noauto,user,sync 0 0
usbdevfs        /proc/bus/usb   usbdevfs        noauto 0 0
proc    /proc   proc    defaults 0 0
/dev/hda1       swap    swap    pri=42 0 0

-----------------------------------

Isn't this fun, just like searching easter eggs?

Happy Easter!

Peter

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Gloor" <pgloor at gmx.net>
To: <fedora-list at redhat.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 10:20 PM
Subject: Anaconda: i/o error during read on /dev/hda

> Hello NG,
>
> Hmm, how to explain my problem? To make it short, I have a SuSE Linux 8.0 
> Professional installed on a Compaq Deskpro 2000 5166 MMX with a 40GB HDD 
> (Samsung SV4002H) and need to update to a newer kernel. At the same time I 
> wanted to switch from SuSE to Fedora Core 3.
>
> My HDD is devided into several partitions. One for the linux system 
> inclusive the standard packages, one for non-standard applications I use 
> (e.g. Lotus Domino) and one for data. Now, while keeping the data 
> partition, I simply wanted to reformat my existing linux partition and 
> install Fedora from scratch into the empty space I get.
>
> This is where the problem is. After starting from the first Fedora Core 3 
> CD and having selected the installation language, Anaconda pops up a 
> dialog with the message "Input/Output error during read on /dev/hda". 
> Regardless of what I'm trying to do (booting with params, rescue cd, etc) 
> I'm unable to reformat or recreate the partitions without loosing my data.
>
> However, even my SuSE installation has beed running for years (I startet 
> with SuSE Linux 6.x), I remember that I had a lot of problems with my 40GB 
> HDD until I reinstalled anything. When I reinstalled SuSE Linux I had to 
> manually change some drive geometry settings to overcome the problem that 
> SuSE did not properly calculate drive geometry settings (LDA/CHS etc ?) 
> due to a problem that the BIOS reported wrong or misleading information. 
> After I fixed this every thing was o.k.
>
> Now, I'm quite sure that Fedora has the same problem, but I don't know how 
> to get it fixed. I even don't remember how I did this one time action in 
> SuSE.
>
> I hope anybody has an Idea and can give me a hint how to get the problem 
> solved.
>
> Regards,
> Peter
>
>
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