[SOLVED]Cannot get the install iso to boot into the root prompt...

cdrjameson · 2015-02-03 18:46:14

I am attempting to install Arch(dual booting with windows 8.1) onto my uefi laptop. It has been installed there for over a year before now but I wanted to do a fresh install. I downloaded the latest iso and burnt the media but I get lots of errors whilst the environment is loading and I never get to a root prompt. This linked image shows an error loop cycle which it never gets past. I have left it running like this for 30 mins before quitting. Long before the computer enters this error loop I see this flash up:

 24.546111]  nouveau E[     DRM] failed to idle channel 0xcccc0000 [DRM]

My laptop has an Nvidia GTX770M GPU.

At this stage I have nuked my previous Arch install. My laptop has one 500gb ssd with 180Gb given over to Windows. I have ~320gb unallocated space in which to install arch. I have tried USB booting (using the recommended dd command) and burnt an iso of the image using wodim to create bootable media. I can see the initial UEFI Arch selection screen and then it hangs somewhere in the middle of getting to the root prompt.

In diagnosing this fault I have wiped the SSD and re-installed windows, I have stress tested the CPU, with no obvious errors, I have downloaded the latest SSD firmware and run a diagnostic scan with no errors. I am able boot into an Ubuntu CD which works fine as a live environment and Ubuntu installs fine in the 320gb partition. I now have Windows and Ubuntu dual-booting. The only problem is, it's not Arch. I would describe myself as new to linux but competent with Arch, I only have experience with Arch and I don't want to run Ubuntu on my laptop.

I have also tried an Evolution Linux install disk and I get exactly the same error.

Anyone have any ideas how to work around this problem?

Apologies for the link to a picture but as I have no system at this point I do not see any way to post the code output. Please let me know if there is a way to keep the logs from an unsuccessful boot into a live/install prompt.

EDIT I have checked the md5 of the iso image on CD and the download file and they all match up.

Last edited by cdrjameson (2015-02-03 20:06:33)

nomorewindows · 2015-02-03 18:51:29

Noveau is not what you need, you may need to disable it with kernel parameters from trying to init. You would need the nvidia package, but yet this is just the install iso.

Head_on_a_Stick · 2015-02-03 19:37:06

Have you tried booting it with the "nomodeset" kernel parameter?

cdrjameson · 2015-02-03 19:58:57

I am reading up on kernel parameters now. Currently the CD boot menu contains:

Arch Limux archiso x86_64 UEFI CD
UEFI Shell x86_64 v1
UEFI Shell x86_64 v2
EFI Default Loader
Reboot into Firmware Interface

Would I be able to change the kernel parameters if I select either of the UEFI shell items? Press ESC in x seconds to skip startup.nsh, any other key to contine then presented with a Shell> prompt.

EDIT Thank you, pressing e at the first prompt and setting nomodeset got me to the root login with no errors. Thank you

Last edited by cdrjameson (2015-02-03 20:06:11)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2015-02-03 20:00:26

cdrjameson wrote:

Would I be able to change the kernel parameters if I select either of the UEFI shell items?

Just press "e" to edit the kernel line, add "nomodeset" at the end and press <Ctrl>+x to boot

Arch Linux

#1 2015-02-03 18:46:14

[SOLVED]Cannot get the install iso to boot into the root prompt...

#2 2015-02-03 18:51:29

Re: [SOLVED]Cannot get the install iso to boot into the root prompt...

#3 2015-02-03 19:37:06

Re: [SOLVED]Cannot get the install iso to boot into the root prompt...

#4 2015-02-03 19:58:57

Re: [SOLVED]Cannot get the install iso to boot into the root prompt...

#5 2015-02-03 20:00:26

Re: [SOLVED]Cannot get the install iso to boot into the root prompt...

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