Attempting to install 12.1 64 bit from DVD on ASUS AMD Phenom system RAID mirroring (2 disks) in dual boot with Windows 7 on separate physical drive (just one disk). The processes pauses for very long periods of time (10 minutes sometimes) then continues. Process also hangs and will go no further, usually during the final file install phase. ISO checksum is good. DVD verified after burning. Any thoughts on this? Thanks.
And the RAiD? How is it built? Did you try to install on a spare single disk?
I should have provided a little more background. I have had 11.4 installed and working fine on this system for a long time now. Before that was running 11.3 and my experience goes back to 11.1. So I don’t think the RAID build is the issue. In fact, 11.4 was working fine on this system until I attempted to upgrade. Also have tried fresh install option.
Also, the RAID is set up in BIOS, not using the openSUSE utility. The BIOS settings are correct and the RAID utility for my motherboard indicates that the RAID array is healthy. It is RAID 1 (mirroring). I attempted to complete the install and this time the process hung at 52% during the file installation phase of the install. For now I am using Windows.
I don’t work with RAID and know virtually nothing of it, except that people use it then they don’t really need it and it does seem to be an issue during installation, but as to why, I don’t know. But I do know, where folks decide to drop RAID in favour of traditional partitioning, the problem at install go away.
Why would you do RAID on a single disk it adds nothing except headaches
OK. First off, the RAID is a RAID 1 mirror (2 disks). Last night I went into my system BIOS and the BIOS RAID utility and broke the RAID. Then I proceeded to attempt to install 12.1 on just one of the disks that was part of the RAID, but is now just an independent single disk. Guess what? Same problem. Long pauses (from a few minutes to over 10) at the initial splash screen, during system analysis (when it searches for Linux partitions), after I select Gnome and during the file installation phase. It eventually hung and would go no further. 
Look at these
https://picasaweb.google.com/107564133608385811033/121_kde_LiveCD_Install
https://picasaweb.google.com/107564133608385811033/114_DVD_Install
Update: Looked at the tutorial screenshots. Thanks, but did not find any info that helped me with installing 12.1. What a pain and a waste of time. Anyway, since I was not able to install on single disk, I re-enabled RAID in my BIOS and rebuilt the RAID 1 mirror with the two disks I was using previously. Then I proceeded to attempt to install 12.1. I did the check of the installation media, and the install proceeded, so I assume the disk must be good. Just in case it might help, I disabled installing from images so that it would have to write all the files to the disks, but it obviously didn’t help.
Anyway, I made two attempts to install and both hung at the exact same point. During the file installation phase on the details screen, the process hangs at the moment “Installing Kernal-desktop-3.1.0-1.2.1.x86_64.rpm (installed size 144.00 MB)” reaches 100%.
Luckily GRUB works. When system boots I am presented with choice and Windows still loads. 
I am about ready to either go back to 11.4 or try another distro.
Did you try to disable ACPI completely during the setup? This causes sometimes issues like the one you described.
In BIOS? OK, I will try that and see what happens. Thanks.
The only item I see in BIOS that is labeled ACPI is an option to choose the type. The choices are S1, S3, S1 and S3. There is no “Disable” option. I will read up on this. I’m thinking that S1 is the best setting to try. I found a power option for AMD processors (what I have) and disabled it. Will report back.
I think he meant at boot in grub screen type acpi=no I believe.
acpi=off
I recall a similar issue
The user managed the install with the Live CD
http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/install-boot-login/467755-opensuse-12-1-install-hangs-kernel-desktop-3-1-0-1-2-1-x86_64-rpm.html#post2404628
yes, I am sorry. I should have been a bit more verbose. I meant to pass to grub acpi=off as often the install does not work with a faulty htep table or some other vendor / producer error. Once the system is installed there is normally no problem to reactivate the acpi by taking off the value. Sorry, I was offline, so I am aware I was not clear.
Thought you were talking about a BIOS setting. How exactly do I “pass to grub acpi=off”? When, where, how? Thanks.
By the way, made changes in BIOS and this made no difference.
At the grub boot menu just type it.
During installation from DVD? Are talking about the Grub boot menu on my system? If so, how will this impact the install from DVD? Are taking about the initial menu where you choose between installation, rescue etc.?
They mean at the boot screen where you select ‘Installation’
Just press the relevant F1,2,3,4,5 to access different settings for booting.
Or try the Live CD as I suggested
OK, found the options on the installation disk welcome screen. I selected “no acpi”. First issue i encountered is not USB mouse or keyboard support. So, found an old keyboard and plugged it in. luckily my motherboard has a legacy PS2 plug. The installation proceeded and completed. Only problem is it is useless. it won’t recognize my usb keyboard or mouse and won’t power my usb headset. Furthermore, I cannot navigate the desktop with my PS2 keyboard.
So how do i fix this?