Feisty desktop install for PS3 hangs when installing

[Andres Mejia]

Using Kubuntu feisty desktop CDs, while trying to install, the entire desktop will freeze while detecting file systems at 15%.

[Andres Mejia (amejia1)]

This happens with the Ubuntu desktop CDs as well.

[Boning Chen (neodarksaver)]

It happened to my Ubuntu at 23%.

[Aston (ryanaston)]

Happened to my Ubuntu as well at 15%

[tresoldi (tresoldi-gmail)]

I can confirm this too. I tried burning the CD again at the lowest speed possible; I tried many different hard disk partition configurations (including wiping out the entire disk), and no difference. I have 256 of memory (16 shared), so I first tried setting up an absurd 4gb swap partition; no luck. I then tried running the minimum possible number of processes (killed everything from the console: klipper, arts, kicker, etc. etc.) but it still hangs at 15%, "Detecting file systems". I should mention that Kubuntu and Xubuntu 6.10 do not appear to have the same problem in the same machine.
Using "--debug" did not show anything interesting.

BTW, be sure to check: https://launchpad.net/bugs/105971

[Darren Pocci (dpocci)]

According to PSUbuntuForums at:

http://psubuntu.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49&start=135

"I successfully installed the latest live cd 7.0.4 the other night.
It did stall at 15% but I cold rebooted the PS3 and manually set up my partitions, 10Gb for the main drive and it left 750mb for swap.
After that it completed installation without a hitch. Hope that helps."

I haven't tried it yet, but I was wondering if anyone has tried it and it worked? Or, try it and report the results on this forum. I will post my results when I get around to trying it.

[Jorge Andrade (andrad)]

The first time I tried to install it:

I set the partitions manually

sda1 swap 1024
/ ext3 (remaining)

It stall at 15% (I waited like 10 min and nothing)

------------

Second time

same partition

This time i killed some applications

cupsd
crond
NetworkManager
dhclient3

It stoped at the 15% (Detecting File Systems) for about 5 min... and continue with the Installation process.

[Mario (w3aponx)]

Another workaround I found (other than manually partitioning or killing processes) was to create a swap file on a connected USB disk (roughly following instructions under "To add a swap file" at http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-8.0-Manual/custom-guide/s1-swap-adding.html; I used a 640MB file, which is probably way too much). As soon as I did that everything went smoothly, even though I started with just 2MB free. I could provide more detailed information if anyone's interested.

[Eli68 (springj)]

I'am so frustrated trying to get this to work and need some help, I was running the Alternate Feisty with my SD TV, but have just got a new HD TV so am trying to install the normal version without luck, I am stuck at the 15% mark I have tried killing processes such as "cupsd,crond,networkmananger,dhclient3" and have chose manual partition for which I picked sda1 as root / and the swap file of about 700mb as other partition but it still freezes at 15% can someone give me exact partition details to choose. Thanks in advance.

[cygnusx1 (james-cygnusx1)]

After several aborted installs due to this bug, and after reading Mario's post, I did the following:

1. disabled all services in System > Administration > Services except the CPU frequency manager (powernowd), Graphical login manager (gdm) and System communication bus (dbus).
2. used System >Administrator > GNOME partioner to create ext3 and swap partitions on /dev/sda1 and /dev/sda5 respectively. also created a swap partition on a usb memory stick. turned "swapon" for both swaps.
3. started System Monitor to watch the pretty resource graphs
4. kicked off the install again, only to see it hang at the same point ... was a lot faster getting there though!

Seemed that at point of hanging, swap usage went to 100% but amount of swap MB seemed to be going down rapidly until it hit 0 bytes. at same time, user memory went from around 60% of 213.5MB to a fairly constant 76.8%

//james

[Norberto (norberto-thegame)]

I had the same problem as well with the installation freezing up at 15%. I came across a post on psubuntu web site which helped me get around the problem. What I did was, I went into administration system monitor and killed every process. I did this by clicking on the first listed process and holding down the ctrl key and pressing the a key to select all the processes. I then clicked on edit and selected kill processes. This helped me get around the freezing problem. Here is hte link to the post for referencee. http://psubuntu.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=345
I did not edit hte partions or anything. I used the entire 10GB which I formated on the ps3 xmb for the other os. Hope this helps.

[Evan (ev)]

ubiquity (1.5.3) gutsy; urgency=low

  [ Colin Watson ]
  * Drop into pdb.post_mortem on non-SyntaxError exceptions if the --pdb
    option is given and ubiquity is running from a terminal.
  * Work around hang on PS3 by stopping various non-essential processes
    first (LP: #106683).

  [ Evan Dandrea ]
  * Set the partition model after populating it in the KDE UI
    (LP: #118967).
  * Automatic update of included source packages: console-setup
    1.16ubuntu4, kboot-installer 0.0.1ubuntu3, partman-newworld
    18ubuntu1.

 -- Evan Dandrea <email address hidden> Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:01:50 -0400

[syntheticz (richard-the-beer)]

I tried qutting all processes, this time it froze at 53%, some progress but still needs somthing. any ideas

[blhauk (blhauk)]

It appears the underlying problem is the install getting messed up with partitioning/swap - I fought with this and this was my soultion:

boot live CD
open Konsole
execute "sudo su -" (this will put you at the command prompt as root)
execute "passwd root"
enter a password for root
type "exit"
execute "su -"
enter your root password (check to make sure it works for upcoming single user)
as root execute "init 1" (drop to single user - you should be prompted for root password for maintenance)
wipe out any existing partition table - execute "dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=1k count=63" (I had a weird Mac NewWorld disk label there)
repartition using "cfdisk" - setup 10000MB for root on sda1 and remainder for swap on sda2 (type 82/83)
Note: I tried fdisk - this is not like the Linux fdisk I am used to (another Mac looking/NewWorld thing)
Set the partition types to sda1=Linux(type 83), sda2=swap(type 83) (L lists partition types)
create block devices for partitions: "cd /dev/; mknod sda1 b 8 1; mknod sda2 b 8 2"
format root partition: "mkfs -t ext3 /dev/sda1"
initialize swap: "mkswap /dev/sda2"
activate swap: "swapon /dev/sda2"
type "exit"
this should bring you back to the Live CD environment
open Konsole and execute "top" to watch activity
click on install
select manual paritioning - specify "/" for the root mount point
you'll likey be forced to reformat / - that's ok
ignore warnings about "NewWorld" disk label
click continue and watch the install complete

The above worked for me - your mileage will likely vary....

<email address hidden>

[blhauk (blhauk)]

Foolowup:
Booting kubuntu off of hard disk alright now, but getting the following:
Could not start process: Unable to create io-slave (KDE message - desktop seems fine)
Does anyone know what this is?

Also - having problems reading display at 1080p across the room - how to drop to 720P?

[Jeremy (jnissly)]

Attempted 15 installations of Edubuntu 7.10 on a Dell Latitude C840 all experiencing a freeze at "Installing File System 15%".

Tried:
Partition editor outside of install process
Creating swap space and using "swapon" as some posts suggest (speeds up install, however did not fix it).
Guided and manual installs
Disabled all unnecessary processes (Cups, etc.)

Only solution:
Upgrade memory.

The system had 256 MB and even with use of swap space and disabling all non-essential processes, error was only fixed when I added an additional 256 MB chip on the same CD that I had problems with.

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

Jeremy - this bug report is about installing Ubuntu on a playstation 3. The issue you are experiencing belongs in a new bug report about ubiquity. Additionally, I believe the minimum memory requirements for Gutsy (7.10) were 384 MB. We are working on reducing this for Hardy (8.04). Thanks!

[JStMartin (jrstmartin)]

Ok I've got a Definite fix for my situation... I could not successfully install using a fullscreen video mode:

Originally had YDL 6, felt it was inferior to Xubuntu, got rid of it by Quick Format.

Successfully installed Xubuntu 7.10 with absolutely no problems by entering: "install video=ps3fb:mode:5" at kboot prompt.

Then proceeded to screw up Xubuntu by messing around with it too much. I decided to perform a fresh install of Xubuntu again, and deleted it by Quick Format.

IMPORTANT: Now with some prior knowledge of PS3 Xubuntu I decided I wanted to select fullscreen mode right from the get-go at installation... So, I at kboot I entered: "install video=ps3fb:mode:133" (also tried 165). No go. Attempted installation at least 10 times, performing Quick Format every time and Full Format once, and it just kept hanging, usually at the dialog box for selecting Guided or Manual partitioning.

-- Note that my video modes above are for fullscreen using 1080p with YUV color scheme (128 + 5 = 133) and RGB color scheme (128 + 37 = 165). Obviously yours may be different, see Video Modes here:

   https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PlayStation_3

Anyway, so I Quick Formatted and just decided to do exactly what I did on my first successful install: I typed "install video=ps3fb:mode:5" at kboot prompt. Which is Not a fullscreen mode (128 Not added).

Installed like a friggin' champ! Immediately noticed the difference as the dialog boxes appear one after the other fairly quickly. With fullscreen installation, everything was c r a w l i n g.

This was a no doubt definite fix for me. Anybody else? I betcha you've been using fullscreen mode the whole time.. haven't ya?! :)

[ubuntu98632 (lee986321)]

Hmm Ok I have this Boxed screen and I DO NOT have the HDMI adapter. instead I have the Composite cables you Know the good o Seperaate R-G--B (well those are the colrs the that have the YY r and PB thingys on em) at any rate
How in tarantions do I get out of this "boxed area " it sure is making it hheck to do things...
oh and I go tired of thi upgrade breaking online so I said heck with it and down loaded the Version and Upgraded my &.10 that way..if all else failes how do I get it to render in S video? Or the funky and bad Single Comsite (yellow) *caught , gag, choke) should my HD go to pot?

Oh I jsut rmebered I am Running composite RGB..thanks fer the help nad I hope to see you laters, if t his fails I'll try running Yellow Dog.., But Id prefer to give Ubunto a fair shake at least..or do I jsut keep messing with the refresh rates tll it works?

oh note with the Composite end of things, on the PS3 I can run 1080i 108p is not a good thing for my tv lol.heck Ill be happy with 720i

Never mind turns out that the entire thing is broke....Even the ugrade disk failed
came up with failed to get some kind of file.

[Miguel-Al (m1alvar)]

bug 106683. Is this bug related to manually partiotioning my ps3?. Somebody please write down exactly how to manually partition ps3 to finish instalation.
TKS.