Author Topic: (SOLVED) PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot  (Read 3441 times)

Offline batzilla

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #30 on: August 30, 2012, 12:35:25 PM »
Duh!  I rebooted and got my CUI desktop again.
Batzilla

Dell Dimension 4500
PCLinuxOS 2012.08-KDE
Release 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
KDE 4.8.3

Offline Old-Polack

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #31 on: August 30, 2012, 12:56:47 PM »
I'm really sorry Old-Polack, but I don't even know what an md5sum check is!  I did a Media Check during trying to boot and it said it was good.  Is md5sum different than Media Check?


Each image has a file of the same name, ending with .md5sum, rather than .iso. It contains a checksum that is unique to the named image, and used to check the integrity of the downloaded image. If you have the correct .md5sum file in the same directory as the image, the command, from within the directory, to check the image is;

[prompt ~]$ md5sum -c *.md5sum                  <Enter>



If you don't have the .md5sum file, but the md5sum number is listed at the download site, you can run the command, from within the directory containing the image;

[prompt ~]$ md5sum *.iso                                    <Enter>

...to generate the number of the downloaded image. If the number is the same as that posted on the site, the downloaded image is a bit perfect copy.



Old-Polack

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Offline batzilla

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #32 on: August 31, 2012, 02:39:36 PM »
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back.  I've been doing all kinds of things to try to get this to work.  At first, I didn't realize that you said to run "md5sum c- *.md5sum" from within the directory.  I was trying it at the prompt and kept getting the message, "no such file or directory."  After I tried that for a while, I decided to burn another iso image.  It did the same thing as the other.  Then I realized that you had said "from inside the directory."  I booted to get the desktop again (which takes about 15 minutes each time) and tried to locate the file that was shown on your post, "/share1/2012-iso-images/PCLinux etc, etc."  I couldn't find a file or directory anywhere that had "/2012-iso-images/.  I went to "view/panels/terminal" and got a terminal with me signed in as Root, but it wasn't at the bottom of the screen like your view showed.  It was a screen by itself.  I tried "md5sum c- *.md5sum" again with nor success, of course.  And every time I get out of the terminal, it gives me that black screen again with the green check mark, and I have to turn the computer off and start all over again.  I'm sure I'm doing something wrong!
Batzilla

Dell Dimension 4500
PCLinuxOS 2012.08-KDE
Release 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
KDE 4.8.3

Offline Old-Polack

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #33 on: August 31, 2012, 06:34:57 PM »
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back.  I've been doing all kinds of things to try to get this to work.  At first, I didn't realize that you said to run "md5sum c- *.md5sum" from within the directory.  I was trying it at the prompt and kept getting the message, "no such file or directory."  After I tried that for a while, I decided to burn another iso image.  It did the same thing as the other.  Then I realized that you had said "from inside the directory."  I booted to get the desktop again (which takes about 15 minutes each time) and tried to locate the file that was shown on your post, "/share1/2012-iso-images/PCLinux etc, etc."  I couldn't find a file or directory anywhere that had "/2012-iso-images/.  I went to "view/panels/terminal" and got a terminal with me signed in as Root, but it wasn't at the bottom of the screen like your view showed.  It was a screen by itself.  I tried "md5sum c- *.md5sum" again with nor success, of course.  And every time I get out of the terminal, it gives me that black screen again with the green check mark, and I have to turn the computer off and start all over again.  I'm sure I'm doing something wrong!


You most certainly are.  ;D

When you download a file, you put it somewhere. To keep track of all the .iso images I download, I have a dedicated partition for just that purpose. As root, I created an empty directory named /share1 and in my /etc/fstab created an entry to mount that partition on /share1. To separate the newest images from the older ones, I created the directory 2012-ISO-images, and in it I have sub directories for the various images. Each image is in its own directory, with its proper .md5sum file, and sometimes a package list that lists the actual packages installed by default. You will find none of these directories on your machine, unless you choose to create them.

What you need to do is locate the directory, on your own machine, wherein you have placed the image you downloaded. I would have no idea what you called that directory, or whether you dumped a lot of different images, along with other miscellaneous files, into the same directory.

To find out exactly where you put your downloaded image, try the locate command.

[prompt <pwd>]$ locate pclinuxos-kde                      <Enter>

I treat my stored data as if it is a file cabinet, with each item or related group of items having their own dedicated directory/folder. This makes it easier to locate those files when I need them, and also makes for less typing when entering CLI commands. The use of *.iso or *.md5sum works very well when there is only one of each in a directory. If there were dozens of similar files in one directory, all with long names, I would have to type each name individually, in full to get the proper results.

The next thing you need to be sure of is the actual command used when doing your check. The command is...

[prompt <pwd>]$ md5sum -c *.md5sum

...not

[prompt <pwd>]$ md5sum c- *.md5sum

Note the placement of the - before the c in the correct command, not after the c, as in the incorrect command you presented. In the CLI, attention to detail is everything. A single typo can be disastrous. At best, with a typo, nothing happens or you get an error message. At worst, if the typo is an actual legitimate command, you can wipe out your entire system, or all of your personal data, or parts thereof of either.

--------------------------------------------------------------

In Dolphin, navigate to the directory holding the files you wish to work with. If they are clumped into one big directory with lots of other files, create a new directory with a descriptive name, and move only the pertinent files into it. From within that directory, press the F4 key, and the attached terminal will appear showing the <pwd> in the prompt. (present working directory)

The attached terminal always stays in sync with the GUI navigation location. When you change directory location in Dolphin, the <pwd> in the terminal panel will change to the same location, which is a great plus when you work with both GUI navigation and CLI commands. The images I posted show my standard Dolphin configuration, with somewhat smaller window size, for posting convenience. I always have the filesystem tree view panel open on the left, the main window is always set to icon view, there is always an editable location bar, and the attached terminal is always open. The muli-colored prompt aids in separating command line from results, and makes it easier to read the <pwd> when working from a regular Konsole terminal.



Because I check the md5sum of a large variety of files, I also create aliases for the longer commands to reduce typing, and keep all my aliases in a hidden file named .alias. The current ones are shown below.



Instead of typing the full command shown previously, I can accomplish the same thing using the shorter alias mdc.



If I want to create a new checksum file for the .iso image, with the extension .md5 rather than type out the entire command FILE=$(basename *.iso .iso); md5sum $FILE.iso > $FILE.md5 I can use the three character alias mdi.



Using the cat command to inspect the contents of both checksum files reveals the contents are the same, only the extension is different.



All of the above is to illustrate how simple, hard to screw up, aliases can help prevent mistyped longer commands, and accomplish what you set out to do.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
« Last Edit: August 31, 2012, 06:37:19 PM by Old-Polack »
Old-Polack

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Offline batzilla

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #34 on: August 31, 2012, 08:08:14 PM »
Well, I have been confused.  I've been running the "md5sum" command in the LiveDVD!  My version of PCLinuxOS does not have Dolphin, so I'm using Konqueror as my file manager.  The interesting thing is, I've located the PCLinuxOS-kde-2012.08.iso in the Downloads file, but there is no PCLinuxOS-kde-2012.08.md5sum.  I have also downloaded another distro, and it has no file with the .md5sum extension.  I did run md5sum pclinuxos-kde-2012.08.iso and got the long string of numbers and letters.  I don't know why there is no file with the .md5sum extension.  BTW, I did have the - before the c and not after.  I typed it wrong in my post.

Thanks for all the info.  My head is aching from all this stuff I'm learning.  But that's a good thing.
Batzilla

Dell Dimension 4500
PCLinuxOS 2012.08-KDE
Release 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
KDE 4.8.3

Offline Old-Polack

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #35 on: August 31, 2012, 08:59:06 PM »
Well, I have been confused.  I've been running the "md5sum" command in the LiveDVD!  My version of PCLinuxOS does not have Dolphin, so I'm using Konqueror as my file manager.  The interesting thing is, I've located the PCLinuxOS-kde-2012.08.iso in the Downloads file, but there is no PCLinuxOS-kde-2012.08.md5sum.  I have also downloaded another distro, and it has no file with the .md5sum extension.  I did run md5sum pclinuxos-kde-2012.08.iso and got the long string of numbers and letters.  I don't know why there is no file with the .md5sum extension.  BTW, I did have the - before the c and not after.  I typed it wrong in my post.

Thanks for all the info.  My head is aching from all this stuff I'm learning.  But that's a good thing.


Kongueror has a built in ftp client, so if you use the address in the code box you will see this;

Code: [Select]
[url]ftp://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/pclinuxos/live-cd/[/url]


if you use the http link below you will see this;

http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/pclinuxos/live-cd/



With either link, you can download the appropriate *.md5sum file, then move it to a new directory along with the *.iso image it matches and from there do the md5sum test. Konqueror, in the old KDE 3.5.10 also has the attached, "follows along with navigation" terminal that acts just like the one now used in Dolphin.



Sorry I don't remember exactly where in the menus the terminal is actually activated, or the key combination used. Look in Window or Settings would be my guess.
Old-Polack

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Offline batzilla

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #36 on: September 01, 2012, 09:33:34 AM »
Great!  Found the "pclinuxos-kde-2012.08.md5sum" file and downloaded it into the folder where the ".iso" was.  Then ran "md5sum -c *.md5sum".  Here's what I got

cd '/home/buck/Downloads'
[buck@localhost ~]$ cd '/home/buck/Downloads'
[buck@localhost Downloads]$ md5sum -c *.md5sum
pclinuxos-kde-2012.08.iso: OK
[buck@localhost Downloads]$

Hey, I even found how to attach the terminal.  It's under "Windows/Show Terminal Emulator"

I was hoping that was the problem, but I guess it's not, huh?  Are there any other avenues?

Batzilla
Batzilla

Dell Dimension 4500
PCLinuxOS 2012.08-KDE
Release 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
KDE 4.8.3

Offline Old-Polack

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #37 on: September 01, 2012, 01:22:04 PM »
Great!  Found the "pclinuxos-kde-2012.08.md5sum" file and downloaded it into the folder where the ".iso" was.  Then ran "md5sum -c *.md5sum".  Here's what I got

cd '/home/buck/Downloads'
[buck@localhost ~]$ cd '/home/buck/Downloads'
[buck@localhost Downloads]$ md5sum -c *.md5sum
pclinuxos-kde-2012.08.iso: OK
[buck@localhost Downloads]$

Hey, I even found how to attach the terminal.  It's under "Windows/Show Terminal Emulator"

I was hoping that was the problem, but I guess it's not, huh?  Are there any other avenues?

Batzilla

I'm looking at the specs for your machine on the DELL site. It shows that the machine has two memory slots that will take 128, 256, or 512 MB DDR cards. How much RAM do you actually have installed?

They are a bit sparing on information about the video. In BIOS is there a setting for how much shared RAM should be dedicated to the graphics chip? If so, what is the max allowed, and how much is currently allowed.

The Compaq unit I have also has two memory slots, but accepts up to 1 GB cards in each, which I have installed. It originally had 768 MB RAM when I got it, and ran the 2009 release reasonably well, but the 2010 KDE release abysmally. I had four 1 GB  DDR cards in my junk drawer from a previous build who's MB fried, so put two of them in the Compaq, and it was like a totally different machine. On board graphics with the nv driver are acceptable, but putting in the add on graphics card allowed full 3D capacity and use of effects through the newer nVidia driver.

I bring this up again because I'm trying to get a feel of what your machine's capabilities are by comparison, and whether we can increase the capacity of both the system RAM and that dedicated to the graphics chip.

In a terminal, on your installed system, what does the free command give you for results?
Old-Polack

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Offline batzilla

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #38 on: September 01, 2012, 05:08:24 PM »
Here's what I got:

[buck@localhost ~]$ free
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:        515132     491216      23916          0      28472     327604
-/+ buffers/cache:     135140     379992
Swap:      4088500        128    4088372
[buck@localhost ~]$

I got into BIOS and found this about graphics:

Graphics Aperture Size    [ 64MB]  -  It can be changed to 128 MB or 256 MB.

Primary Video Adapter   [AGP]  -  Can be changed to PCI

Batzilla
« Last Edit: September 01, 2012, 05:23:00 PM by batzilla »
Batzilla

Dell Dimension 4500
PCLinuxOS 2012.08-KDE
Release 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
KDE 4.8.3

Offline Old-Polack

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #39 on: September 01, 2012, 07:21:14 PM »
Here's what I got:

[buck@localhost ~]$ free
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:        515132     491216      23916          0      28472     327604
-/+ buffers/cache:     135140     379992
Swap:      4088500        128    4088372
[buck@localhost ~]$

I got into BIOS and found this about graphics:

Graphics Aperture Size    [ 64MB]  -  It can be changed to 128 MB or 256 MB.

Primary Video Adapter   [AGP]  -  Can be changed to PCI

Batzilla

That would indicate that you have only half of what the stated maximum RAM for that machine is, and two thirds that which I started with on the Compaq. You are at the stated minimum required to run the KDE 4 release, and half of the recommended 1 GB. Besides the video driver problem, I'm thinking the RAM is really not sufficient, and why you lose the desktop after you've acquired it, when using the liveCD.  Any chance you could up the RAM?

On my Compaq, the add in graphics card has either 128 or 256 MB of video RAM on the card itself, so takes nothing from the system RAM. Between the add in graphics and extra memory, it went from abysmal performance to actually being fun to use. I used it for three months non stop when my main machine's MB died and I was purchasing rebuild parts only when on special sales. (Very limited budget, at the time.)

My friend that has the Compaq now, has been using it since last January while I rebuild his main machine, has had no complaints whatever about its performance from himself, his wife, or their three children. (The children are middle school and high school age, and use the machine far more than he or his wife.)

I'm a serious KDE user, and really don't much care for the lighter desktop releases myself, but as an experiment would you be willing to try the LXDE release on that machine, at least from the liveCD? It's been reported to run satisfactorily on less memory than you now have. I'd like to see if it makes a difference with the present hardware, before you spend any money on any upgrades.
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Offline batzilla

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #40 on: September 02, 2012, 07:05:08 PM »
I downloaded the LXDE release and booted with the LiveCD.  Everything seemed to work ok.  I got the message that the X server was not working and it would be shut down, but I ran "init 3" anyway.  Of course, I still had to change nvidia to nv and use the startx command.  This got me the desktop and everything seemed to go from there.  I still was logged in as root when I tried to use the terminal and couldn't figure out how to get back to guest, so I didn't do much with the terminal.  I went on the internet and played some videos, and that worked, sound worked, and I installed my printer with no problem.  The funny thing is, the keyboard was set up for German!  I had a time figuring out which keys did what so I could run vim.  I didn't think I was going to get out of it until I found the ":" key.  It was the "shift ." key.  Once I got in, I was able to configure the keyboard to US.

I'm going to check on getting some more RAM.  I should be able to find a card somewhere.  I'll let you know.  Thanks again for all your help.  I'm sure I'll be calling on you again.

BTW, I'm assuming that when I do get to install the new pclinux-kde that I will have to go through changing "nvidia" to "nv".  Then everything should run and I won't have to redo it every time I boot.

Batzilla
Batzilla

Dell Dimension 4500
PCLinuxOS 2012.08-KDE
Release 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
KDE 4.8.3

Offline Old-Polack

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #41 on: September 02, 2012, 07:42:38 PM »
I downloaded the LXDE release and booted with the LiveCD.  Everything seemed to work ok.  I got the message that the X server was not working and it would be shut down, but I ran "init 3" anyway.  Of course, I still had to change nvidia to nv and use the startx command.  This got me the desktop and everything seemed to go from there.  I still was logged in as root when I tried to use the terminal and couldn't figure out how to get back to guest, so I didn't do much with the terminal.  I went on the internet and played some videos, and that worked, sound worked, and I installed my printer with no problem.  The funny thing is, the keyboard was set up for German!  I had a time figuring out which keys did what so I could run vim.  I didn't think I was going to get out of it until I found the ":" key.  It was the "shift ." key.  Once I got in, I was able to configure the keyboard to US.

I'm going to check on getting some more RAM.  I should be able to find a card somewhere.  I'll let you know.  Thanks again for all your help.  I'm sure I'll be calling on you again.

BTW, I'm assuming that when I do get to install the new pclinux-kde that I will have to go through changing "nvidia" to "nv".  Then everything should run and I won't have to redo it every time I boot.

Batzilla

If you don't get an add in card, then yes you will have to set up using the nv driver. If you can find an nVidia GeForce 6xxx series or 7xxx series AGP card, the current vVidia driver should work without modification. I've had both, a GeForce 6600 GT, and GeForce 6800 GT AGP cards, and both worked beautifully. The GeForce 6800 GT was the top of the line when it was new, and the GeForce 6600 GT one step down. The latter was more than adequate, but lost the cooling fan, overheated, and was damaged. I found the GeForce 6800 GT new, still in the shrink wrapped box, when looking for a replacement, and the price was only $50.00, so I grabbed it.

Others on the forum report good results with the lower spec GeForce 6200 and GeForce 6400 cards as well, I just don't have any personal experience with those. All of the GeForce 6xxx and 7xxx series cards use the same drivers.
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Offline batzilla

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #42 on: September 04, 2012, 09:49:40 AM »
Thanks, Old-Polack, I just ordered a new 512 MB DDR SDRAM for $14.95.  Dell wanted $37.99!  I should have it in a week or so.  I'm still checking on the vidieo card.  As I said, I'm pretty much computer illiterate, So I need some advice.  I'm looking at a refurbished BFG NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 256 MB GDDR3 SDRAM AGP 8x Graphics Card Adapter.  It's only $47.95 as compared to over $100 for any others I've found.  I'm confused as to what AGP is and if my motherboard is compatible.  What's the difference between AGP and PCIe?  Is there a way to find out or will AGP work in my computer?

Thanks,

Batzilla
« Last Edit: September 04, 2012, 11:20:45 AM by batzilla »
Batzilla

Dell Dimension 4500
PCLinuxOS 2012.08-KDE
Release 3.2.18-pclos2.bfs
KDE 4.8.3

Offline Old-Polack

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Re: PCLinuxOS 2012 liveCD won't boot
« Reply #43 on: September 04, 2012, 12:48:02 PM »
Thanks, Old-Polack, I just ordered a new 512 MB DDR SDRAM for $14.95.  Dell wanted $37.99!  I should have it in a week or so.  I'm still checking on the vidieo card.  As I said, I'm pretty much computer illiterate, So I need some advice.  I'm looking at a refurbished BFG NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT 256 MB GDDR3 SDRAM AGP 8x Graphics Card Adapter.  It's only $47.95 as compared to over $100 for any others I've found.  I'm confused as to what AGP is and if my motherboard is compatible.  What's the difference between AGP and PCIe?  Is there a way to find out or will AGP work in my computer?

Thanks,

Batzilla


Look here to see the specs for your machine.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4500/specs.htm

It says it has one 172 pin AGP connector with AGP bus protocols 4x/2x modes at 1.5 V . That is important, because there are a variety of AGP connectors, and you need a card that fits the physical slot present. The differences between the slots is covered here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_Graphics_Port

Look particularly at the Compatibility section where it shows the various key patterns for the different slots. Physically check to see that the slot specified is the one you have. It's possible to have an individual machine from a late production run that incorporates a newer MB, with a faster AGP slot than that from the original spec. The various cards are not interchangeable, because of the voltage differences, which is why they are keyed differently.

You don't want to buy a card that is physically incompatible with your MB's particular AGP slot.
Old-Polack

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Lest we forget...