Problem with partitions while installation process FC14

[dr_pompeii]

Dear Members

I have a new Hard Disk SAMSUNG 500GB

I used to work with Fedora Core since version 01
these last months I worked with FC 12-13

Normally I create the follow partitions

• swap
• / (ext3)
• /home (ext3)
• NTFS
• FAT32

I have 3 Gigas on RAM and for my HD of 500GB

I always make the follow sizes

• SWAP = 1GB to avoid waste 5GB, I mean 3*2=6-1=5,
• / = 50GB
• /home = 170GB

My previous hard disk crashed and there FC 13 was installed, now with this new Hard Disk I am trying to install FC14,

When I am on the Which type of installation would you like? step I choice the create custom layout option to select the specific partitions to install FC 14, normally I use my three partitions already created with Partion Magic 8.0 (yes very old, but work, other times I use GParted) and select the respective type like swap, /, /home,

but after to do this and press next I receive a message about of a possible bug, I dont know how save all this huge error stack trace to a USB for example, but below I am posting the most important part

Local variables in innermost frame:
pagesize:4096
argv: ['/dev/sda1']
priority: None
num: 4096
sig: SWAPSPACE2
rc:255
device:/dev/sda1
fd:18

and

19:53:25,520 WARNING Kernel: [156.458644] 
Swap area shorter than signature indicates

I don't have any idea what is wrong, I use the same approach since FC 08 and always work, but now no, please I need some guidance

Thanks in advanced

[stoat]

I don't really know what is wrong. Sorry. But in Anaconda when you select the partitions that you prepared in advance, are you allowing Anaconda to format them? If not, I would do that. And I can't think of a reason not to do that in this case.

Another idea is to start again and get back to the disk druid in Anaconda. Then use the disk druid to delete those three partitions and to create three new ones. The disk druid in Anaconda can't do everything that a full featured partition manager can do, but it sure can delete and create partitions. And it's usually possible to exert considerable control over the resulting layout by the order in which the new partitions are created and with the "Force to be primary" checkbox (be careful with that).

[dr_pompeii]

Hello stoat

Thanks for the reply

But in Anaconda when you select the partitions that you prepared in advance, are you allowing Anaconda to format them?

I already have created and formatted my Linux partitions to ext3 format, because Partion Magic no offer ext4.

Anyway Anaconda is able to let me format to ext4 and I did it, but Anaconda do not let me format the swap partition ( Partition Magic yes)

Even when I format again with Anaconda I have this weird error

Another idea is to start again and get back to the disk druid in Anaconda. Then use the disk druid to delete those three partitions and to create three new ones. The disk druid in Anaconda can't do everything that a full featured partition manager can do, but it sure can delete and create partitions.

I understand, I will try first with the last version available of GParted 0.8.0-1 and if all fails I will use the same druid

And it's usually possible to exert considerable control over the resulting layout by the order in which the new partitions are created and with the "Force to be primary" checkbox (be careful with that).

I recall have seen such checkbox option, I don't understand very well such option, I used to work with dedicated tools to do the partitions, but I want avoid do some suicide experiments anyway


I have two more questions

1) Could you provide me please a link explain the differences among ext2 3 and 4? I want to know the advantages on Fedora Core

2) This FC 14 has some special or different approach of work against the previous versions? (about the work with the partitions), first time I have this weird behavior

I want to share the follow too

1) In the step called What type of devices will your installation involve, I choice the option Basic Storage Devices since my Samsung is SATA , Am I correct right? ( I always choice this option for previous FC versions)

2) In the step Which type of installation would you like? If I choice the second option Replace Existing Linux System(s) and the checkbox below called Review and modify partitioning layout I see that Linux create something like the follow structure

LVM Volume Groups
  VolGroup 221440
     lv_root 51200     /         ext4
     lv_home 165312 /home ext4
     lv_swap 4928                swap

Hard drives
   sda
       sad1    500   /boot   ext4
       sda2
           sda5  ........

After to choice this option I can install FC14. (BTW what means the LVM elements?)

Well I guess I did a mistake aborting the installation, I did realize Partion Magic can't see now the new structure of my hard disk anymore, but GParted yes, I deleted all these new weird partitions (my NTFS and FAT32 was untouched by Druid but Windows has gone when I deleted these new weird partitions, well is a new hard disk, so this is acceptable)

Your guidance is valuable, I am really wondered about all this new experience

My Best Regards

[stoat]

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

I deleted all these new weird partitions (my NTFS and FAT32 was untouched by Druid but Windows has gone when I deleted these new weird partitions

Windows may not be harmed. Maybe only its boot loader was overwritten with GRUB. It's normal. It happens all the time. If what I just said is true, then you can either tweak GRUB to boot Windows, or restore the Windows boot loader and tweak it to boot Fedora.

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

what means the LVM elements?

It means Logical Volume Management. It's a way of managing and allocating hard drive storage space using logical volumes to contain filesystems like you otherwise would use partitions. But logical volumes can be spanned across multiple hard drives and give the appearance of a single large filesystem. The filesystems reside in the logical volumes which are grouped into volume groups which are grouped into physical volumes which reside in partitions on the hard drives. It's useful for creating a huge system on multiple hard drives. That's my best attempt at explaining it. There is plenty more on the Internet and it's easy to find. The LVM advocates and purists can explain many advantages for anyone and any system using LVM, but for a typical home computer it is more likely to be a vast layer of software complexity overlying the filesystems that greatly inflames and exaggerates partition management and emergencies. All of the above is my opinion and not universally agreed with.

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

If I choice the second option Replace Existing Linux System(s) and the checkbox below called Review and modify partitioning layout I see that Linux create something like the follow structure...

LVM has been the default partition layout in Fedora for a long time. All of those default partition options in Anaconda will create an LVM partition layout. That decision has been debated here many times. If you don't want LVM, then choose the partition option "Create custiom layout". The next screen is the disk druid which is sort of a partition manager with which you can delete and edit existing partitions or create new ones. You can choose from a variety of filesystem types.

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

In the step called What type of devices will your installation involve, I choice the option Basic Storage Devices since my Samsung is SATA , Am I correct right?

Yes. It's what I do anyway.

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

This FC 14 has some special or different approach of work against the previous versions?

Maybe so. Fedora is changing all the time. People that use Fedora are required to learn to like that aspect of Fedora. There are many other Linux distros that change less and less often.

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

Could you provide me please a link explain the differences among ext2 3 and 4?

That information is easy to find on the Internet. They basically just represent improvements and advancement of the extended filesystem for Linux. The ext3 system had journalling. The ext4 filesystem has a bunch of new features. By now, I think most people trust and accept the ext4 filesystem. I haven't read about any problems with it (which doesn't really mean anything, of course).

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

Anyway Anaconda is able to let me format to ext4 and I did it, but Anaconda do not let me format the swap partition ( Partition Magic yes)

Even when I format again with Anaconda I have this weird error

I haven't had this problem myself. I don't recall reading about it here before now, and Fedora 14 was released in November. I really think it will go away if you let Anaconda create your partitions. At least try letting Anaconda create a new swap since that seems to be the issue.

[dr_pompeii]

Hello stoat

Thanks a lot for the reply and by take your time on writing your explanation

Windows may not be harmed. Maybe only its boot loader was overwritten with GRUB. It's normal. It happens all the time. If what I just said is true, then you can either tweak GRUB to boot Windows, or restore the Windows boot loader and tweak it to boot Fedora.

I am agree, GRUB is inoffensive, but since I used the option (just doing an experiment) Replace Existing Linux System(s) and selecting the checkbox below called Review and modify partitioning layout and Linux create the LVM structure, and NTFS and FAT32 are untouched, and after to abort the installation I got an error message that some .dll from C:\windows\system32 has gone, Windows death

It means Logical Volume Management. It's a way of managing and allocating hard drive storage space using logical volumes to contain filesystems like you otherwise would use partitions. But logical volumes can be spanned across multiple hard drives and give the appearance of a single large filesystem. The filesystems reside in the logical volumes which are grouped into volume groups which are grouped into physical volumes which reside in partitions on the hard drives. It's useful for creating a huge system on multiple hard drives. That's my best attempt at explaining it. There is plenty more on the Internet and it's easy to find. The LVM advocates and purists can explain many advantages for anyone and any system using LVM, but for a typical home computer it is more likely to be a vast layer of software complexity overlying the filesystems that greatly inflames and exaggerates partition management and emergencies. All of the above is my opinion and not universally agreed with.

Thanks a lot for the explanation I appreciate your time

LVM has been the default partition layout in Fedora for a long time. All of those default partition options in Anaconda will create an LVM partition layout. That decision has been debated here many times. If you don't want LVM, then choose the partition option "Create custiom layout". The next screen is the disk druid which is sort of a partition manager with which you can delete and edit existing partitions or create new ones. You can choose from a variety of filesystem types.

I never seen before about the Blue part, I think because always I used to work with the orange part

Maybe so. Fedora is changing all the time. People that use Fedora are required to learn to like that aspect of Fedora. There are many other Linux distros that change less and less often.

Some URL from the same Fedora Core documentation should be available for this case if exists

That information is easy to find on the Internet. They basically just represent improvements and advancement of the extended filesystem for Linux. The ext3 system had journalling. The ext4 filesystem has a bunch of new features. By now, I think most people trust and accept the ext4 filesystem. I haven't read about any problems with it (which doesn't really mean anything, of course).

OK, I thought that some internal documentation from Fedora Core itself could be already available about this, thats was my point

Anyway I found out the error and I had a successful installation

I forgot to do the format for the swap partition, I could swear that before I never did this and all goes well, I formatted with Druid and all goes well, but like playing, I aborted the installation process and re create all the partitions with GParted 0.8.0-1 since it support ext4 (GoodBye Partition Magic) and with such tool I did the respective format to swap partition and for the other partitions (ext4,NTFS,Fat32), After this, Druid no throw the ugly exception again never more

Wondered by the druid no told me explicitly the real problem

Again thanks a lot

[stoat]

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

I got an error message that some .dll from C:\windows\system32 has gone, Windows death

Not necessarily. This is XP we're talking about, right? That message probably was referring to hal.dll...

Windows could not start because the following
file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\System32\hal.dll
Please reinstall a copy of the above file.

That error message is well-known to me (I copied the one above from my notes about this). There are circumstances that it appears but is completely bogus. That error message can appear when a partition is deleted "in front of" the Windows partition which has the effect of misconfiguring the boot.ini file of Windows. It can be fixed by editing the boot.ini file (or by recreating a new partition to replace the deleted one, of course). I have personally experienced this before.

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

I never seen before about the Blue part, I think because always I used to work with the orange part

So do I.

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

Some URL from the same Fedora Core documentation should be available for this case if exists

It does.

http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/index.html

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

Anyway I found out the error and I had a successful installation

Very well.

Originally Posted by dr_pompeii

I aborted the installation process and re create all the partitions with GParted 0.8.0-1 since it support ext4

Okay, but just to be clear, the Fedora 14 disk druid can format ext4 partitions, too.

[dr_pompeii]

Hello stoat

Thanks a lot for your time and reply and I apologize for my huge delay on this reply

This is XP we're talking about, right?

Yes, XP

That message probably was referring to hal.dll...

Yes the same

That error message is well-known to me (I copied the one above from my notes about this). There are circumstances that it appears but is completely bogus. That error message can appear when a partition is deleted "in front of" the Windows partition which has the effect of misconfiguring the boot.ini file of Windows.

I understand now

It can be fixed by editing the boot.ini file

this has sense

(or by recreating a new partition to replace the deleted one, of course). I have personally experienced this before.

Thanks a lot for the explanation

Thanks a lot for your time friend!