Re : [SLE] Installation freeze up at first screen
Hello
Trying to install Linux 7.2 (Professional) on a Packard Bell desktop
with an Intel Celeron processor at 433, a Bora Plus M/B, a Quantum
Fireball 10Go hard disk, a Pioneer DVD (*32), a TraxData R/W (8*4*32) and
a 3DX Voodoo3 graphics card, I have encountered freeze up at the first
screen using all media.
The hard disk is already partitioned with Partition Magic, and there is
an early version of Corel Linux already installed.
Using the DVD or CD1, I see the first screen in the Suse reference
manual ; however, both the menu space and the boot option slot are blank,
and the timer is invisible. Neither keyboard nor mouse input is accepted.
Using CD2 or the boot-disk, I find a screen which looks much like an
MS-DOS screen, with contact addresses for Suse, the slogan "Have a lot
of fun" and a blinking cursor at the bottom of the screen. Again, there
is no reaction to input from either mouse or cursor.
After looking at the documentation, I wondered if it might be because of
the way the Pioneer is linked ; however, the machine does read the first
screen, and I can see the Suse CDs from within both Windows and Corel
Linux, and consult the Read documents.
After hunting around in the knowledgebase, I tried holding down the
shift-key during installation, as apparently that works around BIOS
problems that have been encountered from 6.4 on. This has no effect. On
the Packard Bell site, there is no mention of a BIOS upgrade for this
motherboard.
Suse-support has suggested that I try to enter linux vga=normal at the
boot-prompt or that I try YAST1. However, as the installation freezes at
the first screen and accepts no input, I can't do that. I have spent
some time trawling the net, but have not been able to trace any leads
which address my problem. I would be grateful if anyone could offer me a
hand in getting this up and running.
Thank you and best wishes
-
Timothy Mason
I have had same problems. Try Alt+Fx (I don't remember which x) when hangs or when installing; it seems to show there what happens, and perhaps you can guess the problem.
For example: with SuSE 7.2 and a CD on quaternary SB IDE it hang. I solved it disconnecting the CD, and connecting it again when the installation was completed. On Alt+Fx there appeared continuous messages about problems on hdh.
----- Mensaje original -----
De: "Timothy Mason"
You write :
I have had same problems. Try Alt+Fx (I don't remember which x) when hangs or when installing; it seems to show there what happens, and perhaps you can guess the problem.
Thanks for the quick reply. I've gone through the Alt+ F-keys, but it doesn't seem to have any effect. You continue :
For example: with SuSE 7.2 and a CD on quaternary SB IDE it hang. I solved it disconnecting the CD, and connecting it again when the installation was completed. On Alt+Fx there appeared continuous messages about problems on hdh.
It might be something to do with the CD - R/W, which is a recent addition. I'll see what unhooking it does - but, as I said, the Alt+Fx doesn't seem to be giving anything. Thanks again (rolling up sleeves) Timothy Mason Original message follows :
: Hello : : Trying to install Linux 7.2 (Professional) on a Packard Bell desktop : with an Intel Celeron processor at 433, a Bora Plus M/B, a Quantum : Fireball 10Go hard disk, a Pioneer DVD (*32), a TraxData R/W (8*4*32) and : a 3DX Voodoo3 graphics card, I have encountered freeze up at the first : screen using all media. : : The hard disk is already partitioned with Partition Magic, and there is : an early version of Corel Linux already installed. : : Using the DVD or CD1, I see the first screen in the Suse reference : manual ; however, both the menu space and the boot option slot are blank, : and the timer is invisible. Neither keyboard nor mouse input is accepted. : : Using CD2 or the boot-disk, I find a screen which looks much like an : MS-DOS screen, with contact addresses for Suse, the slogan "Have a lot : of fun" and a blinking cursor at the bottom of the screen. Again, there : is no reaction to input from either mouse or cursor. : : After looking at the documentation, I wondered if it might be because of : the way the Pioneer is linked ; however, the machine does read the first : screen, and I can see the Suse CDs from within both Windows and Corel : Linux, and consult the Read documents. : : After hunting around in the knowledgebase, I tried holding down the : shift-key during installation, as apparently that works around BIOS : problems that have been encountered from 6.4 on. This has no effect. On : the Packard Bell site, there is no mention of a BIOS upgrade for this : motherboard. : : Suse-support has suggested that I try to enter linux vga=normal at the : boot-prompt or that I try YAST1. However, as the installation freezes at : the first screen and accepts no input, I can't do that. I have spent : some time trawling the net, but have not been able to trace any leads : which address my problem. I would be grateful if anyone could offer me a : hand in getting this up and running. : : Thank you and best wishes : -- Timothy Mason
http://perso.club-internet.fr/tmason/
My thanks to those who offered help. The answer was in the BIOS for the
Bora Pro (Packard Bell) motherboard : it needed upgrading.
Best wishes
--
Timothy Mason
On September 22, 2001 09:31 am, Timothy Mason wrote:
Hello
Trying to install Linux 7.2 (Professional) on a Packard Bell desktop with an Intel Celeron processor at 433, a Bora Plus M/B, a Quantum Fireball 10Go hard disk, a Pioneer DVD (*32), a TraxData R/W (8*4*32) and a 3DX Voodoo3 graphics card, I have encountered freeze up at the first screen using all media.
The hard disk is already partitioned with Partition Magic, and there is an early version of Corel Linux already installed.
Here's a couple of random thoughts you can throw around (or out): 1) Most Linux distros are fussy about where the CDROM is for these installation utilities. They like them to be slave on the primary controller. It's not always the case, but it does occaisional cause problems if you have it elsewhere. And double check the CDROM's jumper... sometimes the simplest things can be overlooked. 2) Partition Magic is OK as a 3rd party disk tool, but it is proprietary and sometimes can cause problems. You are better off partitioning your drive with the Linux fdisk utility. 3) You have, as far as your system is concerned, 2 CDROM devices. Try disconnecting one (see comment1). 4) Most often when this has happened to me, it is because the installation utility has encountered either hardware, or a condition, that doesn't match the range of assumptions made by the program's developer. Frequently this is unsupported (or not well supported) hardware, such as a graphics card, or an exotic scsi setup. I had a couple of servers with triple pci buses on each and there were some distros that just would not install on them. 5) Believe it or not, try changing your bios setiing for your drive to LBA instead of AUTO. This has made a difference for me in a couple of cases (mostly Caldera). Also in your bios, try turning Plug 'n Play off. 6) And finally, it might be useful to note that Corel Linux OS automatically writes itself to your mbr. Whenever I am installing another distro on a disk that has had Corel on it, as a precaution I always re-format the mbr first. -- burns
participants (3)
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burns
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Timothy Mason
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