instantcake cdrom not mounting on any /dev device

[goldeneye]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone else has seen this issue:

I can boot up fine with the instantcake cd-rom, but I cannot mount the cdrom device to /cdrom. It keeps returning an error that it cannot mount the device. I tried every /dev/sdX device with no luck.

I reviewed the dmesg output and it seems like the cdrom is being attached to "sr0", but I cannot find this device in /dev.

Any ideas?

[goldeneye]

I figured out the solution:

mknod /dev/sr0 b 11 0

[Lou Jacob]

What version of InstantCake are you using?

[txjustin1982]

Goldeneye is exactly correct. I admit I was a little disappointed when I found that this product does not mount my SATA drives. I ONLY have SATA and don't want to spend more money to buy a USB CDROM drive.

So here is what I did to get around the current SATA problem.

When the program starts

<Ctrl> C

next enter:
mknod /dev/sr0 b 11 0

that will make the drive. You can test mount this if you want

next us VI to modify the install script

vi /usr/sbin/PTVbake3

Navigate down to the prompts for SATA CDROM

Put i to enter insert mode

After "other" enter "sr0"

Then press esc

Then : then x then <enter> This will save the script

To start the script again enter PTVbake3

Now y, y, SATA, sr0 ......

This should allow you to get past the check. If the CDRom spins up your should be in good shape.

Cheers
Justin

[spharticus]

Justin- you rock. I couldn't get anything else to work then I found this post and tried it. Will spread the word elsewhere.
I used IC for the THD. Had no problems once I created the "sr0" drive. Now my THD has 2TB and a new lease on life.

Dissappointed in the execution of this software. It was not the "chipset" as discussed in other posts, but I needed the ability to "see" where my CDR was mounted and add that to the script.

I get where it clearly says this is a DIY product, and don't do this if voiding warranties makes you cry like a schoolgirl. I went in eyes wide open on that. However based on my experience this statement would be more proper: "You may have to have a basic knowledge and comfort level of mounting drives, vi script editing in Linux to be successful". to the product's credit after I used this workaround everything else worked quickly, as designed, and as advertised.

[cyfenton]

Thanks for the great info. We had this same problem, but solved it a different way. In the AMI bios, we turned off ACHI and then the drives showed up as IDE. I ran the Instantcake boot disk again, exited out of the script (I still didn't know what the drive letters where), then ran demesg | less and found the drive mappings. I ran instantcake yet again (getting pretty good at it now!) from the command line and it worked!! YAHOOOO! I have a 1.2 TB drive running on my formerly dead TivoHD and I'm thrilled it worked!

[kertysi22]

thanks for the post

[biggdowg]

TXjustin982, first thanks for posting this, I was going crazy trying to get this figured out.

I am new to this and am not sure where exactly to enter "sr0" also when i hit escap x and enter nothing happens, I cant seem to get out of the editor, any suggestions?

Again, thanks for the post and if you have any more input to help me get past this it would be much appreciated.

[woodp]

After "other" enter "sr0"


Talk about dusting off my old vi skills, but ... I own two PCs and both are 100% SATA, and that one line about entering sr0 "after" other has me totally confused.

Line 232 look like this:
echo " other ------> other"
Changing that to the following didn't work at all:
echo " other ------> sr0"

It's as if the PTVbake3 file isn't being saved ... What other options do I have here?

[woodp]

OK, worked it out ...

Lines 231-234 start as:
echo " Device 4 ----> sdd"
echo " other ------> other"
echo ""
prompt_in " Please select from the following:" "sda" "sdb" "sdc" "sdd" "other"
Change them to:
echo " Device 4 ----> sdd"
echo " other ------> sr0"
echo ""
prompt_in " Please select from the following:" "sda" "sdb" "sdc" "sdd" "sr0"

Now I'm going to plug the drive into my TiVo. Wish me luck!

[lcseds]

Dear heavens this should not be this hard. I know nothing of coding in Linux. I tried the above changes but was unable to save and return back to a prompt to execute again. I have a USB CD but have no idea how that would be assigned.
How in the hell can this not see a SATA optical drive. Can someone throw me a bone here, I'm dead in the water. I downloaded Instant Cake this morning. Trying to run on a modern Dell Optiplex. I can use either the internal CD or as I mention, a USB drive.

[woodp]

Yeah, "vi" is not my favorite linux editor either, but apparently it's the only one available here. The sequence to close the editor is a little obscure, and correctly posted here, but you may have missed a nuance.

After editing is complete. press the following keys in sequence:

Esc <- Escape key
: <- Yes, that's the colon key
x <- Lower case "x"
Enter <- I'm guessing that one's obvious

Repost if you're still having difficulties.

(And I agree that in the year 2010, the program could use an update - SATA as a minimum and perhaps even a USB Drive boot option?)

[kamikaze4624]

Justin,

I don't have Linux on my PC, so I won't be able to edit the script. Is there any other way to get the script to mount a SATA CD-ROM drive?

Does anyone else out there have a Windows PC that uses only SATA drives and can't get Instantcake to mount the CD-ROM drive. Thanks in advance for any help on this. I have tried all combinations of sda, sdb,... and hda, hdb,... and nothing works.

[woodp]

Kamikaze,

None of us have Linux PCs either - We're running one version of Windows or another. But after burning the Instantcake ISO to a CD and booting from the CD, your PC will be running Linux.

Than simply follow the instructions to the letter.

If it doesn't work, be very specific with which step failed and what the error message(s) are. You are apt to get more help if your problem description is thorough.

[kamikaze4624]

woodp,

I can't seem to locate the thread that described the VI edit steps to modify the Instantcake script that would allow me to mount my SATA CD-ROM drive. Could you post those steps again or provide me the link to the thread that describes them? Thank you very much.

[woodp]

I can't seem to locate the thread that described the VI edit steps
This thread! Start with the fourth message (from TXJustin982) and follow the instructions.

As I said it would be *very* helpful if you explain where you're experiencing difficulties ... Did you download the ISO? Did you burn a CD? Do you know how to boot from the CD? Do you know how to type Ctrl-C?

[jbb897]

Holy smokes....it works! Thank you for the instructions, as I was struggling with my CDROM drive on sr0 as well, and the instructions here were perfect!

Just a note - for some reason I could not exit and save the script after making changes. I used the escape key (esc), and then I just hit "ZZ" (no quotes) and that will save the script as well.

Jeff

[mulletwearnhonk]

Alright. So I've done all these steps and no go... still get the failed to mount... it shows the sr0 and all... I have no idea where to go from here....

[woodp]

Alright. So I've done all these steps and no go... still get the failed to mount... it shows the sr0 and all... I have no idea where to go from here....

OK, here's the bad news - The procedure documented above works, so I'm guessing a typo or missed step on your part? Could you tell us specifically what step didn't work and what the error (?) message was?

[mulletwearnhonk]

I fixed it! For some reason the RAID drive option was disabled in my BIOS... whoops! Thanks for all the help. You guys are awesome!

[lmacneill]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I have spent HOURS on this, trying to get this silly thing to recognize my CD-ROM drive... This worked perfectly.

L.