Can't Seem to Get Mandrake 9.0 Installed

[Hey15Bob]

After I downloaded the iso's for mandrake 9.0 and burned them to disk, I put it in my CD drive under WinXP and a window popped up asking me what I wanted to do. I chose "Install Mandrake Linux". A message came up notifying me that my computer would reboot. I clicked "OK" and the computer rebooted and started the installer. I went through and chose the mouse and keyboard, the formatting options, and the packages that I wanted to install. I clicked the install button and the installation began. I changed the CD when it asked for the second CD and clicked "OK". It continued installing but it froze at about the 50% mark. I waited 15 minutes and it still didn't change. I rebooted and started the installation over from the CD. I followed the same steps as before but excluded the package that caused it to freeze. The installer froze at about 50% but it was a different package. I restarted and started the installation over and excluded that package. This happened 5 more times, then I rebooted and when it tried to load from the CD, i got a message that said "Fatal Error", so I rebooted and rmoved the CD and let my computer Boot into Windows. I burned the iso's again on new dics and now they won't load under Windows the way they did the first time. I downloaded new iso files and burned them but I have the same problem.

I am using NERO Burning Rom v5.572.

I tried using RedHat Linux but could not run XWindows because it didn't support my GeForce4Ti440. I saw in the hardware compatibility list that my card is supported under Mandrake 9.0.

If anyone could tell me what may be causing this, or has any suggestions on how to fix it, that would be greatly appreciated.

[scott_R]

I'm sorry I can't help about your problem, but I can offer one bit of advice. This is perhaps a pet peeve of mine, but I've about had it with distros that try to claim an advantage by saying they are compatible with nvidia cards. This causes nothign but a bad name for linux.

In truth, both redhat and mandrake, as well as SuSE, debian, and most other linux systems support nvidia cards. The caveat is that they do it by down loading the driver from nvidia's site and insalling it during an update. That would be fine, if it only worked for everybody.

Problem is, it doesn't work for most. I'd guess nvidia gets 100+ hits to thier site each day from people that have problems. Most problems are with the rpms, easily solved by downloading the .tar files, unpacking them, and following the instructions. If only nvidia (considering they have only ati as competition), would work with linux companies instead of jealously holding on to their software (do they, or don't they just sell licenses? why are they so anal?), perhaps linux could take a step towards knocking windows off it's gaming pedistal. (Windows was never good at that anyway.)

I guess what I'm trying to say is try out redhat, use the generic nv driver (redhat should find it, don't worry), then download nvidia's .tar drivers, and install them. If you have problems once you try nvidia's drivers, make sure nvidia knows, because they are the ones that think thier half *** written software is too precious to let anyone use.

[Hey15Bob]

True...True


But I tried using RedHat and I can't boot into X. I get a text based logon. After I log in i try typing startx but i get errors. I setup x using the standard nv driver that is included with RH. I tried using th RPM's to no avail.

Anyway, I don't know how to use tar files.

If you could please walk me through that process, it would be great. I also am unable to access the internet while i'm under redhat.

What I need to know is:
*Can I download the files under windows and burn them to cd?
*Do I need to transfer the files from the CD to the hard drive before i can compile them?
*How do I compile them?
*Do i need to reconfigure X after I install from the tar files?
*If I do, how would I go about that?
*Where do I get the tar files?

[ShieldWolf]

There seems to be a trick to getting good burns with NERO. Try doing a search here.

Sorry I can't be more help, but I don't use NERO.

[Hey15Bob]

Any recomendations on what program to use?:confused:

I never had problems before but of course, that doesn't mean I can't be having problems now.

[dprice1221]

If you could please walk me through that process, it would be great. I also am unable to access the internet while i'm under redhat.

yes, you can download the files in Win and burn to CD

once in rh at the prompt you can type cp /mnt/cdrom/whateverfile /home/username/whateverplace

also make sure you download the text file provided by nvidia. open it, use pico or whatever editor/viewer you know how to use. follow instructions, they were nice enough to give us a step by step installation guide (great for newbies - helped me)

Just a hint, always look for the readme file, 9 out of 10 times it will tell you what you want to know.:)

[Nu-Bee]

Originally posted by Hey15Bob
After I downloaded the iso's for mandrake 9.0 and burned them to disk, I put it in my CD drive under WinXP and a window popped up asking me what I wanted to do.

Why are you inserting the CD in Windows?

Shut the system down or reboot using the CD...there is absolutley no reason to go into windows first.

Try it that way...

[mdwatts]

http://linuxnewbie.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=77741 for help and links to a great nvidia tutorial.