Installing Mandrake Linux

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-07-03 05:32pm

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?

Daltonator · Post by **Daltonator** » 2003-07-03 11:16pm

Anyone? Anyone?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-07-03 11:22pm

No clue, this is rather strange...

Try a different distro?

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-07-04 12:25am

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.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-07-04 12:28am

Mandrake 9.1, right?

I had the same problem too.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-07-04 12:29am

Shinova wrote:Mandrake 9.1, right?

I had the same problem too.

Ever solve it?

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-07-04 12:35am

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?

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-07-04 12:43am

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.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-07-04 02:10am

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...

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2003-07-04 02:54am

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.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-07-04 03:18am

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

At least temporarily.

Daltonator · Post by **Daltonator** » 2003-07-04 01:12pm

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.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-07-04 01:22pm

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.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-07-04 02:55pm

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.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2003-07-04 09:13pm

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).

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-07-07 10:12pm

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...