Critical Errors with Linux

[SKYLINEGTR33MWJ]

I've decided to completely switch to Linux, from winXP.. I have three hard drives to choose from, so I decided to Install Linux on HDD and leave winXP on HDA

Everything went well untill I began to get "block move error 0xA0" something like that, failed to load linux...... and the installation got corrupt...

I changed the way I installed, Now i left Linux on HDA and winXP on HDD, good, very good installation, no problems for 3 dayz, then i received the block move error 0xA0 again and now when i tried to load "windows" it said, something about that it cant load windows... failed... OK

now I decided to install Linux on a New HD to prevent these block move errors and prevent corruption when loading windows from the HDD... now, the question is, so far so good...

When is the next time Linux is going to crash? when am I going to lose all my data again? Its only a matter of time before Linux fails to load Windows and failes to load itself.

system specs >>
900mhz AMD processor
376mb sdRam
WD80gig Drive (hda) with xP
Maxtor 14gig Drive (hdd) with Linux

Any suggestions or comments on how to prevent Linux boot failure?

BTW the linux installation specs are >>
/ 2.0 gb
swap 752mb
/usr 2.0 gb
/home 9.4 gb
i have no /boot partition because i've noticed that even though i have it.... it still fails to /BOOT!

I need windows to print, and mix music using Tracktor Dj (native instruments)

My linux cant Print.... or MIX MUSIC!

[Peter M]

Check the RAM. www.memtest86.com

Next, question your IDE cabling. Are they too long (45 cm max!)?

[krohnjw]

Hm, definitely sounds like a hardware error, this isnt linux's fault

Now, this may not be much of a help, but check out http://www.linuxprinting.org/
for the printer, it just may work.

[nukes]

Also, are you recompiling the kernel or anything? Make sure you re-run LILO afterwards and query it to make sure it worked before rebooting.
Are you sure you are actually loosing your data. Have you tried booting windows with the CDROM and doing fixboot or fdisk /mbr?
This won't be Linux's fault.
What distro are you using? if its an old one, then the problem could be to do with LILO not being able to address the LBA sectors of the drive properley. Have you got the drive set to LBA in the bios?

[SKYLINEGTR33MWJ]

heres the deal....

I have installed Mandrake 9.1 on my system... on the second drive (hdd)

I have installed Windows Xp on my WD80 gig drive (primary)

And the CD rom....

but when the LiLo loads.... it reads ...

Linux
FailSafe
(something)
Windows
Floppy

I load Linux and it reads....

"move block error" 0xA0

(something like that)

Failed to load Linux...........

*** after 2 or 3 attempts..... it does load linux

but last time this happened..... it also failed to load
Windows O/s

[SKYLINEGTR33MWJ]

now...... supposing that the block move error 0xA0...
is a bad ram problem..... should i go buy new ram?

i took a peek at that link someone put here for me...
the memtest86 i think
i was amazed by reading that... and it could be badRam

[Redwolf]

Okay, try this. During install, it asked you to make a recovery disk. Try using that disk to load linux with, but putting the disk in and restarting.

It sounds like LILO may be screwing up. You may need to change boot loaders. Do this after the disk thing above (regardless of rather or not it works):

Select the 'failsafe' option.

Does that do anything? If you get a prompt, simply type 'halt' to shutdown the machine.

-edit- As said before, be suspicous of your RAM. If you are using 95, 98, or ME for windows, be doubly suspicious, since those OSes don't work your RAM much. Definately try the Memtest86 prorgram.

The RAM can interfear with LILO and GRUB (another Linux Bootloader), but it's more likely to screw with Linux itself.

Out of curiosity, this block error...when does it appear? After checking partitons, jsut after loading Linux, what?

[originel]

hmm...i would definitely be suspect of your ram.

another thought is which motherboard are you using? and did you set the bios to "non-plug and play os"? that can sometimes mess up linux. also make sure LBA mode is enabled in your bios and make sure that lilo is set up to use it (i think it is by default on newer systems). just a few thoughts

[SKYLINEGTR33MWJ]

okay about the paritions...... i've noticed that sometimes.... i get an error.... "failed to load local file systems."
failed to load >> many other "services" that make linux work correctly...... i dont know why!! so far so good..... no problems other than the 0xA0 error on the LiLo.......

Now.... If i would go and buy me a new 512mb ram chip for my pc and remove the other ones..... the 128mb (2) of them and one 64mb chip....... will that do the trick?

THANX!!! for your suggestions and concernes