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Ace_Armstrong
01-09-2003, 02:42 PM
Running into a problem. I have an old Packard Bell P200 that someone gave me that I thought I might as well put to good use as an experimental web server (not on the actual internet; just on my local network as a testing device). Went to install Slackware 8 and about a third of the way through the installation, it just stops functioning. Same place every time: during installation of the C library support files. Anyone seen this before?
jetblackz
01-09-2003, 03:29 PM
Could be either

a) bad burn
b) outdated CD drive that doesn't read new CDR's
gig2k1s
01-09-2003, 03:42 PM
might want to try passing the parameter "ide=nodma" to the kernel. We had similar problems with a few of our servers.
Ace_Armstrong
01-09-2003, 03:51 PM
Originally posted by gig2k1s
might want to try passing the parameter "ide=nodma" to the kernel. We had similar problems with a few of our servers.
Interesting.

At what point would I pass that parameter? (I'm just telling it to do the full install without my intervention)
otbibb
01-09-2003, 04:07 PM
this definitely sounds like a bad CD to me. Did you test the MD5 of the iso you downloaded? I'd try reburning the iso, if it passes the md5 test, and re-downloading if it doesn't.

This assumes, of course, that you burned the ISO yourself...

BB
saturn-vk
01-09-2003, 04:11 PM
is the cd scrached?

btw the ide=nodma is a kernel command, passed at boot (when you boot from the cd rom)
Ace_Armstrong
01-09-2003, 04:37 PM
Originally posted by otbibb
this definitely sounds like a bad CD to me. Did you test the MD5 of the iso you downloaded? I'd try reburning the iso, if it passes the md5 test, and re-downloading if it doesn't.

This assumes, of course, that you burned the ISO yourself...

Which I didn't. I had trouble getting the server to stay connected long enough for me to get a complete download, so I borrowed it from a friend (who was, unfortunately, on his way out of town for a week).

I'm a complete noob, so I'm not really sure what testing the MD5 consists of. I'm trying to get another DL right now (I started in before I left for work this morning), so that might be useful info to have this evening.

I checked the CD to see if it was scratched and it wasn't--at least, not visibly--but like I said I'm trying another download. Everyone keeps telling me that Red Hat is a much easier install, but I had a LOT of trouble getting a reliable DL from their server. A bit popular, I'm guessing. :cool:
jetblackz
01-09-2003, 11:40 PM
Correct. I avoid popular distros. My current is knoppix based on Debian. Plus I prefer European ftp's.

To check md5 sum,

md5sum *.iso
jetblackz
01-09-2003, 11:41 PM
Correct. I avoid popular distros. My current is knoppix based on Debian. Plus I prefer European ftp's.

To check md5 sum,

md5sum *.iso
Ace_Armstrong
01-10-2003, 06:14 PM
Turns out it was a bad CD. My friend had given me the wrong one, but his brother brought the correct one over and it worked.

Next problem: I configured it (using SETUP) to launch GNOME, but all I am getting is the standard text-only interface. (Bear in mind that I am a COMPLETE newb to linux.)

When I type "startx" I get "fatal server error: no screens found"

Clues anyone?
Ace_Armstrong
01-10-2003, 10:30 PM
Never ye mind. Figured it out after much hoo-ha. The problem was that the video card was not what I thought it was!

Woo-hoo! Running Slackware! Getting my party on!

(Who woulda thought this old P200 would be worth anything?)