Stuck On..Uncompressing Linux...preparing to boot kernal

[GBaz]

Need some help.
THe upgrade tool wont go past this. Im trying to copy my old failing drive to a new one. Do i need to have a FAT32 drive connected?

[HomeUser]

Which upgrade tool? Most of the MFSTools CD's you should be able to get to the Linux prompt with only the boot CD drive attached.

[GBaz]

Im using: Tiger’s Mfs Tools Boot CD. It just seems to hang on Uncompressing Linux...
I do not ger the Linux prompt.

[HomeUser]

Tigers MFSTools boot CD does not work well with some processors try the newer MFSLive, PTVUpgrade or WeeKnees ISO.

Otherwise not getting to the Linux prompt could be

Bad burn on the boot CD/DVD Re-burn the CD at a slower speed or try boot using a different CD drive if you can.

Bad memory Linux maps the systems memory differently then windows there is a free diagnostics called MemTest86 it comes on some Linux distribution or can be downloaded in a bootable Floppy or CD image.

Resource conflict minimize the system by removing any unused hardware.

[GBaz]

I got MFS live working. I tried to do a DD copy and restore and that faild due to errors. I tried a standard backup and restore with no image. That reports a bunch of I/O errors and bad sectors. It fails about halfway through and restarts. Im trying a DD with conv=noerror. Im not really confident that this will work. Is there a tool to repair the bad sectors and move the data? If not i am going to have to find an image of a Series 2 5400040 to get this running againl]. Anyone have any ideas? I also ordered a dual tuner series 2 today to be safe.

[HomeUser]

Useful information would be
Which model of TiVo?
What size and brand of hard drive?

Have you tried to make the small backup to a file without recordings using MFSTools?

Here are some of my ramblings about drive recovery.

Depending on the failure SpinRite (http://www.grc.com) works at the sector level attempting to repair/recover data form failing sectors. SpinRite should be used as the last resort for data recovery the problem with SpinRite is that all the reads stresses the mechanics of the hard drive in its attempts to get a good read.

If you have a Maxtor drive put it in a anti-static bag and cool it in the refrigerator. Have a fan to blow on drives electronics while you attempt to make the small backup with MFSTools Then with the backup saved try the binary copy with dd_rescue.

If you have a Western Digital drive carefully and using anti-static procedures remove the R/W board and gently clean the contacts using a clean eraser. Keep the drive cool with a fan and try backup/copy.


Speed up the binary copy
-verify that DMA mode is enabled for both drives.
-put the source and destination on separate channels (cables)
-use a good quality EIDE cable most retail drive kits will come with the new fine-wire EIDE cable use it.
-Keep the drive cool.

[GBaz]

Thanks for the advise. IT is a Series 2 5400040 singla tuner with Night Light.

I tried the DD -errors with no luck. Got stuck in a loop trying to read the same 3 sectors over and over

Standard backup and restore did not work. It made it half way through and restarted several times.

I had a fan blowing the drives while doing this. I thinks its a WD drive.
At this point if the drive has bad sectors im going to consider it junk. I do not want to risk lossing data if I reperpus it for data storage. I think I will try SpinRite.(never mind just checked the link. It is to much money.)

I think Ill just have to find an image and restor to a new drive and junk the old 200 gig drive. Strangley enough I had a bad sector pop up on a drive in an exnernal USB enclosure on the same exact day. Maype a Sun spot hit me.

[HomeUser]

Yes, replace that drive in any case.

When you give up totally on that drive remove the PC board on the bottom (trace) side up close to the power connector there are about 12 spring pin contacts that press against the circuit board take a pencil eraser and gently clean the tinned pads on the circuit board.

I Justified my purchase of SpinRite after several almost new drives failed. Now I use it at level 4 on all new drives before I trust them in any device. That and I had a really old version of SR that I used to get the upgrade discount.

You also might want to look at dd_rescue I don't know what the operational difference between dd_rescue and dd -error is if any.