This is what has happened with both 9.0 adn 9.1: I downloaded three *.iso files (CD1, CD2, CD3) of Mandrake 9.0 and 9.1. I made a Linux partition 5GB thru Partition Magic. I rebooted the computer and let it read the CDROM first by changing the CMOS BIOS (I think it was that...) from A,C to CDROM,A,C. I rebooted again with CD1 in the CDROM. I got a menu that asked me to press ENTER if I wanted to install Mandrake. Hit that, and it started to install. It came to a point where it said that it was "Loading program into memory"". Everything went fine until it had passed about 85-90% when I hear three beeps and then everything freezes and the installation stops. Should also mention that I have tried different options by pressing F1 instead of ENTER prior to the installation process and the same thing happens. I even get a black screen and the three beeps after a minute of reading the help section (F1) and have to hit any button ar the keyboard. I have 386MB RAM and a 233 P2 processor. Anyone knows why I can't install it? Thanks.

Dont worry. I have Laptop PII 300 MHZ. I use for 1 year Windows XP and work perfect. But last week i think, humm, i try Mandrake 9.0. So i dowload CD1,CD2,CD3. Install, and work perfect. Monday, i see 9.1 is available. So i download CD1,CD2,CD3, I install, perfect, i have message congratulation for your new operating system, remove any cd of floppy disk and click here to reboot... After this reboot, i have message : Insert boot disk and press any key. I try to reboot 5 time, same result. I think, ok, 9.1 its not compatible with my old laptop, so i install again 9.0, but now, i have same error message. I try yo reinstall 4 time, same result. So after, i install WindowsXP again, and yes, i receive after full and perfect installation : Insert boot disk and press any key. So... mandrake 9.1 scrap my laptop. I think is because i see in last step of 9.1 installtion the question : Where i install boot up file. Default choice is MBR (Master Boot Record. Hey, i remove partition in my hard disk, make a new one, format normaly and try to install any operating system and each time my Laptop refuse to boot. So thank you Mandrake, i remember...

Daniel7777, sounds like you didn't mark your partition as bootable.... arnebobby, have you tried letting Mandrake create and format its own partitions as opposed to a 3rd party application. It may also be worth trying "linux acpi=off" at the setup prompt or perhaps booting off the second CD instead.

Daniel, You need to boot from a dos boot disk type fdisk /mbr that should delete the mbr from your laptop. Then it should boot up ok. Jack

Good News? Dunno! But this has happened. I manage (without having changed anything at all) to get thru the part where program is loding into memory. I even got to the istallation part where it asked me if I wanted to install it on the partition that was there and I said yes. It started to format that partition and......OOOOPS! The three beeps again! Everything froze and I made a last try, this time I came by the program loading to memory but just when it was about to start the installation, I got the three beeps. I haven't found a md5 yet for it, the one that came with this installation didn't work it said, when I tried to DL it and since then they have all ended with *.asc which is not to be recognized by md5. And I would doubt that it is the CD for both 9.0 and 9.1.... Of course everything is possible, but in this case the installation starts and suddenly it gives the three beeps and CIAO! By the way, how do I try to do "linux acpi =off"?

Thank guys but i try to boot with dos boot disk, WIn98 installation disk. I type fdisk /mbr, but no result. At boot again : insert boot disk and press any key. And i go to fdisk menu, choice #4, for information and i have a A in first partition. If i try to active partition,i have message the forst partition is already active. My Laptop refuse to boot again. And yes, i choose to Linux create automaticly the partition. I use erase entire disk. And i see, formating hdb1 and hdb6 or something like that. I just try to boot with second cd and no option to boot.

I have no prpoblem with anybody here, but why is it that person A's problem leads person B to post about his problems and then the "expoerts start to answer B's problem and B takes over the thread?