StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Okay, I'm trying to install Linux on this comp (making a dualboot; XP Pro's already in). However, when I boot from the CD and hit Enter at the setup screen, it seems to load then goes to a black screen, and the caps lock and scroll lock keys are blinking.

WTF?

Anyone? Anyone?

No clue, this is rather strange...

Try a different distro?

phongn wrote:No clue, this is rather strange...

Try a different distro?

Dunno.

Apparently this problem is not unique to me. Other folks get the same thing; I get the distinct feeling it's a hardware detection problem from what I've read. Others have suggested running a RAM test. Hm.

Mandrake 9.1, right?

I had the same problem too.

Shinova wrote:Mandrake 9.1, right?

I had the same problem too.

Ever solve it?

Dalton wrote: Ever solve it?

Other than using Redhat 9 instead, which works, nope. Never actually solved it.


It did work on another comp, which was an AMD. Is your comp a Pentium by any chance?

Shinova wrote:

Dalton wrote: Ever solve it?

Other than using Redhat 9 instead, which works, nope. Never actually solved it.


It did work on another comp, which was an AMD. Is your comp a Pentium by any chance?

Nope, AMD Athlon. I'll see if there's any compatibility issues on Mandrake's website.

Well, I found on Mandrake's website that computers with a lot of memory (they say over a gig) can cause the problem I described upon boot. Since I have 896MB, I figured it was close enough, so I tried their solution: Hit F1, then type linux vga=0.

As it was installing I found out that the disc I burned was screwed up as it couldn't seem to install the kernel

Now that it's up and running I have to figure out how to load the graphic shell from the command line...

Dalton wrote:Well, I found on Mandrake's website that computers with a lot of memory (they say over a gig) can cause the problem I described upon boot. Since I have 896MB, I figured it was close enough, so I tried their solution: Hit F1, then type linux vga=0.

As it was installing I found out that the disc I burned was screwed up as it couldn't seem to install the kernel

Now that it's up and running I have to figure out how to load the graphic shell from the command line...

"init 5" I believe.

startx is a better way of doing it, if you're logged in as a user.

At least temporarily.

Neither of them were working earlier (I'm assuming my resolution was set too high). I reinstalled (and now KDE refused to install properly...) and am currently on Linux. Now I have to fucking find Gaim or something.

For Mandrake, Gaim is under K > Networking > Instant Messaging > Gaim .

However, they stupidly bundled Gaim 0.59 with Mandrake, instead of the more recent version 0.64. So you'll want to go to http://gaim.sourceforge.net , download the Mandrake RPM, and install it (as root).

Oh, yeah, I hope you're running from a user account and not root. There's a lot of potential to screw things up when you run as root.

Yes, running as root == teh stupid unless absolutely neccessary.

Same thing as running as Administrator on NT-based OSs - there's the "run as" option if you need to install.

Well I used sudo a lot, and set it so I don't have to type a password to shutdown from command line, but need to type in a password for everything else. It caches your password so you don't have to type repeatedly. Though I often use the root account in the console, or su to it (yes bad practice, since I should be sudoing instead).

Hah, not only did my latest Linux reinstall not go that well (For some reason the Mandrake Control Center doesn't want to list packages for install) but when I tried to reboot into XP I get a message saying I'm missing /WINDOWS/System32/Config/System and have to repair my Windows install.

To top that off the hard drive locked up again today.

Jeez...