Refuses to install

[ddalley]

I am trying to install using a download from a torrent, so it is complete and checksums properly. However, it always stops when it gets to "Setting hostname". I have retried installing numerous times and I have tried to USB mem-sticks as the install medium.

I don't see any other complaints of this happening, so what are my options?

[austin.texas]

More info, please
What flavor of Mint?
Dual-installation?
UEFI?
What kind of computer?

[ddalley]

Not really a dual-install, but an install to a USB mem-stick that had LM on it before, so I am pretty sure the sticks should work. I have tried two, so far.

LMDE MATE 32-bit, but the 64-bit Cinnamon version hasn't been successful, either.

UEFI? I don't think so. This desktop computer is a few years old.

[Monsta]

However, it always stops when it gets to "Setting hostname".

Is that during the Live DVD boot or during the installation? If it's the installer's message, please run it from the terminal:

Code: Select all

gksu live-installer

and post the output from the terminal here.

[ddalley]

It worked up to the same point, then stopped, so I closed the installer.

gksu live-installer
glibtop: Non-standard uts for running kernel:
release 3.11-2-486=3.11.0 gives version code 199424

No translation found, switching back to English
Color: #ff0001
Image: /usr/share/live-installer/timezone/timezone_-6.0.png
Color: #ff2a2a
Image: /usr/share/live-installer/timezone/timezone_-5.0.png
Failed to mount /dev/sdb3
## INSTALLATION
Template path: /usr/share/live-installer/slideshow/template.html
Content path does not exist: /usr/share/live-installer/slideshow/office.html
--> Installation started
EXECUTING: 'mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1'
--> Mounting partitions
------ Mounting /lib/live/mount/medium/live/filesystem.squashfs on /source/
EXECUTING: 'mount -o loop -t squashfs /lib/live/mount/medium/live/filesystem.squashfs /source/'
------ Mounting partition /dev/sdb1 on /target/
EXECUTING: 'mount -t ext4 /dev/sdb1 /target'
------ Mounting /dev/sdb3 on /target/home
EXECUTING: 'mount -t ext4 /dev/sdb3 /target/home'
--> Indexing files
--> Copying files
File "/usr/lib/live-installer/installer.py", line 188, in init_install
self.do_copy_file(sourcepath, targetpath)
--> Writing hostname
File "/usr/lib/live-installer/installer.py", line 341, in finish_install
hostnamefh = open("/target/etc/hostname", "w")

[Monsta]

I've tried to look at the installer's code but couldn't figure out why this issue may happen, so in the end I've reported this bug on github. Maybe Clem will figure out what's going on.

[ddalley]

I've tried to look at the installer's code but couldn't figure out why this issue may happen, so in the end I've reported this bug on github. Maybe Clem will figure out what's going on.

Thank you! By the look of the errors, path names seem to be messed up. I install directly to USB devices, so maybe that is affecting things.

I would like to get LMDE going again, some day.

[Monsta]

There's another similar report. Looks like something goes wrong if the destination drive is a USB flash drive.

[ddalley]

Right, Different problem, same symptoms. Thanks for looking into this.

However, I don't see a simple fix for it. Not having the right install commands on the disc won't be easy to fix without a re-issue of the system.

Bummer.

[anyak]

It is good news that I am not alone with this problem. My laptop is HP DV7-1165.
I have made 4 source: 2 USB-memsticks and 2 DVD with LMDE both x32 Cinnamon and Mate.
In all cases, the Live mode works fine. But installing on a clean and only hard drive hangs always in the same place "Install hostname".
I have tried all versions with different languages and hostnames.
I tried installing last Debian testing. There is something in common. Graphical installer for Debian hangs too. But pseudo-graphical installer for Debian works properly.
But my goal is not Debian, namely LMDE. May be someone has found a solution to this problem of graphical installer for LMDE

[Monsta]

But installing on a clean and only hard drive hangs always in the same place "Install hostname".

Looks like you haven't read the previous messages. In that case, I'll repeat the request. Run the installer in the terminal:

Code: Select all

gksu live-installer

and post the output here.
No, it won't solve your problem but it will give us some debug info.

[anyak]

Looks like you haven't read the previous messages

I carefully read the previous posts and a link that you gave. But!!! You are absolutely right!
Many times I've installed different OS and act almost automatically. It was my mistake. After Your words I carefully controlled the installation process and only then I found that I made the partitioning in GB. I forgot that it is GParted. I switched on the MB and all became OK
Thank You for the help and sorry for unfounded anxiety. I hope my example will save someone else from silly mistakes and unnecessary loss of time.
The problem is completely solved.

[Monsta]

After Your words I carefully controlled the installation process and only then I found that I made the partitioning in GB. I forgot that it is GParted. I switched on the MB and all became OK

Wait, what? GB? MB? Switched? What kind of description is that? What have been done to solve the problem?

[austin.texas]

Wait, what? GB? MB? Switched?

I think "I made the partitioning in GB" means a switch from GPT partitioning to MBR. Maybe ??

[Zalbor]

Wait, what? GB? MB? Switched?

I think "I made the partitioning in GB" means a switch from GPT partitioning to MBR. Maybe ??

It sounds like they gave partition sizes in GB instead of MB.

[anyak]

Please forgive me for my "Russian English". I can read English, but speak and write for me some problem.
What I had in mind. Nowadays disk volume amounts to hundreds of gigabytes. My drive is 500 GB. For the linux filesystem I chose to 25 gigabytes and all the rest for the /home. Many tools for partitioning disks offer you to select the size immediately in gigabytes. But GParted does it in MiB, so if I want to have a partition 25 gigabytes, I should choose 25600 MiB. Thanks installer LMDE that it did not sent me to the farm for butterfly catch, but simply froze in Nirvana trying to cram all filesystem to 25 MB.
That's all solution of a problem, and I suppose, not me one.
I wish you all the best of luck.

[austin.texas]

Good job!
Please go to your first post, click EDIT, and add [SOLVED] to the title.

[Monsta]

Aha. Looks like the installer doesn't correctly process the errors during the copying of the files to the target filesystem. It catches some exception but doesn't stop there. Instead it proceeds to the next phase and tries to continue the setup on the target filesystem, and this time it just hangs there.