We had a server get nailed recently. No biggy, average hack job. Did standard wipe hard drive n reinstall. Problem is it goes so far and freezes on the reinstall.

System specs - Gigabyte MB, WD HD.
OS - Mandrake 8

The first pass thru it got started to save to HD right after the X config n froze. Ever since then it freezes right after Network config.

I did a full wipe of the hard drive and have tested both the HD and MB using manufacturer tools and PCCheck..both come up fine. I reset the MBR, still no luck. I used linux fdisk to wipe out all the partitions n reset them up, still no go. >< I'm stumped. :eek: Any Ideas?

Danke.

How big is the hard drive, ive noticed odd problems when the hard drive is over 30gigs with mandrake

Hard drive is a WD 20 GB ATA66

It freezes right after/when writing the bootloader to disk. I'm puzzled cuz it all worked fine previously.

Ok, its getting weirder....

I pulled the 20GB HD, stuck in a 1.6GB spare, install of ML 8 went no problem.

Put 20GB back in, still freezes.

Dig out ML 7.2, install works fine.

immediately go "upgrade" with ML 8 CD's, and it freezes again. almost Always freezes right after it installs the bootloader...though a few times it gets to X install n then freezes.

I swapped out memory, same problem. I'm starting to lean towards it being the UATA controller on the MB, based on install freeze reports I've seen floating around.

This system was running fine for about 24-28 days. MB is new, so it CPU (tbird), HD is about a year old.

I can install ML 7.2, but not 8....oh and winblows98 goes on fine. >>>_<<< Gods, this is getting to be a PITA!!!!

Motherboards a Gigabyte GA-7ZX with a Western Digital 20GB UATA 66 drive. :confused: :eek:

i'm braindead at this point. :(

I would suggest trying to do the install with IDE controller set U/ATA 33 instead of 66. It's worth a shot atleast.

dumb question time.... How do I do that?

thanks