Caldera's eDesktop 2.4

[Robert Keneely]

I am attempting to install eDesktop 2.4 as an alternate Linux. The job goes "pretty good", there are some hang ups when the cursor "freezes" but eventually the installation is completed.

The problem is on initial boot up. After the kernal is loaded the following lines appear.

Minimum System Preparation
Checking file system .................................... fail

Does this mean what I think it does ???
That the CD is corrupted !
And the entire loading procedure is no good.

An option appears to "boot as root user" but I don't know what [if anything] I can do there.

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by Robert Keneely
Does this mean what I think it does ???
That the CD is corrupted !
And the entire loading procedure is no good.


I never had a single problem when I was using eDesktop 2.4 on my home and work pc's. Now I'm of course either running OpenLinux Workstation/Server 3.1.1 or SCO Linux Server 4.0 (based on UnitedLinux 1.0).

Since you completed the installation process, I doubt the problem could be attributed to a cd media problem.

What hardware are you using?

What partitions did you create?

What other operating systems are installed on the same pc?

[Robert Keneely]

mdwatts,

Thanks for response, to answer your questions. I am using a 10 gig WD HD that is installed as a 3rd HD.

My "Primary Computer" [see signature] has a Trios HD Switcher. This drive is "separate" from all other HD's but shares the rest of the hardware.

The 1st drive is 40 gig Win98SE only, the 2nd drive is the one I listed, dual- boot Win98SE & Mandrake.

This drive is installed as what WD Tech Support calls "a single" meaning there is NO jumper. I got this drive "used" at a computer show and somebody WIPED IT CLEAN i.e. no partitions and no FAT.

Caldera created one partition with root and swap. I don't remember exact size but was something like 3500 & 256.

I did further T/S and got the following.

"fsck failed (see output on tty11!) Please repair manually and reboot.
Please note the root file system is currently mounted read-only.

To remount it read-write:

# mount -n -o remount, rw/ "

I "barely" understand what this means [don't let the 100 posts fool you, they are ALL questions]. I believe the "key" info is "fsck failed".

Now your challenge is to explain it to me so that I can fix it.

[mdwatts]

I have to leave for work in a few minutes though I will try to have a further look at your problem during the day.

[Robert Keneely]

I did a Google Search of "fsck" and, to me, it appears to be similar to DOS "Scandisk" with the added feature of being able to repair.

Now, it looks like "fsck failed" in its attempt to repair the as yet unidentified "problem".

My one "ray of hope" is that line "Please repair manually and reboot".

Now all I have to do is learn "how & where" to perform this manual repair.

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by Robert Keneely

Caldera created one partition with root and swap. I don't remember exact size but was something like 3500 & 256.

I did further T/S and got the following.

"fsck failed (see output on tty11!) Please repair manually and reboot.
Please note the root file system is currently mounted read-only.

To remount it read-write:

# mount -n -o remount, rw/ "


I find it kinda odd that checking the filesystem fails on the first boot after installation. Linux hasn't really had a chance to possibly mess up the filesystem.

Are you sure the drive is ok?

At the prompt and while the partition is still mounted as readonly, try running

fsck.ext2 -p /dev/hd?#

or

fsck.ext2 -p /

may work. Change hd?# to the correct device and partition number.

[Robert Keneely]

This is what I found on the Google search.

http://nscp.upenn.edu/aix4.3html/cmds/aixcmds2/fsck.htm

I haven't really studied or tried to understand it yet !

I just saw your last posting. I will try and run the commands you gave.

I also plan to Fdisk/Format the drive one more time then reinstall Caldera. I will make "notes" of what happens including numbers.

One last thought, I am using Win98SE boot disk to Fdisk/format. It sets up the drive for Windows installation.

Should I leave it exactly "as is" including Command.com ?? Caldera will format the partitions "again" during the installation.

[mdwatts]

If the drive is to be dedicated to Linux, then only use the Win/Dos version of fdisk to delete the existing partitions and not to partition the drive before the Linux installation.

Install eDesktop 2.4 using 'Expert Mode' so you have greater control over the entire installation process including deleting and creating partitions.

Actually do not use the Win/Dos fdisk at all and only use the Linux partitioning tools during the installation to delete/create.

http://support.caldera.com/caldera may be of some help.

BTW... the link you posted is for AIX (IBM's Unix).

[Robert Keneely]

Originally posted by mdwatts
If the drive is to be dedicated to Linux, then only use the Win/Dos version of fdisk to delete the existing partitions and not to partition the drive before the Linux installation.

Install eDesktop 2.4 using 'Expert Mode' so you have greater control over the entire installation process including deleting and creating partitions.

Actually do not use the Win/Dos fdisk at all and only use the Linux partitioning tools during the installation to delete/create.

http://support.caldera.com/caldera may be of some help.

BTW... the link you posted is for AIX (IBM's Unix).

As you can see I haven't figured out how to use the quote option.

No. 1 problem - "household chores" are keeping me from getting back to this.

I have already tried about half a dozen installation "options" but they ALL have resulted in "fsck fail" !!!

I am a little confused about your formatting recommendation. I have to have "some kind" of format on drive before I can even run the Caldera CD. When the option comes up to
1) Use existing partitions.
2) Use entire disk.
I choose "entire disk" and then Caldera does a "Linux format" of the drive. [This is where I got those partition size numbers from]

This weekend, I will make a "plain vanilla" floppy, with just Format and Fdisk on it and try to reformat the drive with that.

More later, RK

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by Robert Keneely

I am a little confused about your formatting recommendation. I have to have "some kind" of format on drive before I can even run the Caldera CD. When the option comes up to
1) Use existing partitions.
2) Use entire disk.
I choose "entire disk" and then Caldera does a "Linux format" of the drive. [This is where I got those partition size numbers from]

This weekend, I will make a "plain vanilla" floppy, with just Format and Fdisk on it and try to reformat the drive with that.

More later, RK

Leave anything MS related out of this as you DO NOT need to use format/fdisk from MS to prepare your HD before installing Linux. Never did and never will as Linux is a operating system in itself and includes all the necessary tools to prepare a HD prior to or during installation.

Delete ALL the partitions on the HD and let the eDesktop installer (in expert mode) and of course with direction from you, create the required partitions.

[Robert Keneely]

Well, we come to the end of this string.

INSTALLATION:
I took your advice and removed ALL partitions and loaded CD again. I was reluctant to do this because of initial problems I had with this "used" drive.

On my first attempts to Format/Fdisk this drive I was getting messages:

"No fixed disk present" and "Could not find a valid FAT"

I figured I paid $30 for somebody else's junk. But in a call to WD Tech Support I learned about a "single" drive rather then a "master" or "slave". By putting the jumper "sideways" and installing it as the ONLY drive on the ribbon data cable, the drive becomes a "single" and can be Fdisked & Formatted.

The actual loading got a "little screwed up" [I think I might have clicked the NEXT button a little too fast]. Because I got sort of a "Recommended/Default" installation.

I did not get a choice of packages and several screens that I had seen on previous loadings were skipped. BUT I did get

Checking file-system ............................... OK
Then after a L-O-N-G pause .................... Load KDE

REVIEW:

I think I will reinstall using the "expert" mode that you recommended. Because I would rather have GNOME over KDE.

My 72 year old eyes noticed that the font size is TINY !! So I think "I'll be back" [As Arnold says] with a lot more questions.

But, MDWatt I want to thank you for staying with me thru to a successful conclusion.
R W K

[mdwatts]

Glad to have helped and to see you are on the road to a successful installation.

Gnome? I cannot remember if eDesktop 2.4 included Gnome or not or if I had to install Ximian Gnome or it was on the 'extra' cd.

I'll try to have a look around to see if eD has the extra/contrib cd available.

<edit>

I don't believe eDesktop 2.4 has the 'skunkware' iso image as the newer versions have.

ftp://ftp.iso.caldera.com/pub/

You may only have KDE to use.

You could try OpenLinux Workstation 3.1.1 instead as it has both KDE and Gnome.