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Debian install blows?
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| ***** charles 2006-10-16, 7:15 pm |
| Hi all,
First I am a linux fan. Second I have done a lot of installs
with other distro's but have just started to install Debina on
a lot more machines. So here's the story.
I have a SuperMicro P6DBE with two P2-400's and 512M
of ram and a pci ati video card and one 8.6G ide hd. I
downloaded the 2 set dvd install and put the first one in and
booted the machine. Went through the "expert26" and
picked desktop and several other options. When it finally
finishes the install and reboots the last thing I see starting is
gdm and the screen goes blank. That's it.
<ctl> <alt> <bksp> doesn't work
<ctl> <alt> <f1> doesn't work
<ctl> <alt> <f2> doesn't work
nothing works, only choice is to reboot and it does the same
thing over and over.
Debian verion is Sarge 3.1r0 i386. I understand there is a newer
one out 3.1r3, wonder if it would do anything differently.
I guess I could install without the desktop and add it later.
But any other ideas?
I want it to boot to command mode and go into a gui when I
want to not when the computer want to.
I have heard that if I can get to a grub prompt, I can make it
boot to single user mode. If that's true what is the exact
command I would need to type in at the grub prompt?
thanks,
charles.....
| |
| s. keeling 2006-10-17, 1:14 am |
| ***** charles <someone@out-there.com>:
>
> First I am a linux fan. Second I have done a lot of installs
> with other distro's but have just started to install Debina on
> a lot more machines. So here's the story.
>
> I have a SuperMicro P6DBE with two P2-400's and 512M
> of ram and a pci ati video card and one 8.6G ide hd. I
Woof. :-)
> downloaded the 2 set dvd install and put the first one in and
> booted the machine. Went through the "expert26" and
> picked desktop and several other options. When it finally
> finishes the install and reboots the last thing I see starting is
> gdm and the screen goes blank. That's it.
This could mean X Window is misconfigured, and it could mean serious
interrupt confusion (mouse, IRQs, ...).
> <ctl> <alt> <bksp> doesn't work
> <ctl> <alt> <f1> doesn't work
> <ctl> <alt> <f2> doesn't work
What does CTRL-ALT-DEL do? That ought to do a "shutdown -r now".
Does it (does the box reboot)? If so, then it looks like
Linux/Debian/Sarge are fine and X Window is misconfigured. Easy to
fix.
> nothing works, only choice is to reboot and it does the same
> thing over and over.
> Debian verion is Sarge 3.1r0 i386. I understand there is a newer
> one out 3.1r3, wonder if it would do anything differently.
> I guess I could install without the desktop and add it later.
> But any other ideas?
It will help if you tell us everything you can about your video card,
and your mouse (just for the heck of it). What kind of ATI card, how
much video RAM, ...
> I want it to boot to command mode and go into a gui when I
> want to not when the computer want to.
Then you need to disable KDM/GDM/XDM/WDM/... This is also how I use
X: "startx" from a command line.
> I have heard that if I can get to a grub prompt, I can make it
> boot to single user mode. If that's true what is the exact
> command I would need to type in at the grub prompt?
Try "linux single"
Then login as root, and run "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86", then
disable KDM/... (et al; see /etc/init.d/*dm), then "init 2" (change from
single user to multi-user), login as user and try "startx".
I think you're almost there.
--
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(*) http://www.spots.ab.ca/~keeling Linux Counter #80292
- - http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1855.html Please, don't Cc: me.
Spammers! http://www.spots.ab.ca/~keeling/emails.html
| |
| ***** charles 2006-10-17, 1:14 am |
| "s. keeling" <keeling@spots.ab.ca> wrote in message
news:slrnej8i8a.6h0.keeling@heretic.spots.ab.ca...
> ***** charles <someone@out-there.com>:
>
> Woof. :-)
Yes. I thought the thing would be faster but I guess I have been
a little jaded by the P4's and Opterons.
>
> This could mean X Window is misconfigured, and it could mean serious
> interrupt confusion (mouse, IRQs, ...).
>
>
> What does CTRL-ALT-DEL do?
Nothing.
> That ought to do a "shutdown -r now"
I would if I could get a command prompt.
..
> Does it (does the box reboot)?
No, nothing. Bad keyboard? Just a thought. I can get into the
bios so at least the del key works.
> If so, then it looks like Linux/Debian/Sarge are fine and X
> Window is misconfigured. Easy to fix.
If I could get a command line.
>
> It will help if you tell us everything you can about your video card,
> and your mouse (just for the heck of it). What kind of ATI card, how
> much video RAM, ...
My computer is at another location for the moment. Sorry.
I think the video card is just a standard ATI Rage type pci with
1 or 2 megs of video ram. :The mouse is a standard scroll
mouse with two buttons. They seem to work ok with other
computers. The video card should at least do 1024x768 with
256 colors. :That would be wonderfull.
>
> Then you need to disable KDM/GDM/XDM/WDM/... This is also how I use
> X: "startx" from a command line.
That's what I would like to do to but can't get to a command prompt.
>
> Try "linux single"
Great, that's what I was looking for.
> Then login as root, and run "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86", then
> disable KDM/... (et al; see /etc/init.d/*dm), then "init 2" (change from
> single user to multi-user), login as user and try "startx".
> I think you're almost there.
Hope so. I unfortunatly picked the "Internet" type install for getting
the packages and the whole install took hours and hours at 40K bps
download speeds. Should have installed off the dvd's. Live and learn.
> Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
> (*) http://www.spots.ab.ca/~keeling Linux Counter #80292
> - - http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1855.html Please, don't Cc: me.
> Spammers! http://www.spots.ab.ca/~keeling/emails.html
Just some after thoughts. Debian has a reputation of being the
Linux version to run on servers since it has a rep of being really
stable and all. It seems that the installer is a bit stone age and
it doesn't work with a lot of modern stuff. Ubuntu, SuSE, FC5
etc... all seem to go a lot easier. I remember my first install of
Slackware a lllllooooonnnnggggg time ago, it took me two
weeks to get X and a gui to work. I hope with the next gen
of Debian comes out in December that they make major
improvements in the install and associated hardware that it runs
on automatically.
Thanks for the feedback.
later,
charles.....
| |
|
| ***** charles wrote:
>
> Just some after thoughts. Debian has a reputation of being the
> Linux version to run on servers since it has a rep of being really
> stable and all. It seems that the installer is a bit stone age and
> it doesn't work with a lot of modern stuff. Ubuntu, SuSE, FC5
> etc... all seem to go a lot easier. I remember my first install of
> Slackware a lllllooooonnnnggggg time ago, it took me two
> weeks to get X and a gui to work. I hope with the next gen
> of Debian comes out in December that they make major
> improvements in the install and associated hardware that it runs
> on automatically.
>
> Thanks for the feedback.
>
> later,
> charles.....
>
>
I think you need to do some reading on Debian and their philosophy on
the releases.
| |
| ***** charles 2006-10-17, 1:14 pm |
| > > Just some after thoughts. Debian has a reputation of being the
>
> I think you need to do some reading on Debian and their philosophy on
> the releases.
Any links you would like to suggest? So far I can only go by my
personal experience with "stable". I think I have an open mind.
later.....
| |
|
| On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 00:14:57 +0000, ***** charles wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> First I am a linux fan. Second I have done a lot of installs
> with other distro's but have just started to install Debina on
> a lot more machines. So here's the story.
>
> I have a SuperMicro P6DBE with two P2-400's and 512M
> of ram and a pci ati video card and one 8.6G ide hd. I
> downloaded the 2 set dvd install and put the first one in and
> booted the machine. Went through the "expert26" and
> picked desktop and several other options. When it finally
> finishes the install and reboots the last thing I see starting is
> gdm and the screen goes blank. That's it.
> <ctl> <alt> <bksp> doesn't work
> <ctl> <alt> <f1> doesn't work
> <ctl> <alt> <f2> doesn't work
> nothing works, only choice is to reboot and it does the same
> thing over and over.
> Debian verion is Sarge 3.1r0 i386. I understand there is a newer
> one out 3.1r3, wonder if it would do anything differently.
> I guess I could install without the desktop and add it later.
> But any other ideas?
> I want it to boot to command mode and go into a gui when I
> want to not when the computer want to.
> I have heard that if I can get to a grub prompt, I can make it
> boot to single user mode. If that's true what is the exact
> command I would need to type in at the grub prompt?
>
> thanks,
> charles.....
A few months ago I got the book "The Debian System" from nostarch press.
It included the 3.1r0a DVD. I have done an install from that DVD with no
difficulty.
| |
| ***** charles 2006-10-17, 7:16 pm |
| > A few months ago I got the book "The Debian System" from nostarch press.
> It included the 3.1r0a DVD. I have done an install from that DVD with no
> difficulty.
I will probably download and burn the latest stable version and try again.
later.....
| |
|
| On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 21:49:08 +0000, ***** charles wrote:
>
> I will probably download and burn the latest stable version and try again.
>
> later.....
You might find it a little simpler to install one of the Debian
derivatives like: Knoppix, Ubuntu or Elive.
| |
|
| ***** charles wrote:
>
>
> I will probably download and burn the latest stable version and try again.
>
> later.....
>
>
Stable may not be your best choice depending on your hardware. It's a
bit old and out of date but very stable. Etch/testing has newer hardware
support on it but remember it is testing.
| |
| ***** charles 2006-10-18, 1:14 pm |
| "ray" <ray@zianet.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.10.17.22.01.15.323349@zianet.com...
> On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 21:49:08 +0000, ***** charles wrote:
>
press.[vbcol=seagreen]
no[vbcol=seagreen]
again.[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> You might find it a little simpler to install one of the Debian
> derivatives like: Knoppix, Ubuntu or Elive.
You are correct. I have used both Knoppix and Ubuntu extensively
but for this computer I want Debian and since I don't have near the
experience with Debian I am at the early stages of the learning curve.
It will get better Every distro has its' own set of problems/benefits.
thanks.....
| |
| ***** charles 2006-10-18, 1:14 pm |
| "jason" <me@invalid.address.com> wrote in message
news:TBmZg.85112$vi3.12279@fe02.news.easynews.com...
> ***** charles wrote:
again.[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Stable may not be your best choice depending on your hardware. It's a
> bit old and out of date but very stable. Etch/testing has newer hardware
> support on it but remember it is testing.
I like the idea of stable. The P2 based system should have hardware
that is detected and properly used. I picked Debian stable because
of its characteristics/advantages.
thanks......
| |
|
| On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:58:03 +0000, ***** charles wrote:
> "ray" <ray@zianet.com> wrote in message
> news:pan.2006.10.17.22.01.15.323349@zianet.com...
> press.
> no
> again.
>
> You are correct. I have used both Knoppix and Ubuntu extensively
> but for this computer I want Debian and since I don't have near the
> experience with Debian I am at the early stages of the learning curve.
> It will get better Every distro has its' own set of problems/benefits.
>
> thanks.....
As I recall, one of the options for doing a Knoppix install to disk is to
have it do a pure debian system.
| |
| ***** charles 2006-10-18, 7:15 pm |
| "ray" <ray@zianet.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.10.18.19.37.09.884510@zianet.com...
> On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:58:03 +0000, ***** charles wrote:
>
with[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> As I recall, one of the options for doing a Knoppix install to disk is to
> have it do a pure debian system.
Most of my experience with Knoppix is as a live cd. Ubuntu is based
on Debian but the repositories are NOT the same. I wanted to use
the Debian repositories for the updates and installs, one of the reasons
for picking the Debian dvd. I know one can cross them but I didn't
want to do that.
later.....
| |
| Gary Dale 2006-10-19, 7:12 pm |
| ***** charles wrote:
> "jason" <me@invalid.address.com> wrote in message
> news:TBmZg.85112$vi3.12279@fe02.news.easynews.com...
> again.
>
> I like the idea of stable. The P2 based system should have hardware
> that is detected and properly used. I picked Debian stable because
> of its characteristics/advantages.
>
> thanks......
>
>
I recall that P2s were a bit testy when it came to running in
dual-processor systems. Have you tried install a single-processor kernel
then upgrading to an SMP kernel later?
Also, try installing without X (deselect the desktop system components).
See if you can get a basic server version running first.
| |
| s. keeling 2006-10-20, 1:13 am |
| ***** charles <someone@out-there.com>:
> "s. keeling" <keeling@spots.ab.ca> wrote in message
> news:slrnej8i8a.6h0.keeling@heretic.spots.ab.ca...
>
>
> Nothing.
>
Then my guess is hardware lockup. You've an IRQ conflict I think.
[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> No, nothing. Bad keyboard? Just a thought. I can get into the
> bios so at least the del key works.
BIOS is before OS takes over. My guess is two devices think the same
IRQ is theirs. This happened to me a lot in the old days using serial
mice.
USB? USB keyboard? USB mouse? USB printer? Anything else? What
else do you have plugged into that box?
>
> If I could get a command line.
.... And eliminate the conflict beforehand.
>
> My computer is at another location for the moment. Sorry.
> I think the video card is just a standard ATI Rage type pci with
> 1 or 2 megs of video ram. :The mouse is a standard scroll
> mouse with two buttons. They seem to work ok with other
> computers. The video card should at least do 1024x768 with
> 256 colors. :That would be wonderfull.
What's the mouse plugged into? USB? PS/2?
>
> Great, that's what I was looking for.
Let us know what happens.
>
> Hope so. I unfortunatly picked the "Internet" type install for getting
> the packages and the whole install took hours and hours at 40K bps
"Netinst". I once left "apt-get dist-upgrade" running all weekend, over
a 28.8k modem. :-) Sucked, but had to be done.
> Just some after thoughts. Debian has a reputation of being the
> Linux version to run on servers since it has a rep of being really
> stable and all. It seems that the installer is a bit stone age and
> it doesn't work with a lot of modern stuff. Ubuntu, SuSE, FC5
> etc... all seem to go a lot easier. I remember my first install of
> Slackware a lllllooooonnnnggggg time ago, it took me two
> weeks to get X and a gui to work. I hope with the next gen
> of Debian comes out in December that they make major
> improvements in the install and associated hardware that it runs
> on automatically.
Debian's made major strides in its installer lately, but don't expect
a full-blown GUI install anytime soon. We don't consider character
based (n)curses GUIs "stone-age". Debian doesn't think that way. If
you want that, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, ... may be more to your
taste. Check out the Slackware based "Zenwalk" too. It's well worth
the look.
Debian's job is (and always has been) to produce "stable". Anything
more you get from it is gravy.
--
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(*) http://www.spots.ab.ca/~keeling Linux Counter #80292
- - http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1855.html Please, don't Cc: me.
Spammers! http://www.spots.ab.ca/~keeling/emails.html
| |
| ***** charles 2006-10-20, 1:13 am |
| "s. keeling" <keeling@spots.ab.ca> wrote in message
news:slrnejghfe.6h0.keeling@heretic.spots.ab.ca...
> ***** charles <someone@out-there.com>:
>
> Then my guess is hardware lockup. You've an IRQ conflict I think.
>
>
> BIOS is before OS takes over. My guess is two devices think the same
> IRQ is theirs. This happened to me a lot in the old days using serial
> mice.
>
> USB? USB keyboard? USB mouse? USB printer? Anything else? What
> else do you have plugged into that box?
Standard ps2 keyboard and mouse. HD is ide. Both the video
card and the nic are pci. There is an agp slot but it is empty.
I'll try moving the nic card to another pci slot. (good insight)
The video card is plugged in the pci slot right next to it and the
mic card is plugged in right next to the video card. The
motherboard has 5 pci slots I think. Moving the nic card
around may help. The network did work while the system
was in "install mode".
>
> ... And eliminate the conflict beforehand.
>
>
> What's the mouse plugged into? USB? PS/2?
>
>
> Let us know what happens.
I will. I'll be infront of the machine Saturday afternoon. I plan on
taking
a different nic card and an agp graphics card to see if that makes any
difference if booting into single mode doesn't work.
from[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> "Netinst". I once left "apt-get dist-upgrade" running all weekend, over
> a 28.8k modem. :-) Sucked, but had to be done.
>
>
> Debian's made major strides in its installer lately, but don't expect
> a full-blown GUI install anytime soon. We don't consider character
> based (n)curses GUIs "stone-age". Debian doesn't think that way. If
> you want that, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, ... may be more to your
> taste. Check out the Slackware based "Zenwalk" too. It's well worth
> the look.
>
> Debian's job is (and always has been) to produce "stable". Anything
> more you get from it is gravy.
That's why I picked it for this particular situation.
thanks,
charles.....
> Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
> (*) http://www.spots.ab.ca/~keeling Linux Counter #80292
> - - http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1855.html Please, don't Cc: me.
> Spammers! http://www.spots.ab.ca/~keeling/emails.html
| |
| ***** charles 2006-10-20, 1:13 am |
| "Gary Dale" <garydale@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:B4Cdna1FzJctSKrYnZ2dnUVZ_sidnZ2d@gi
ganews.com...
> ***** charles wrote:
press.[vbcol=seagreen]
no[vbcol=seagreen]
hardware[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> I recall that P2s were a bit testy when it came to running in
> dual-processor systems. Have you tried install a single-processor kernel
> then upgrading to an SMP kernel later?
>
> Also, try installing without X (deselect the desktop system components).
> See if you can get a basic server version running first.
During the standard install, it uses a single kernel default. So it is not
running a multicpu kernel. That was one of the things to be upgraded to.
This was the first install process on this particular machine. Doing a
minimal install was second if I can't get around this boot problem.
thanks,
charles....
| |
| gregor herrmann 2006-10-20, 1:12 pm |
| On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:43:42 GMT, s. keeling wrote:
> Debian's made major strides in its installer lately, but don't expect
> a full-blown GUI install anytime soon.
The new installer (which is in "release candidate" state right now)
has a GUI and it will be shipped with the release of etch, which is
due in December.
gregor
--
.''`. http://info.comodo.priv.at/ | gpg key ID: 0x00F3CFE4
: :' : debian: the universal operating system - http://www.debian.org/
`. `' member of https://www.vibe.at/ | how to reply: http://got.to/quote/
`- NP: Kurt Ostbahn & Die Kombo: So gern so vü
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