"Can't find Antix filesystem, sorry." frustrating woe

ArconsII · posted: 2010-08-26 22:38

Computer:
Dell Latitude x200, 800mhz processor, 384mb of RAM.

I have tried both CD-ROM burns and USB boots, all with no avail. I have tested both my boot sources on other computers, and they function properly. I have tried rootdelay=15 and 60.

I've browsed this forum for a solution, but haven't found a specific one.

Has anyone else encountered this, or should I give up?

oldhoghead · posted: 2010-08-26 22:42

Did you try to hit f3 after the grub boot screen comes up and choose vesa, also there are a number of cheat codes to boot with, under antix extra options, on an older machine, you might try the nodma cheat and see how that works

cheers,
oldhoghead

secipolla · posted: 2010-08-26 23:27

What you could try is either to edit the ISO file (with isomaster) or to rearrange the files in the USB drive, changing the place where the"antix" file is (I think by default it's inside an"antix" folder) and then editing GRUB's menu.lst and adding the rootfs= cheatcode poiting exactly to that"antix" file.
I don't know if there's a how to for that somewhere (should be in the wiki, anybody can add if it isn't) but there's a full and easy to understand how to for that when you boot the CD and hit F1. Browse the help options and buried in there you'll find how to change the location of the antix file and how to point to it from the kernel line in /boot/grub/menu.lst (the cheatcode can be added manually at boot time also).

ArconsII · posted: 2010-08-27 01:26

I tried a rootfs=(kernel location) after extracting the file from the iso, but no luck. When booting the kernel, it appears that it fails to load the drivers for the USB/cdrom device, as the drive(s) shows now sign of activity while it searches for its filesystem.

This sounds like a hardware incompatibility...would I have to recompile anything?

secipolla · posted: 2010-08-27 11:28

I don't know how you could make antiX work if it's a kernel problem.

But if you want to install a Debian based o.s. there you could go for
========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/index.en.html"
linktext was:"Debian netinst"
====================================
itself.

If you want IceWM, then after the base system is installed, you manually install:

Code: Select all

apt-get install alsa-base xorg slim icewm iceape pcmanfm

You can replace iceape for iceweasel if you prefer or pcmanfm for rox-filer or thunar.
Then install your preferred applications, like text editor, archiver etc. afterwards.

The only thing you may have to enhance from Debian's default installation is /etc/apt/sources.list, adding contrib and non-free sections and other useful repositories.

Below is my file, which has a lot of extra stuff, just to get an idea:

Code: Select all

# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux testing _Squeeze_ - Official Snapshot i386 NETINST Binary-1 20100217-22:18]/ squeeze main

#############################################################
################### OFFICIAL DEBIAN REPOS ###################
#############################################################

###### Debian Main Repos
# deb http://ftp.br.debian.org/debian/ squeeze main contrib non-free
# deb http://sft.if.usp.br/debian/ squeeze main contrib non-free
# deb-src http://sft.if.usp.br/debian/ squeeze main contrib non-free

deb http://ftp.br.debian.org/debian/ sid main contrib non-free
# deb http://sft.if.usp.br/debian/ sid main contrib non-free

deb http://ftp.br.debian.org/debian/ experimental main contrib non-free
# deb http://sft.if.usp.br/debian/ experimental main contrib non-free

###### Debian Security Update Repos
# deb http://security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib non-free
# deb-src http://security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib non-free

##############################################################
##################### UNOFFICIAL  REPOS ######################
##############################################################

###### 3rd Party Binary Repos

#### Debian Multimedia - http://www.debian-multimedia.org/
## Run this command: apt-get update && apt-get install debian-multimedia-keyring && apt-get update
deb http://www.debian-multimedia.org/ sid main non-free

#### E17 - http://enlightenment.org
## Run this command: wget -q http://packages.enlightenment.org/repo.key -O- | apt-key add -
deb http://packages.enlightenment.org/debian sid main extras

#### Google Linux Software Repositories - http://www.google.com
## Run this command: wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | apt-key add - && apt-get update  
deb http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/ stable non-free main

#### Google Linux Software Repositories (testing) - http://www.google.com
## Run this command: wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | apt-key add - && apt-get update  
deb http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/ testing non-free

#### VirtualBox - http://www.virtualbox.org
## Run this command: wget -q http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian/oracle_vbox.asc -O- | apt-key add -
deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian squeeze non-free

#### sidux
# deb http://sidux.c3sl.ufpr.br/debian/ sid main

#### Liquorix kernels
deb http://liquorix.net/debian sid main

#### PPA for Shutter
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/shutter/ppa/ubuntu lucid main
# deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/shutter/ppa/ubuntu lucid main

#### Ubuntuzilla for Firefox
deb http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/ubuntuzilla/mozilla/apt all main

ArconsII · posted: 2010-08-27 14:43

Would it be possible to install it on another computer, then copy the installed files to the computer I want it on?

Otherwise I might try your net debian method....

anticapitalista · posted: 2010-08-27 16:26

You could try that.

Have you tried a fromiso install?

You'll need a separate partition though.

========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://antix.mepis.com/index.php/Installation_Tips"
linktext was:"http://antix.mepis.com/index.php/Installation_Tips"
====================================

PS: I had a similar problem with an old desktop. I tested all the connectors for cdrom drive and hard disk and tried again and it worked.

secipolla · posted: 2010-08-27 19:08

If it still doesn't work after checking the connectors...what files do you want to copy?
For instance, if you want antiX's configurations in its home folder, you can just copy the contents from the live-CD either from /home/demo itself or from /etc/skel and put in your Debian installation's home folder. There's no need to install it in another computer just for that, of course. You'll have to copy them to a flash drive or a CD-R/RW.

bdmc · posted: 2010-10-12 18:32

I have been having exactly the same issue as the OP. I have an older ThinkPad, and it has been very frustrating.

I tried burning several different CDs with 8.5, with no success beyond the Grub menu, so I decided to try the"fromiso" method as described in the web site and above. I will go back and try some of the"cheat codes" described above later.

With the FromISO method, I am getting the"Can't find antiX filesystem" message every time. I have tried different versions ( base, full, 486, 686 ). I have tried putting the vmlinuz and initrd into my"main" boot partition, where Grub lives. I have tried several different partitions, as well as both USB and an LVM one. The fact that I am getting the same error no matter what I do, says that the problem is not with anything that I am trying.

You talk about editing the ISO and rearranging the files in the USB. Since there are only three files in there, the vmlinuz, the initrd and the ISO itself, what do you mean by rearranging?

You suggest reading"F1" from the CD boot, so I will try that too.

I really look forward to trying antiX, but am getting just a bit frustrated by the install process.

plvera · posted: 2010-10-12 19:10

bdmc:

I can't get the live CD to run in an old Dell inspiron laptop, unless I type"nodma" (without the quotes) at the end of the boot line (in grub)

I suggest trying that and hope it works.

good luck!
Pedro

oldhoghead · posted: 2010-10-12 19:37

Also you might try to go into your bios and set the cdrom to boot 1st, I had to do that on an old dell to get it to read the cd, otherwise it would not find it.

cheers,
ohh

bdmc · posted: 2010-10-12 23:53

OHH - Yes, it was set as the first boot device already. Otherwise it would have booted from the hard drive and not even tried to boot the CD-ROM.

Pedro - Well, I tried nodma, but that didn't seem to correct the ( all of the ) issue. I get an Error 25: Read Error shortly after it tries to boot.

I tried putting the Debian NetInstall ISO on the USB stick and the kernel and initrd on my main /boot partition, added it to Grub and rebooted. Almost complete success. I didn't have the wireless card inserted when I first ran the installer, and it didn't find that card when I tried doing it after the fact. It did find the wired Ethernet card, though, and looks as if it will run successfully.

Just for fun, I am going to try running that kernel and initrd against the antiX-M8.5-686.iso file and see what happens. Can't be any worse than the current behaviour.

Brian

bdmc · posted: 2010-10-13 12:42

Well, it looks as if the Debian NetInstall Kernel and InitRD ignored the"fromiso" parameter and went out and hunted for the Debian ISO that I had on another partition.

I wound up with most of a Debian NetInstall after things finished. It still wanted to install Grub 2, but I think I managed to forestall that, because I have had issues in the past with these automatic installers losing other installations when they install Grub 2.

Maybe I will see if I can prepare an antiX"fromiso" installation from the USB stick, but making use of the PLoP Boot Manager that I thought that someone here had recommended.

Onward?

wayne128 · posted: 2010-10-13 16:18

you might want to read my posts on this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=40&t=2683

I used the procedure ( link provided in the post) and I was able to boot iso from hard disk for antiX 8.2, antiX 8.5 and some other distros, and now I am enjoying saving DVD/CD, especially when I test alpha, beta, rc..

regarding your note on losing OS after grub2 installation. I think what might happen was you select boot loader to overwrite MBR. If such is the case, then you could still boot those old OS that used grub, the way around is inplicitly on the boot selection screen, something like:
1. choose your old OS by moving cursor, but do not hit enter
2. hit e
3. on new pop up, move cursor to a place where (hdx,y), move cursor to y and change it to y-1.
4. ctrl-x.
old OS will boot as per old installation.