Ubuntu
util-linux package

E:Failed to mount the cdrom after removal and reinstall of ubuntu 10.04

Asked by Leslie Parker

First time I installed ubuntu 10.04 on my second hard drive and it looked great but had problems loading wireless card but figured it out. Later on I had some problems with the browser and thought I would just remove Ubuntu and reinstall it. I am dual booting with Windows Vista. So in Vista I removed the Ubuntu partitions and then booted to my Vista cd and performed a fixmbr. I then booted into Vista and deleted the empty partition so it was unallocated and used Paragon Partiion Manager to merge my partitions together on my second hard drive. Booted back to the Linux cd and installed Ubuntu 10.04. Went to Synaptic Package Manager and tried to add cd so I can retrieve ndis from it to install my wireless card but get error E:Failed to mount the cdrom. Tried to add it through the resources and get same error. Tried installing Ubuntu again and getting same error. So now I have 3 partions. One that I use in windows for storage and two Ubuntu installs. So I go back into windows and remove all Ubuntu partions and reboot and fixmbr and then go back into windows and delete empty partion and merge it again with Partition Manager. So I am ready to install Ubuntu 10.04 again but I am afraid that I won't be able to access the cd in ubutu through synaptic package manager to retrieve ndis without getting this error. So can anyone tell me how to fix it if I do get this error or how to intall Ubuntu so I don't have this happen again. I am tired of logging out of Ubuntu and searching forums in Vista since I can't install my wireless card in Ubutu because of this error.

Hope this wasn't to confusing and if anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks I have never used Linux before but I love how fast it is and really want to get it set up correctly.

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Leslie Parker
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Ian Ace (iaculallad) said : 		#1

Look at your /etc/fstab file and comment out (place the '#' before) anything related to #cdrom device.

Open your terminal and input the command below:

gksudo gedit /etc/fstab

Save and Close.

HTH.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#2

You don't have to merge the free space with your current windows partition, infact it's better if you DON'T. The installer will see the unpartitioned space and offer to use it, this saves having to mess around with resizing. If you do a full system reinstall this is also very advised as a resize comes with no warranty but if you set your windows partition(s) as a portion of the driv space and leave some free it can be used to install other OSes without the need to mess around with resizing.

ndisgtk (i believe) is installed by default and so you can simply use the windows driver with that (assuming your chip has no native driver). If you use a cheap broadcom thing then there is a better approach to ndisgtk. If you give the output of:

sudo lshw -C network

We may be able to give a sleeker solution.

If you look in software sources you can set the CD as a repo and I suggest you disable that, then re-enable it if you need access. You may need to manually mount the CD if it isn't working. Did you also check the CD for defects once booted to as a bad CD WILL give a bad experience.

I also suggest using a WIRED connection to get fully updated as this can help things a lot.

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Leslie Parker (mydarklife) said : 		#3

Thanks Ian. I did try sudo gedit /ect/fstab before and I am really new to Linux but since searching for my wireless problem I am starting to get it a little bit. I found another forum that suggested that but the weird thing was I didn't see cdrom listed in the fstab in order to modify it. I am going to try installing Ubuntu again and see what happens and let you know. Thanks for replying so quickly.

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Leslie Parker (mydarklife) said : 		#4

Thanks actionparsnip I am going to reburn the ISO for Ubuntu 10.04 and try that before I install again and see if all goes well will keep everyone updated to let you know. Thanks for the help everyone :)

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

remember to use gksudo with gui apps (or kdesu if you use kde). sudo is NOT for gui apps.

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Leslie Parker (mydarklife) said : 		#6

Thanks actionparsnip I am learning new things about Linux all the time. I really like the look and feel of Ubuntu and hope to get it all running well soon. I just reburned the ISO for 10.04 and if it doesn't work I will use gksudo gedit/etc/fstab to remedy it. Thanks Ian Ace A. Culallad as well. Will keep everyone updated if it works.

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Leslie Parker (mydarklife) said : 		#7

I installed Unbuntu from the new burn of 10.04 and it's still giving me the same error. I tried gksudo gedit /etc/fstab and it brings up a blank fstab window. When I try to set the cd in software resources I get the error. When I try to manually mount it I get the error. Can someone tell me the command for manually mounting. I searched forums and think I typed it in correctly but it states failed to mount. Ndisgtk I don't think is already loaded and if it is I am not sure how to get to it. I tried file search and it is only listed in the kernal. So before I removed unbuntu partitions the first time it worked and now after reinstall it's not. The only thing different is last time I gave Unbuntu 200 gig partition and this time when I installed I only gave it 50 gigs. Could this be why?

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Leslie Parker (mydarklife) said : 		#8

Sorry meant to type Ubuntu

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Leslie Parker (mydarklife) said : 		#9

This is eventually what I need to do even if I can't get the cd to mount. I want to install the driver for my Zonet Zew1602. The first time I installed I had to install Ndisgtk and then copy the drivers from my install cd to the desktop. I ran Ndisgtk and pointed it to the folder that had the XP driver in it. I had to delete and install it a few times and then it recognized my driver and I was able to connect to my wireless network. I would love to be hardwired right now and do the updates that I am sure might fix this but unfortunately the router resides in another room and it not possbile at the moment. Can anyone tell me the commands for manually installing this driver through the terminal if I cannot get the cd to mount. Thanks again for all your help.

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Leslie Parker (mydarklife) said : 		#10

Got it working. I never could get the cdrom to mount. But I clicked on search for files and then searched for ndis* It found 5 files and I right clicked the packages and chose the option to "open with Gdebi Package Installer" I highlighted all 3 packages but then figured out that I could only install one at a time so installed the ndiswrapper common, then ndiswapper-utils, and then ndisgtk. Once installed I pulled the inf files off of my Zonet cd and placed them on the desktop. Used the now available option "Windows Wireless Drivers" under Administration and searched my desktop for the folder I placed on it. Tried to install the xp inf. file but gave error. Deleted xp driver and installed .inf file in vista folder and it recognized it but didn't work. Deleted vista driver and then installed .inf from xp folder and then deleted and reinstalled again and now wireless is working and I am able to install updates. So yeah bit of a work around but I am now up and running. Thanks for the help guys.