Re: [SLE] SuSE 9.3 Pro freezes up solid
Peter wrote:
James Knott wrote:
First, run memtest. Then if memory OK, try a repair, from the install disks.
Wow! Thanks for the quick reply. How do I run memtest, though? In fact, what is it?
Sorry for sounding - indeed, being - a bit thick. I'm a decent programmer, but a completely useless sysadmin/support person.
Memtest is a memory test program. It can be run from the install disks. You start it and let it run for a while, to see if any errors turn up. -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
James Knott wrote:
Memtest is a memory test program. It can be run from the install disks. You start it and let it run for a while, to see if any errors turn up.
Thanks James. I ran that for an hour or so and everything seemed to be fine. However I'm still at a loss as to what I do next (put it down to advancing years). The options on the install disk - apart from memory test - are: * Boot from hard disk * Installation * Installation - ACPI disabled * Installation - Safe settings * Rescue system I tried rescue system, but it just presented me with a console login that only appeared to accept 'root' and no password. After logging in in this way, I'm just left at a command prompt with no idea what I'm supposed to do next. Could you perhaps supply a few pointers? Many thanks Peter -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
Peter wrote:
James Knott wrote:
Memtest is a memory test program. It can be run from the install disks. You start it and let it run for a while, to see if any errors turn up.
Thanks James. I ran that for an hour or so and everything seemed to be fine.
However I'm still at a loss as to what I do next (put it down to advancing years).
The options on the install disk - apart from memory test - are: * Boot from hard disk * Installation * Installation - ACPI disabled * Installation - Safe settings * Rescue system
I tried rescue system, but it just presented me with a console login that only appeared to accept 'root' and no password. After logging in in this way, I'm just left at a command prompt with no idea what I'm supposed to do next.
Could you perhaps supply a few pointers?
Perhaps it's not on the 9.3 disks. It is on the 10.1 install disk #1. You can download only that ISO and burn the CD or Google for Linux Rescue CD, which also has memtest -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
James Knott wrote:
Perhaps it's not on the 9.3 disks. It is on the 10.1 install disk #1. You can download only that ISO and burn the CD or Google for Linux Rescue CD, which also has memtest
I happen to have the 10.0 disks, so I gave that a go. Still the same options. So no luck there. So I tried to do an upgrade (why not, eh?). The thing just rebooted part way into the upgrade, so goodness only knows what state the system's in now. I'll have another go at upgrading tomorrow. It's too late at night now for me to do it today. Thanks for your help. Peter -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Wednesday 07 June 2006 17:50, Peter wrote:
I'll have another go at upgrading tomorrow. It's too late at night now for me to do it today.
It wasn't a good idea to try upgrading a broken system, Peter, particularly when the original cause of the breakage was unknown. Do you have data on that system you'd like to preserve? Do you have current backups? I think you're headed for a reinstall. Carl -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
Carl Hartung wrote:
It wasn't a good idea to try upgrading a broken system, Peter, particularly when the original cause of the breakage was unknown.
Well, there didn't appear to be much of an alternative ...
Do you have data on that system you'd like to preserve? Do you have current backups? I think you're headed for a reinstall.
I'll try again tomorrow. If it fails I'll try to rescue anything I can, but there's not much I can't replace - it's just a nuisance. I'd like to know why it happened. It's particularly galling that it's the Linux installation that's in trouble. XP's just fine. But I'm not going to start trolling or anything :) These things happen. Peter -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Wednesday 07 June 2006 18:36, Peter wrote:
It wasn't a good idea to try upgrading a broken system, Peter, particularly when the original cause of the breakage was unknown.
Well, there didn't appear to be much of an alternative ...
The preferred solution would have been to investigate the source of the original problem until you found and corrected it. Then you could have repaired the installed system and either used it as before or upgraded it. Now I suspect there's a 'hybrid' *broken_9.3->partial_10.0* system in place that might not repair using either of the install CD's.
Do you have data on that system you'd like to preserve? Do you have current backups? I think you're headed for a reinstall.
I'll try again tomorrow. If it fails I'll try to rescue anything I can, but there's not much I can't replace - it's just a nuisance.
It's a good thing none of your data is at risk. It'd be a really good idea to find the cause of the original problem so it doesn't rear it's ugly head again regardless of the version you install. One thing you definitely want to keep an eye on is how much free disk space you've got. I once had a system completely fall over and irretrievably trash the filesystem because it ran out of room when I was editing a huge photo gallery in The GIMP. By the time I figured out what was going on it was too late. I had backups, fortunately, and only the '/' filesystem was affected. good luck! Carl -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
The preferred solution would have been to investigate the source of the original problem until you found and corrected it. Then you could have repaired the installed system and either used it as before or upgraded it. Now I suspect there's a 'hybrid' *broken_9.3->partial_10.0* system in place that might not repair using either of the install CD's.
Yes. I would have preferred that too, but couldn't see a way forward. However, it's looking more and more like a h/w problem as time goes on. Windows has now started spontaneously re-booting on me. So it's clearly not just the Linux installation. Good job I didn't start trolling!
It's a good thing none of your data is at risk. It'd be a really good idea to find the cause of the original problem so it doesn't rear it's ugly head again regardless of the version you install.
Yes. Trouble is I don't see how. I can't even get to a login in Failsafe mode now (even before the aborted update).
One thing you definitely want to keep an eye on is how much free disk space you've got. I once had a system completely fall over and irretrievably trash the filesystem because it ran out of room when I was editing a huge photo gallery in The GIMP. By the time I figured out what was going on it was too late. I had backups, fortunately, and only the '/' filesystem was affected.
Definitely no problem there. I've got oodles of disk space.
good luck!
Heh. I think I may need it. That and money, 'cos it looks like a new box. Anyone have any recommendations? Peter -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
Peter wrote:
Yes. I would have preferred that too, but couldn't see a way forward. However, it's looking more and more like a h/w problem as time goes on. Windows has now started spontaneously re-booting on me. So it's clearly not just the Linux installation.
Good job I didn't start trolling!
It's a good thing none of your data is at risk. It'd be a really good idea to find the cause of the original problem so it doesn't rear it's ugly head again regardless of the version you install.
Yes. Trouble is I don't see how. I can't even get to a login in Failsafe mode now (even before the aborted update).
This demonstrates why you should boot from a CD and run memtest. If you can't do that successfully, you've likely got a hardware problem. -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
Peter wrote:
James Knott wrote:
Perhaps it's not on the 9.3 disks. It is on the 10.1 install disk #1. You can download only that ISO and burn the CD or Google for Linux Rescue CD, which also has memtest
I happen to have the 10.0 disks, so I gave that a go. Still the same options. So no luck there.
So I tried to do an upgrade (why not, eh?). The thing just rebooted part way into the upgrade, so goodness only knows what state the system's in now.
I'll have another go at upgrading tomorrow. It's too late at night now for me to do it today.
As long as you're upgrading, you might as well go for 10.1. -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
James Knott wrote:
As long as you're upgrading, you might as well go for 10.1.
Heh. Probably. But I've got the 10.0 disks, and I'm lazy. Typical programmer. I haven't seen anything that makes me really long for 10.1 over 10.0, to be honest. In fact I was quite happy staying with 9.3. But thanks for the suggestion. Cheers Peter -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
On Wednesday 07 June 2006 16:34, Peter wrote:
I tried rescue system, but it just presented me with a console login that only appeared to accept 'root' and no password. After logging in in this way, I'm just left at a command prompt with no idea what I'm supposed to do next.
Hi Peter, To access the 'repair installed system' option, you boot from CD1 and proceed as though you are going to perform a standard installation. This loads the installation kernel which will probe the hardware and ask some questions. At some point in the initialization sequence, it will detect the installed system and prompt you with a choice to 'repair installed system' or 'proceed with installation.' (paraphrased) Choose the repair option. It will examine the installed system and recommend repairs. I'm working from memory and the repair system has changed a bit with later releases, or I'd be more specific. Given your circumstances, I'd accept the full complement of proposed tests. If you can communicate here on SLE during the procedure, you can post any messages you don't understand and ask questions. Hopefully, I or someone else here can help you resolve this. regards, Carl -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
participants (3)
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Carl Hartung
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James Knott
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Peter