pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

gozo311 · 2009-09-12 06:56:15

Not sure what this error is all about :
pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

I get it when trying to select my packages during installation. This thread seemed like it might help,
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=70896

But apparently the solution was that the user wasn't logged in as root. I am Definitely logged in as root.

I'm a noob, but want to learn as much as I can - any help offered is much appreciated.

thisoldman · 2009-09-12 09:35:34

Arch setup gives you multiple consoles or terminals. The user can change between them using the key combination 'Alt-Fn' where 'Fn' is any of the Function keys 'F1' through 'F7'. The consoles are named 'tty1' through 'tty7'. During setup, tty1 through tty6 are log-in consoles; tty7 is reserved by the system to display error messages. Press 'Alt-F7' to see the messages and press 'Alt-F1' to return to tty1.

Did you check the installation download and CD burn for errors? I only find I have a bad download or made a bad burn on the occasions when I haven't checked md5 sums.

The message you're seeing could mean there's an internet connection error. Check pacman.conf again and make sure the download mirrors are set up correctly in /etc/mirrorlist.

The "Beginners Guide" in the wiki is a long document and it's easy to have omitted some essential step. Take your time and you'll get there.

gozo311 · 2009-09-12 21:16:23

Hey, thisoldman. Thanks for the help.

Did you check the installation download and CD burn for errors?

I burned another CD with the Arch iso (data verification came out clean) and the same problem occurs.

Check pacman.conf again and make sure the download mirrors are set up correctly in /etc/mirrorlist.

I looked at these files and they seems ok (not that I REALLY know). The pacman.conf has a bunch of stuff, includes the /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist file, and the mirrorlist has a huge list of servers from different countries. I've been choosing ftp.archlinux.org during the installation.

By the way, here are the errors from tty7:

error: failed retrieving file 'core.db.tar.gz' from ftp.archlinux.org: transient resolver failure
error: failed to update core (transient resolver failure)
error: failed to synchronize any databases

I'm not quite sure my dhcp is working correctly. It seems to work fine when I choose 'eth0' and ask for dhcp, but a subsequent '$ ping -c 3 www.google.com' call says "unknown host www.google.com" I've also tried adding these lines to rc.conf

eth0="dhcp"
INTERFACES=(eth0)
ROUTES=(!gateway)

then restarted the network daemon.

I've also read that most everyone with a dell inspiron b130 have no trouble with their initial ethernet setup (it's wireless that's the problem...), so I'm at a loss here.

Last edited by gozo311 (2009-09-12 22:23:51)

thisoldman · 2009-09-12 23:42:49

You do have an Internet connection problem. I can show you a few places to check, but I am very unskilled with this. If this tip doesn't work for you, please start a new forum thread -- ask for help with DHCP. You are sure you use DHCP?

From the Beginners Guide, at the point in editing /etc/rc.conf, NETWORKING Section, check the HOSTNAME. I've called my computer "chickadee". My rc.conf networking section contains these lines:

HOSTNAME="chickadee"
eth0="dhcp"
INTERFACES=(eth0)
gateway="default gw 192.168.0.1"
ROUTES=(!gateway)

I did not have to modify /etc/resolv.conf or /etc/conf.d/dhcpcd from their defaults.

The HOSTNAME that you entered in /etc/rc.conf must agree exactly with the name you enter in /etc/hosts. My /etc/hosts file:

#<ip-address>    <hostname.domain.org>    <hostname>
127.0.0.1        localhost.localdomain    localhost    chickadee

Then start at Part II: Configure&Update the New Arch Linux base system.

A healthy internet connection will give you something like this (your times may be very different):

$ ping -c 3 www.google.com
PING www.l.google.com (64.233.169.99) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from yo-in-f99.google.com (64.233.169.99): icmp_seq=1 ttl=236 time=24.2 ms
64 bytes from yo-in-f99.google.com (64.233.169.99): icmp_seq=2 ttl=236 time=25.2 ms
64 bytes from yo-in-f99.google.com (64.233.169.99): icmp_seq=3 ttl=236 time=24.3 ms
--- www.l.google.com ping statistics ---
3 packets transmitted, 3 received, 0% packet loss, time 2002ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 24.299/24.607/25.202/0.439 ms

gozo311 · 2009-09-12 23:45:51

Cool, thanks. I'm actually reading the beginner's guide right now (for the first time), and was just about to try all this. Wish me luck.

gozo311 · 2009-09-13 00:44:37

It didn't work. My rc.conf contained:

HOSTNAME="ArchHost"
eth0="dhcp"
INTERFACES=(eth0)
gateway="default gw 67.189.0.1"
ROUTES=(!gateway)

My /etc/hosts contained:

67.189.1.162          localhost.localdomain          localhost          ArchHost

Then I restarted the network daemon via '/etc/rc.d/network restart' then I ran 'dhcpcd -k eth0' and dhcpcd -nd eth0'. Still get the same error, and pining doesn't work.

Did I put in the correct IP address and gateway? I use the 67.189.1.162 because that's my ubuntu IP, and it comes up when I run the above dhcpcd commands. I'm also not sure about the default gateway address. When I type in 'route' in ubuntu, it shows a '*' for the default gateway address, so the above was a guess.

thisoldman · 2009-09-13 02:15:32

You're out of my area of knowledge. Sorry.

techprophet · 2009-09-13 12:05:49

One place to look is your /etc/resolv.conf

I get unknown host errors when it's unset as well. I believe dhcp sets it but you never know...

After a fresh reboot into the Arch cd... try the following:

# ifconfig eth0 up
# dhcpcd eth0
# ping -c 3 192.168.1.1
# ping -c 3 google.com

The first command makes sure the interface is enabled, second gets an IP, third pings the router/modem, fourth pings google.
You should double check the router IP, it varies for each router. I've seen 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.254. If one doesn't work, try the other. If neither works, use google for your router model.

neddie_seagoon · 2009-09-16 20:18:05

You can try editing /etc/resolv.conf and using the OpenDNS nameservers:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/OpenDNS

Kernel@Sh · 2010-09-12 10:36:27

pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

hokasch · 2010-09-12 11:45:52

This my friend is an error message, with a tip where to find more information. you are supposed to follow it, not pasting it in a year old forum thread.

litemotiv · 2010-09-12 12:04:50

Kernel@Sh, this kind of topic bumping is not appreciated. Please see the error message on /dev/tty7, search the forum and wiki for answers, and only then start a new thread if you can't find a solution to your problem.

Closing.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-09-12 06:56:15

pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#2 2009-09-12 09:35:34

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#3 2009-09-12 21:16:23

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#4 2009-09-12 23:42:49

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#5 2009-09-12 23:45:51

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#6 2009-09-13 00:44:37

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#7 2009-09-13 02:15:32

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#8 2009-09-13 12:05:49

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#9 2009-09-16 20:18:05

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#10 2010-09-12 10:36:27

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#11 2010-09-12 11:45:52

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

#12 2010-09-12 12:04:50

Re: pacman preparation failed - check /dev/tty7 for errors

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