Still Waiting for Root Device Error on Install from DVD

[crazybilly]

I'm trying to install osx86 on my Acer Aspire 3003 Lci laptop, here's the specs:

 

AMD Sempron 3000+

512 mb of ram (128 shared to the video card)

SiS chipset (M760GX Mirage video)

IDE hard drive (not SATA as far as I can tell)

broadcom wireless

SiS ethernet

touchpad mouse

built-in keyboard

 

I've got the hot-iso 10.4.6 dvd (sorry JaS, I didn't know till after I'd burned it, and I'm on dialup here at home, so getting anything else isn't really an option.

 

It'll boot to the dvd and start the install. I've tried -x and platform=x86pc and platform=ACPI, none of which seems to help: each time, I get a long string of 'still waiting for root device' errors.

 

It's USUALLY just after it finds (without errors) the touchpad. I can post a photo of the screen if you like--I'm happy to do more research, but I'm not really sure what I need to be looking at this point. I'm GUESSING it's hard drive related, but I've tried pulling my hd and putting in another blank drive with no luck. I don't think I've got any options in my bios to change what's the master and what's the slave, etc....I can report back on this in a little bit if it'd help.

 

Tonight, I'm going to try that again--fdisk the 2nd drive completely (should I put a 7gb partition on there via linux or no?) and stick it in.

 

I haven't tried dd'ing the deadmoo image to the drive and then booting the install cd yet, either--just haven't had time. I suppose that's next (is there any reason I couldn't dd the image to the 2nd drive via usb?)

 

So to sum up:

1. Is there a good way to find out exactly what's causing the errors?

2. is dd-ing the image and booting from the dvd worth a try?

[crazybilly]

UPDATE: I dd'ed the deadmoo image to a second hd, installed it in the machine, and booted into OS X! Very cool, albeit just a tad slow. And no keyboard (thank goodness I had a usb mouse handy)...or sound, etc etc. Still no luck w/ booting from the dvd, though.

 

I found the article saying it's probably some sort of dvd error. Either I've got a bad burn or I need to delete ApplePS2controller.kext (seems like this is more a boot after install error than an installation problem). Unfortunately, I don't have a dvd burner here....guess I'll have to make it to my friend's house again soon....

 

On a related note, I'm looking at the 10.4.5 to 10.4.6 upgrade instructions now....I'm obviously unable to do a couple steps b/c I can't get into the GUI install process at all....but is it just copying the kernel over? I suppose I've got to get my keyboard working first before i can really do much....copying and pasting letter by letter with the mouse is one thing. But sending a return is a different story altogether, heheh.

 

On a related note, I tried installing w/ the following command and the installation just hung (nothing spinning for 10 minutes or so except the fan): rd=disk0s1-v

 

I got different messages, though. hehehe. Thanks!

[crazybilly]

dang. using the terminal to edit files w/o a mouse is outlandisly diificult. working on writing a shell script to do it now....gulp.

 

anyways, I noticed that the deadmoo image isn't seeing my dvd drive at all either, which explains why I can't get the install to work, I suppose.

 

Sheesh....looks like the only thing that IS working is the usb mouse (and possibly the ethernet? need to plug some stuff in and give it a shot, I suppose).

 

I suppose I've got to get myself a usb keyboard--this is making me want to stab myself in the eye w/ a fork.