Debian install problems

[foodog]

Eric Richardson wrote:
> 
> Hi Again,
> Nope, no joy.
> 
> With memory that tests okay, the install goes fine and then when I
> reboot I get the perpetual.
> 
> L 40 40 40 40 ... forever until I hit the reset switch.

Have you tried making/using a boot floppy?  Does it do the same?
Doing some Google searches; seems to be consensus that "L 40 40"  means
"media problem" - not necessarily bad media tho'.

Another possibility is the problem was created by using a "diskmanager"
program at some point. 
 
Here's one suggestion I found:
http://www.uklug.net/archive/2000-December/007083.html

Here's some Swedish Debian users who seem to be discussing uninstalling
a bootmanager (great for Swedish Chef impersonations, or pick out the
relevent english buzzwords for clues)
http://www.linuxarkivet.nu/mlists/debian-user-swedish/0010/msg00024.html

> 
> I have a functioning machine so I can copy programs to floppy to run on
> the other box. Are there any other diagnostic tools I can run for the
> CPU, board, PCI etc?
> 
> The cdrom front it is an ATAPI. The cable goes from the Number one slot
> to the CD and then to the hard drive. Is this correct?

I hate ambiguous cables..  You *can* get it backwards and it won't
work.  Does the system see the cdrom during bootup?  If it doesn't it
may be backwards.  I don't know of a surefire way to tell; I always
start with "red stripe to the right" and it works better than 50% of the
time...

Do you have the hard disk set to be IDE master and the CD set to slave? 
If you don't, that could cause probs.  If you've got another IDE channel
and cable you could try segregating them and setting them both to
master.  POST messages (power on self test) messages are the best easy
indication if your devices are seen correctly.

> It also seems the connector can go either way. What the rule on that?
> Is there anyway I can test the CDROM?
> 
> Thanks for the help.
> Eric

Good luck,
Steve