Topic awaiting preservation: Problems installing Linux

I "inherited" a computer and am attempting to install Linux on it.

Computer Specs (not the best but good):

20gig Seagate drive
384 RAM
AMD Duron 800Mhz
MSI motherboard

I have tried 3 different distributions including Ubuntu, Slackware and Ach. Everyone of the fail at some point during the install of packages of either the base system or the remaining packages. They are different each time so really can't list all of them. They can range from something pkgconfig to vim to the bootsrap not loading.

I do know the computer worked fine. It was running Windows XP without any problems. So I am not sure what to check from here. If the CD's were bad, I could see that one of the installs would crash but all 3!??!

Just not sure what to check, anyone got any suggestions?

thanks in advance and sorry for so little info.

Later,

C:\

http://morphix.org/

Run the LiveCD - if it works, you know it works - just hit the install button to install and you'll have Debian installed.

As for the others...well, those silly GUI installers just usually suck; sometimes you have to run steps over and over before they work.

If nothing else works (or if you're just feeling adventurous), join #gentoo on irc.freenode.net and get crackin'.

I use Fedora for my linux installations so I'm not at all familiar with the distributions you mentioned.

I would suggest you try two things.

1) You said that at least one of the distributions is getting to the point of installing additional packages. Go back to that one and try installing bare bones with no additional packages and see if you can get it running that way.

2) You didn't say whether you are using a graphical user interface on the install. I have a older machine (much older and smaller than the one you describe) The only way I can install linux on it is to type "linux text" and install using text mode.

Once the installation stops, can you access the machine in any way, or is it completely hung? If you have some access try switching to a different text console to see if there are any useful error messages. From the text install, use <Alt><F2>, <Alt><F3>, or <Alt><F4> to get to the other terminals. From the GUI install, use <Ctrl><Alt><F1>, <Ctrl><Alt><F2>, <Ctrl><Alt><F3>, or <Ctrl><Alt><F4> to get to the other terminals. Also, the installer keeps a log in /root/install.log. The log for upgrades is /root/upgrade.log. You can see them if you boot into rescue mode with your CD.

.



-- not necessarily stoned... just beautiful.

well the distros that I mentioned don't use a graphical interface. They are pretty basic.

Arch says in it's 1st time install guide to install the base packages and then go back and install the rest. So that is what I am going to try to do.

I have a couple of other live cd's (Knoppix, puppy and unbuntu) but I'll give reisio's suggestion a go.

So if the live CD works then everything should install just fine with a full version? That means that the copy that I have has become corrupt? I tried one copy of Slackware that I have used a couple of times and it even crapped out.

Thanks for the advice. I'll give the live CD a swing and if that works, I might hop over to gentoo and give that a go

Later,

C:\

Use arch and be surprised, since my experience with arch i think it's the best you can do to get the most out of your system with the least effort.
But there some catches one of them is in the packages you select for install. You will always need to select the "base" packages otherwise the installer starts to complain about missing this or that or something else. So the folowing install procedure will work for you:

-1 Boot from CD
-2 Log on as root (as stated in the onscreen text)
-3 Start optional services (again see onscreen text)
-4 Go through intsaller (prepare disks, select base package etc).
This should give you a bootable system with some basic functionality
-5 Remove CD and Reboot
-6 (Otional) Logon as root don't worry about your password yet. Try some basic commands like "ls" or "cd .."
-6a (Optional) Replace CD and type "reboot"
-7 log on as root
-8 Press "Alt + F2" and log on as root in this second console.
-9 Type: "mount /dev/hdc /mnt/cdrom" or "mount /dev/hdc /mnt/cd" where hdc is the master from the secondary ide chanel
-10Type: "zcat /mnt/cdrom/arch/archdoc.txt |less" this gives you the arch manual
-11 Switch back to the first screen with "Alt + F1"
-12 Load the needed drivers and restart the installer
-13 DO NOT use the auto-partition function from the installer, but select the manual method, select each partion an select 'do not format this partition' for all of them.
-14 Select all the needed packages INCLUDED the "base" packages
-15 Configure your system (swap with "Alt + F1" <--> "Alt + F2" between the installer and the manual for more info).
If you are going to use "hwd" you don't need any modules to be loaded (maybe the network module so you can connect to the internet)
-16 (Optional) If don't have a dual boot system select "lilo" as bootloader and add "compact" to the end of the "lilo.conf" file.
This makes the bootmenu disapear and thus a bit faster booting the system up again.
-17 Exit the installer, remove the CD and reboot
Now you have Arch installed!. But there are some loose ends which need your attention:

1) When logged on run "passwd" and give root a decent password

2)Addusers:
Run "adduser". With this script you can create a new user, select "users" in the initial group and at least "wheel" in optional groups
This way you can become root for a while when needed without loggin off (DANGEROUS! but very handy) use the command "su" to become root use "exit" to return to the normal user.

3)Install hwd (hardware detector)
- Run "pacman -Syu" to synchronize your package database
- Run "pacman -S hwd" to install hwd
- Run nano /etc/rc.conf and look for the "DEAMONS" section,
- put a "!" before "hotplug" and add "hwd" before all other deamons mentioned. Now your sytem loads all needed hardware modules right after booting up the kernel so all other deamons and all programs can use the hardware.

NOW you realy have an Arch system!


Finaly some usable tips:

Install "foo" package: "pacman -S foo"
Remove "foo" package: "pacman -R foo"

Info about installed hardware:
hwd -s

Info about memory and disk usage:
hwd -y

Info about hwd:
hwd

good luck

.........................................................................
:: Develop yourself, develop your life, develop the world ::
.........................................................................

(Edited by Rinswind 2th on 02-12-2006 02:25)

ok. thanks for that detailed post Rinswind. I did get the live cd of Ubuntu running. Just installed it really. So I guess that the cd's are just bad? Kind of strange that all three copies are bad.

Arch is the one that I got the base package to install but I tried to install some of the packages and that is where it crapped out on me. I'm going to give your method a go tomorrow though. Thanks!

Later,

C:\

It may not be a conincidence if they were all burnt on the same hardware; a bad burner could skew the whole deal and ruin each image. If you didn't burn them, I have no idea.

Just a thought,
DC

thanks for all the help. I have decided to just can this little project for now before I either throw the computer into the street or run around the block screaming.

After about 20 attempts to install different distros with different copies, I still can not get it to install. I have installed Linux probably 50 times and this is the first time that the initial install has given me this much trouble. Live CD's work but I go to install it and it crashes. I switched HD's and CD-ROMs to see if that was the problem and nothing.

I used different burners and still...nothing.

So, thanks for the help. I'll get back to doing this again after things start to settle down with other projects.

Later,

C:\

The laptop does not like linux.... too bad. Try installing win2000 or winxp when you have some time for it.

.........................................................................
:: Develop yourself, develop your life, develop the world ::
.........................................................................