(SOLVED) PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot

[batzilla]

I've been using Linux for some time now, but I still can't seem to grasp much.  I've been using PCLinux 2009 since it was new and it runs so well, I've not needed to do much, except things need to be updated and I wanted to try PCLinuxOS 2012.  I purchased the liveCD from on-disk.com.  When I try to load the liveCD, it runs for a long time and seems to be booting, but then I get this message on a black screen:

PCLinux OS release 2012 (PCLinuxOS) for i586
Kernel 2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs on an i686 / tty1
Localhost login: _

I'm using a Dell Dimension 4500 with KDE 3.5.10 and kernel 2.6.26.8.tex3 on an i626 machine.  I have two hard drives with Windoze on one, but I don't use it.  Here is the output from fdisk -l

[root@localhost buck]# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hdb: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hdb1   *           1        1019     8185086   83  Linux
/dev/hdb2            1020       38913   304383555    5  Extended
/dev/hdb5            1020        1528     4088511   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hdb6            1529       38913   300294981   83  Linux

I have run mediacheck, and it comes back good.  I've booted in video safe mode - FBDEV and got the desktop, but after a few minutes, it went away and I forgot what the message was.  Can anyone help?  I haven't tried safe mode yet.  Would that be an option?

Thanks

[Yankee]

PCLinux OS release 2012 (PCLinuxOS) for i586
Kernel 2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs on an i686 / tty1
Localhost login: _

Hi,

One thing you could try is:  login there as root and then type
startx and hit enter.   What video driver does that machine use ?

FF

[Old-Polack]

I've been using Linux for some time now, but I still can't seem to grasp much.  I've been using PCLinux 2009 since it was new and it runs so well, I've not needed to do much, except things need to be updated and I wanted to try PCLinuxOS 2012.  I purchased the liveCD from on-disk.com.  When I try to load the liveCD, it runs for a long time and seems to be booting, but then I get this message on a black screen:

PCLinux OS release 2012 (PCLinuxOS) for i586
Kernel 2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs on an i686 / tty1
Localhost login: _

Your subject line is in error; the highlighted text above is your login prompt, proving you have indeed booted. Your problem is that the X server hasn't started.

[batzilla]

I did as Ferdes Fides suggested and ran startx.  This is some of the info I got back:

Current version of pixman: 0.24.0
Then I got several lines of stuff that didn't look important, so I left them out.
(EE) NVIDIA(0): failed to allocate/map the Primary Surface!
Fatal server error:
AddScreen/ScreenInit failed for Driver 0
Please consult the X.org Foundation support at http://pclinuxos.com for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log"
xinit: Giving up
xinit: unable to connect to Xserver:Connection refused
xinit: server error

I have an NV17 GeForce4 MX 420 video card.  I don't know what the driver is.

Thanks again, guys.

[Yankee]

I did as Ferdes Fides suggested and ran startx.  This is some of the info I got back:

Current version of pixman: 0.24.0
Then I got several lines of stuff that didn't look important, so I left them out.
(EE) NVIDIA(0): failed to allocate/map the Primary Surface!
Fatal server error:
AddScreen/ScreenInit failed for Driver 0
Please consult the X.org Foundation support at http://pclinuxos.com for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log"
xinit: Giving up
xinit: unable to connect to Xserver:Connection refused
xinit: server error

I have an NV17 GeForce4 MX 420 video card.  I don't know what the driver is.

Thanks again, guys.

You could use the do-vesa package from Synaptic as a temporary driver
but the LiveCD would have to install the OS someplace.   That's KDE ?

Also, there's a fairly big upgrade for KDE presently going on so be aware
of that too.

A few steps I see to get it almost 100 % working.

regards,

FF

[CaptainSarcastic]

You could try safe mode - I would think you should be able to run VESA just fine.

Is that GeForce 4 an AGP card, or PCI?

Are there onboard graphics, and if so, are they disabled in BIOS?

What kind of monitor are you running, and what is the native resolution?

[batzilla]

Sorry, Guys, but even though I've been using Linux for quite some time, I'm still very very ignorant when it comes to computer talk.  What does it mean that my X server hasn't started?  Can I fix that?  I downloaded do-vesa and tried again in safe mode with still the same outcome.  How do I find out what video driver I have?  I don't know if my GeForce 4 is an AGP card or PCI.  How do I find out?  I have a Dell color monitor, 4.3.2cm(17"), model E772c, but I can't find the documentation for it.  I don't know what the native resolution is.  I don't know anything about onboard graphics.

Thanks for any help I might get!

[Old-Polack]

Sorry, Guys, but even though I've been using Linux for quite some time, I'm still very very ignorant when it comes to computer talk.  What does it mean that my X server hasn't started?  Can I fix that?  I downloaded do-vesa and tried again in safe mode with still the same outcome.  How do I find out what video driver I have?  I don't know if my GeForce 4 is an AGP card or PCI.  How do I find out?  I have a Dell color monitor, 4.3.2cm(17"), model E772c, but I can't find the documentation for it.  I don't know what the native resolution is.  I don't know anything about onboard graphics.

Thanks for any help I might get!

I have a 2002 vintage Compaq, with the same on board graphics. nVidia says the proper driver is 96.43.20, but that driver causes severe distortion with my graphics chip. It may actually work with your system

Using the open source nv driver works quite well, for me, but there is no 3D with that driver. I have the Compaq out on loan to a friend at this time, so I can't test if the open source nouveau driver might also work.

From the command line login, log in as root, with password root, then at the root prompt enter pcc as a command. Use the arrow keys, Tab key,  and space bar, to navigate, and Enter key to select. Choose Display from the menu offerings, then from the next menu choose your monitor first, then select the graphics card. If it offers a closed source proprietary driver, accept it, then select the proper resolution. When done navigate to the quit button, to leave the application, then at the prompt, try the startx command again.

If it doesn't bring up the GUI, repeat the above, but this time decline the proprietary driver. When done, again try the startx command.

[batzilla]

Thanks, Old-Polack.  I tried what you said to no avail.  The "Display" menu already had my monitor and driver information there.  I didn't see anything about proprietary drivers.

In searching some other posts, it appears that the older driver that's in my machine may not be supported in the newest version of PCLinuxOS.  It also appears that nouveau gives problems.  I have downloaded xf86-video-nv-2.1.18, but I don't know how to install it.  Would you give me some instructions?

If I can't get this working, I may have to go to another distro, which I really don't want to do.  Thanks again!

[Old-Polack]

Thanks, Old-Polack.  I tried what you said to no avail.  The "Display" menu already had my monitor and driver information there.  I didn't see anything about proprietary drivers.

In searching some other posts, it appears that the older driver that's in my machine may not be supported in the newest version of PCLinuxOS.  It also appears that nouveau gives problems.  I have downloaded xf86-video-nv-2.1.18, but I don't know how to install it.  Would you give me some instructions?

If I can't get this working, I may have to go to another distro, which I really don't want to do.  Thanks again!

The nv driver is already present in your installation, and will be the default driver for your nvidia card if the proprietary driver is not chosen.

From the prompt, try this,

[root@localhost ~]# cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf |grep Driver              <Enter>

Post your results.

[batzilla]

[root@localhost buck]# cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf |grep Driver
    Driver "kbd"
    Driver "mouse"
    Driver "nvidia"

[Old-Polack]

[root@localhost buck]# cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf |grep Driver
    Driver "kbd"
    Driver "mouse"
    Driver "nvidia"

It would appear to be using the proprietary driver, and it is not working with that card.

You say you purchased the CD, but didn't say which version it is that they sent. The newest release would be pclinuxos-kde-2012.08.iso, which runs the 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs kernel and KDE 4.8.3. It also is 1283 MB in size, so requires a DVD disk be used when burning.

I bring this up because even if you get the disk you are using to work, and install from it to your hard drive, you will still need to do this upgrade process.

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,108162.0.html

If you are not comfortable with that, you'd be much better off to use the latest image, and burn your own disk.

The /etc/X11/xorg.conf file on the liveCD you are currently trying to use could be edited with vim, from the command line root login, to change the Driver "nvidia" line to  Driver "nv", the file saved, and then the startx command tried yet again.

The question that brings up is, are you at all familiar with the vim editor? If you are not, I would strongly suggest you do a bit of practice with it in the version of PCLinuxOS you have currently installed, to get familiar with at least the basics of simple editing, saving a file, and exiting vim. Instructions can be found in /usr/share/vim/tutor/tutor.

[batzilla]

I had already downloaded the 2012.08 iso and tried it, but it didn't work either.  It took me to the same place.

I went to the vim tutorial by using the vimtutor command.  When I used /usr/share/vim/tutor/tutor it took me to the tutor, but the editor was KWrite instead of vim.  I'll do some practicing and see if I can get my confidence level up a bit.  Who knows, I might learn something?!

I'm also going to try booting with the 2012.08 iso again and see if it's changed its mind.

[Old-Polack]

I had already downloaded the 2012.08 iso and tried it, but it didn't work either.  It took me to the same place.

I went to the vim tutorial by using the vimtutor command.  When I used /usr/share/vim/tutor/tutor it took me to the tutor, but the editor was KWrite instead of vim.  I'll do some practicing and see if I can get my confidence level up a bit.  Who knows, I might learn something?!

I'm also going to try booting with the 2012.08 iso again and see if it's changed its mind.

Odds are that it will again try to use the proprietary driver, and you would still have to use vim to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf to use the nv driver. I've been there and done that enough times to be able to open a tee shirt shop. 

I'm no expert with the advanced features of vim, but at least I'm comfortable with it when doing simple edits such as this. Vim is the one editor sure to be found on almost every distribution, so it really is beneficial to learn at least the basics.

As to the /usr/share/vim/tutor/tutor opening in kwrite, that is your default GUI text editor, so you can use it as a guide while having vim open in a konsole window. Using vimtutor is a very good way to learn vim from within vim itself, but I've had others tell me it was more confusing to them, and they preferred the method I first suggested. Whichever way is most comfortable for you, is the right way. 

Just a personal suggestion, if you can still find a newer nvidia graphics card that fits the AGP slot of that motherboard, I'd go that route. I found am AGP slot GeForce 6800 GT card for mine, which uses the newer nVidia driver, and ceased to have the problems you are now experiencing. It works great with all of the PCLinuxOS releases I've tried. If that goes, and I can't find another, I'm thinking it's time to replace the MB with something current, and just reuse the case, hard drives and optical drive.

[batzilla]

Thanks, Old-Polack, I tried to edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file on my working version of PCLinux by using the vim command, "vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf".
This is what I got.

# File generated by XFdrake (rev 247269)

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the xorg.conf man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

Section "ServerFlags"
    #DontZap # disable <Ctrl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
    AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work
    #DontZoom # disable <Ctrl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Disable "dri"
    Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
    Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
    Load "extmod"
    Load "type1"
    Load "freetype"
    Load "glx" # 3D layer
EndSection
"/etc/X11/xorg.conf" [readonly] 98L, 2628C                    1,1           Top

I don't know what to edit??!!