Ubuntu
ubiquity package

Toshiba Portege 200 DMI Installation Error

Asked by Hamish Thomson

When Installing Ubuntu 10.10 on my notebook I can run the OS from the CD fine but when I go to install the OS on the hard disk it will not proceed past entering my logon details.

In the Computer Name the appended message contains "MY NAME- Portege200 Invalid entry length-o-DMI table broken stop"

All the files copy onto the hard disk ok without error while this message appears above and then I get the message "ready when you are" but the installation program has stalled and will not proceed past this point.

Even if I enter a new computer name I cannot select the FORWARD key as it is not highlighted (not available) and finish the installation.

At this point I can run the OS fine from the CD but cannot complete the installation to the hard disk.

I am a Linux novice and have no command line knowledge.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Use lowercase letters ONLY in your username. I also suggest you use a different host name

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Hamish Thomson (hamishthomson) said : 		#2

This does not solve the problem entering in lower case.

There is no Host name on the install screen, only "Your computers name" and the text is entered automatically by the installation program.

The computer name is generated by the OS and is a combination of user name (in lower case) and then has the "Portege200 Invalid entry length-o-DMI table broken stop" appended to any/whatever username I type in. The Portege200 bit of the message is OS generated as it must read it from somewhere in the notebook bios (I guess).

I am sure that is where the problem is because the message "Invalid entry length-o-DMI table broken stop" is added to the end of the computer name and because the "DMI table broken" message comes up the OS installation stops or at least I cannot select the forward key at that point.

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Hamish Thomson (hamishthomson) said : 		#3

Even though the installation does not complete in so far as I cannot select the forward key, the OS command line appears when I select the "ready when you are" message.

Is there anyway of forcing the installation to complete from the command line from this point?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#4

Change the automatically generated name. If it's too long then it needs changing. Accepting defaults just because they are autogenerated without reviewing is a really bad policy

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Hamish Thomson (hamishthomson) said : 		#5

I have changed the auto generated name. It doesn't make any difference.

The initial auto generated name is generated by the O/S and even when I over type it the installation will not proceed.

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Hamish Thomson (hamishthomson) said : 		#6

I have sent actionparsnip screen shorts of the problem in a pdf file. I don't know how to load a pdf onto launchpad.

A pic is worth a thousand words.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#7

Please post the images on photobucket or imageshack so everyone can see them

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Hamish Thomson (hamishthomson) said : 		#8

The install subsequently worked when I used the Alternative (non graphical) installer, so I think there is a potential bug in the Graphical Installer.

To check this I used the same graphical install cd on a desktop PC and it went fine. The problem appears to be something to do with the DMI string reported by the Toshiba the Grapical Installer doesn't handle correctly.

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Launchpad Janitor (janitor) said : 		#9

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.