Hi, I tried to install OpenSuse 12.1 x64 and received lots of errors.
Format error failure ext4, had problems writing a superblock. I tried to continue then got numerous Pkg errors, too many to count.
I tried to check the MD5 after that, used the MD5 checksum 22b4d6bfdb11f5bdd36a05f9968a780c and every download is mismatched to it. Plus all downloads, from direct link to mirrors all have the same checksum.
I am installing on an HP laptop; Pavilion DV6000. With 250gb WD hard drive.
The drive was previously formatted prior to instaling, completely wiped clean. Wrote zeros to the entire drive.
Please help.
Downloaded the OpenSuse ISO using a gateway laptop running Vista x64.
I hope this is enough info. I really want to get this baby installed.
I would love to use it.
-Michael
If the download checksum does not match it will not work. How and what was downloaded. there have been reports of ie having problems with 4+gig files. If that is all that is available try a CD image.
On 2012-02-20 21:06, rain922 wrote:
> Downloaded the OpenSuse ISO using a gateway laptop running Vista x64.
> I hope this is enough info. I really want to get this baby installed.
Whatever is in the hard disk is irrelevant. You have to concentrate on
downloading a iso image that verifies correctly. You may have a network
problem, and you don’t explain enough.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)
Yep I know, thats what I need help with, figuring how to get the checksum to match. I downloaded it using firefox, then chrome, then using firefox with the downloadthemall! add-on using the metalink, all with the same result.
I use a dlink router on my broadband cable connection. I have downloaded other ISO images with no problem, so it’s weird that it’s happening only with the Suse ISO. I can try from my wife’s Mac, or my old Dell laptop running XP. But there is really nothing significant obstructing the download. The checksum matched the NoOSS extra iso. A smaller download, but still worth mentioning.
On 02/20/2012 05:06 PM, rain922 wrote:
>
> Yep I know, thats what I need help with, figuring how to get the
> checksum to match. I downloaded it using firefox, then chrome, then
> using firefox with the downloadthemall! add-on using the metalink, all
> with the same result.
> I use a dlink router on my broadband cable connection. I have
> downloaded other ISO images with no problem, so it’s weird that it’s
> happening only with the Suse ISO. I can try from my wife’s Mac, or my
> old Dell laptop running XP. But there is really nothing significant
> obstructing the download. The checksum matched the NoOSS extra iso. A
> smaller download, but still worth mentioning.
What is the filesystem type that you are using on Windows? If it is not NTFS,
then the file size of the DVD is too large to work.
There are some network devices that have bugs in them that are pattern
dependent. When a specific set of bits passes through them, they mangle the
data. Perhaps your router or modem is one of these. If the Mac gets it wrong,
then that is likely the answer.
In either case, download either the KDE Live CD or the Gnome Live CD, depending
on what desktop you want. You can install from it, and it is a lot easier to
download. I never use any of the DVD images.
The filesystem im using is NTFS actually, but your live CD idea may work.
One question though, is the live CD version any different then the DVD version? I was afraid it was a slimmed down version. I never worked with a Live CD version before. So I suppose once installed onto the hard drive it may then be upgradable since the live CD version is non-upgradeable?
Thanks
On 2012-02-21 01:06, rain922 wrote:
> ne question though, is the live CD version any different then the DVD
> version? I was afraid it was a slimmed down version.
It is indeed different, but the end result is the same: the packages that
are not in the CD (it is smaller) will be downloaded later from internet.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)
How about the network install? Is that reliable?
Concerning the live CD, would the end result really be the same? I am not a linux power user and I have the feeling I would have to hunt down all the extra bits the Live CD version doesn’t contain. I wonder if Opensuse will really automatically just find and install all the things left out of the live CD version. The other issue would be if the install from live CD would format and create the partitions for me like the DVD version does.
I guess I just want to really make the end result is the same.
Thanks guys.
It does bug me that something is going on with the downloads of the ISO, I even used the bittorrent download and still the same thing. All the downloaded ISO’s have the same MD5, and they do not match the 22b4d6bfdb11f5bdd36a05f9968a780c checksum.
If its my system doing this, I would want to correct it.
The end result can always and easily made to be the same. That is if there are a few different packages not installed they can be installed via yast or zypper simply and quickly if needed. All the major stuff is the exactly the same. There maybe a few simply libraries that are different. I’m thinking of some 32 bit versions of libraries when installing a 64 bit system. These may be needed for installing third party stuff like Skype which is still 32bit only.
On 02/20/2012 10:26 PM, gogalthorp wrote:
>
> The end result can always and easily made to be the same. That is if
> there are a few different packages not installed they can be installed
> via yast or zypper simply and quickly if needed. All the major stuff is
> the exactly the same. There maybe a few simply libraries that are
> different. I’m thinking of some 32 bit versions of libraries when
> installing a 64 bit system. These may be needed for installing third
> party stuff like Skype which is still 32bit only.
The major differences in the various distribution options are as follows:
NET Install - Installation can be tailored at install time with all packages
downloaded at install time.
DVD Install - Installation can be tailored at install time with all pacdkages
coming from the DVD
Live CD - Fixed installation with everything coming from the CD. Tailoring is
done after installation with packages downloaded.
The path to reach the final results are different, but you absolutely end up in
the same place.
On 2012-02-21 03:46, rain922 wrote:
>
> How about the network install? Is that reliable?
As reliable as your connection to the installation server.
> Concerning the live CD, would the end result really be the same?
Yes 
The installation from CD is less adjustable initially, because there is no
space to make choices of what to install. And you have only two or three
languages. Initially, because once installed you can adjust anything.
> I am
> not a linux power user and I have the feeling I would have to hunt down
> all the extra bits the Live CD version doesn’t contain. I wonder if
> Opensuse will really automatically just find and install all the things
> left out of the live CD version.
Contrary to Windows, we can get almost every piece of software using a
central application, YaST package manager, and it will automatically know
where to get them from internet, from the same place. There are thousands
of applications to choose from, you don’t have to hunt them all over
internet. You just browse the list and choose which one in YaST.
As always there are exceptions, like multimedia, which we get from a
different repo (packman) or proprietary video drivers from NVidia or ATI.
And this is the same regardless of how you installed first.
> The other issue would be if the install
> from live CD would format and create the partitions for me like the DVD
> version does.
Yes, of course, it is the same program.
> It does bug me that something is going on with the downloads of the
> ISO, I even used the bittorrent download and still the same thing. All
> the downloaded ISO’s have the same MD5, and they do not match the
> 22b4d6bfdb11f5bdd36a05f9968a780c checksum.
> If its my system doing this, I would want to correct it.
Yes, but we don’t know what it is. The main guess would be a proxy or a
weird hardware error… are you at home, or using a corporate or college
network?
You could try using a different basic protocol. I think you are using hhtp,
you could try ftp. But if you already tried bittorrent, there is little
hope of success.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)
Ok, so I managed to get a validated MD5 matching hash by downloading the DVD iso from my wife’s mac.
Unfortunately when I go to install I get the same exact error!
Failure occurred during following action:
formatting partition /dev/sda3 (210.88 GB) with ext4
System error code was: -3008
/sbin/mke2fs -0 dir index -m0.5 -t ext4 -v ‘/dev/sda3’
warning, had trouble writing out superblocks
continuing just produces even more errors.
What the heck is wrong with the install disk!
On 02/21/2012 06:56 PM, rain922 wrote:
>
> Ok, so I managed to get a validated MD5 matching hash by downloading the
> DVD iso from my wife’s mac.
> Unfortunately when I go to install I get the same exact error!
>
> Failure occurred during following action:
> formatting partition /dev/sda3 (210.88 GB) with ext4
>
> System error code was: -3008
>
> /sbin/mke2fs -0 dir index -m0.5 -t ext4 -v ‘/dev/sda3’
>
> warning, had trouble writing out superblocks
>
> continuing just produces even more errors.
> What the heck is wrong with the install disk!
Did you check the disk from the boot menu item?
Here are a few suggestions and observations…
Use GParted – Live CD/USB/PXE/HD to manage and modify your partitions. If you modify a Windows accessible partition, the next time you boot Windows it will automatically execute a chdisk, otherwise most if not all your partitioning should be done using that tool, preparing for whatever you want (including making space for a multi-boot OS like openSUSE). Formatting the space for openSUSE is optional and possibly not recommended since the openSUSE install itself will recommend how to further partition the free space.
I’m almost certain that whatever is causing your initial disk problems, partitioning and/or formatting with gparted live will solve your problems.
Remember that you can’t install Linux on NTFS, you might have been pointing your install at least in part to an existing NTFS partition.
Regardless what install media you decide to use, I <highly> recommend having a working DVD ISO handy because it affords you the greatest possible options notwithstanding what others have posted in this thread…
Network Install ISO - Smallest install media, only enables you to bootstrap the install, pointing entirely to online sources. Highly dependent on a fast, reliable and uncongested network connection.
LiveCD ISO - Although it can be used like a Network Install ISO, it also gives you the opportunity to run a working OS off your optical player (CDROM or DVDROM) if needed. Still, like the Network Install ISO, all install sources will be online so requires a fast, reliable and uncongested network connection.
DVD ISO - Because a full set of sources is included on the DVD, you have options whether to force latest packages from online sources or install completely from the DVD before updating later to latest packages or some combination. Because with the DVD install a highly reliable network connection is not critical, you won’t be looking at a failed mess in any but the rarest of situations and will almost be certain to resolve any problem even if no network connection or online repositories are not available.
PS: A DVD can be downloaded and installed not only to NTFS partitions but also FAT32 partitiions. You won’t be able to install them on the old 16-bit FAT partitions.
IMO and HTH,
TS
Not sure if this helps, but several versions ago, I downloaded the new shiny ISO installation image on my trusted workstation … then all hell broke loose when installing the upgrade to my other machines. I initially thought “Oh ****” a new buggy kernel/driver/installer with this version - I’ll give this broken version a miss.
Three days afterwards, my untouched trusted workstation started mis-behaving. Poking around, I gave MemTest86 a whirl (sure takes a while on 16Gb !!), turns out that big bunch of memory was dropping bits on one of the modules. A quick check (on the install menu) on that new installation DVD, and a subsequent md5sum against the DL’d ISO showed that I’d DL’d/saved a garbage ISO, then burned the garbage ISO to a garbage DVD!
I now save the md5 signature alongside each ISO during the DL, then md5sum the ISO on the archive server. When burning the “master” install DVD, I’ll have k3b use the “verify” option to make sure I get a good slow burn. If it’s an important machine, I’ll even let the installer DVD check itself out (on that first menu) just to make sure the client’s DVD-reader/memory isn’t making trouble.
Indeed, on a related note, I once downloaded a .iso file, and performed the md5sum which passed. I then copied the .iso over our home LAN to another PC (so as to burn the DVD on the other PC on the LAN). But the DVD I burned on the other PC was acting up during the install when I went to use it. It turns out the .iso was corrupted during the home LAN file transfer. … Lesson learned, and like you I now keep the md5 signature, and check the md5sum again after any internal home LAN transfers.
Thanks for your help, I may try your solution.
But One thing boggles me here is, I did Format the drive with complete zero’s using NTFS format to get it ready for OpenSuse. OpenSuse then reformats the drive to its needs, why would the reformat fail? It’s wiping all the data.
Also, I do not have Windows installed on this drive, nor do I plan on it. The drive is completely empty except whatever OpenSuse has put on it.
Also, I am starting to think, it really shouldn’t be this hard.
Six years ago I installed OpenSuse and it was super simple, this time, not so much as you can see. I’m really just ready to move on and Not install it, just install Windows which really is simple and call it a day. But thats not what I really want to do.
I will be using OpenSuse for my home computer and right now I am wondering two things; is it worth it? And will this buggy trend continue once I do get it installed?
Because if it does, then all this effort is for nothing.
In reply to the other posts; I downloaded this one on my wife’s mac which validated the MD5, and I also burned it on the same mac. In my opinion I think this version of OpenSuse may be a lemon. The problem certainly wasn’t the way it was downloaded, nor the DVD’s I’m using, nor the computers.
rain922 wrote:
> Ok, so I managed to get a validated MD5 matching hash by downloading the
> DVD iso from my wife’s mac.
You have checked the DVD MD5 as well as the ISO file you downloaded?
> Unfortunately when I go to install I get the same exact error!
>
> Failure occurred during following action:
> formatting partition /dev/sda3 (210.88 GB) with ext4
>
> System error code was: -3008
Googling that doesn’t show me anything conclusive but in at least a
couple of cases the problem turned out to be a faulty disk. So that
would be high on my list of suspects. If you have any possibility to try
a different disk, I suggest you do so.
What is in the logs after this error occurs? I’m not sure whether it
would be /var/log/messages or /var/log/syslog or maybe somewhere else.
> Also, I am starting to think, it really shouldn’t be this hard.
> Six years ago I installed OpenSuse and it was super simple, this time,
> not so much as you can see.
It should be pretty simple and it is most times for most people. But
there’s something unusual happening this time for you. I feel sure we’ll
figure it out if you stick with it a bit longer.
On 2012-02-22 07:06, oldcpu wrote:
> Indeed, on a related note, I once downloaded a .iso file, and performed
> the md5sum which passed. I then copied the .iso over our home LAN to
> another PC (so as to burn the DVD on the other PC on the LAN). But the
> DVD I burned on the other PC was acting up during the install when I
> went to use it. It turns out the .iso was corrupted during the home LAN
> file transfer. … Lesson learned, and like you I now keep the md5
> signature, and check the md5sum again after any internal home LAN
> transfers.
That’s a pain!
That we can not reliably copy files means we should have the possibility to
copy and check on the fly.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)
On 2012-02-22 12:26, rain922 wrote:
>
> Thanks for your help, I may try your solution.
> But One thing boggles me here is, I did Format the drive with complete
> zero’s using NTFS format to get it ready for OpenSuse. OpenSuse then
> reformats the drive to its needs, why would the reformat fail? It’s
> wiping all the data.
Something weird is going on with your machine. Download fails any method,
now format corruption… I’m thinking you may have a faulty disk or faulty
memory.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)