Text 3488, 354 rader
Skriven 2005-04-09 01:16:38 av Gary Britt (1:379/45)
Kommentar till text 3463 av Gary Britt (1:379/45)
Ärende: Re: Tribulations Of Installing Linux or Johnny O is right.
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From: "Gary Britt" <zotu@nospamforme.com>
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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OK, Spent several hours off and on trying to get MandrakeLinux 10.1 to =
install. After trying just about every possible video choice finally = got the
install to complete and tell me congratulations I had = successfully installed
Mandrake Linux. Gave off a deep sigh of relief = with the thought FINALLY!!
Rebooted with excitement awaiting my first = try of Linux. Machine goes into
the same constant reboot cycle I got = when I didn't get the install successful
message. Took the 3 = MandrakeLinux install disks and threw them away.
Thought, well at least = they came in this nifty DVD Type Case that holds 3
CD's one on top of = the other in safety. This turned out to be both the best
and only good = thing about MandrakeLinux.
I sure hope nobody here owns any stock in the company that puts out this =
Mandrake crap, because that's exactly what it is. Someday I will give = Novell
Suse Linux Desktop or Lindows a try on this same machine.=20
Gary (at least os/2 would install with this kind of effort, not Linux = or
MandrakeLinux)
"Gary Britt" <zotu@nospamforme.com> wrote in message =
news:4256cd14@w3.nls.net...
About 6 months ago I bought a magazine that came with Mandrake Linux =
10.1. I did so to install linux just for the hell of it on an old = laptop (2
gig HD, Pentium 200 MMX, NeoMagic 2mb Video, capable of = 800x600 on LCD and
1024x768 on external monitor.)
I know windows and dos and PC Hardware, but I know nothing about =
Linux. Unlike when I first began installing windows or before that = OS/2, I
made no effort to study anything about how linux works and how = to install it.
So I approaced the install as a normal uninformed = computer user.
Plunked in the CD, but it either didn't want to install under windows =
or I didn't give it enough time. Decided to just boot the CD and let it =
install, but this laptop won't boot any CD, even though it is supposed = to
have that capability. A problem for me but not Linux's fault. Made = up a dos
floppy with cdrom drivers and tried to get linux to install, = but when this
didn't work realized that Linux needs its own boot floppy = to install this
way. Directions in a text file for creating this floppy = were VERY
incomplete. If I wasn't familiar with dos commands I would = have never
figured out how to create the needed linux boot floppy. The = text file said
use this command and gives and example of the command, = but the example omits
the needed full paths to the util file in question = and the image file it
takes as a command line option, and these two = files are NOT in the same
directory. So if you type in the command as = shown in the text file it fails
every time because it can't find the = needed image file that is in and
entirely different branch of the = directory tree.
Then in using the command to create the floppy you have to choose one =
of five file names to fill in one spot of the command. The descriptions = of
the choices are so poorly written that you are unable to determine = for sure
which one is the real choice you are looking for. After a = couple of wrong
guesses about which image file to use, I finally lucked = into the right one.
Finally, reboot with floppy and CD in place and installation begins. =
Graphics screen in high resolution comes up and I get to the first = install
screen. Select language. The screen is not clear as to what to = do next.
Select other items, hit advanced or hit next. Hitting next = causes the
install to immediately fail and the machine to reboot, so I = think maybe I
should have done something before hitting next. Couple = more tries with
similar failures and I finally notice an error message = going by the screen so
fast you barely have time to read it, that hints = that maybe the problem is
video related. Boot again and select =
advanced options for install, look at my choices that are video related. =
Now the install has no problem displaying graphics to the point of that =
first screen. It just can't figure out how to do it after that first = screen.
Seems odd, but I play along. Select lowres graphics install = option and
reboot. Get to same graphics screen, now in low res, and = same error,
crash-reboot.. Ok try a different option, reboot, graphics = screen, hit next,
same error crash-reboot. OK try text mode install. = Finally, something works
and I get passed the first screen in text mode. =
Next come a series of screens to choose various setup options, sadly =
some of these screens are so poorly written and documented that they are =
impossible to decipher as to what to pick. Like a screen with at least = 50
files or programs or options, not sure which :-( , that is nothing = more than
a list of unintelligible names that look like a series of = random letters
thrown together with absolutely no meaning in the name, = no description of
what the thing is, does, or when it should or should = not be selected. With
such complete lack of info, unable to decided to = select anything on the list
or not, so I just hit next and keep going. = Install continues for about 1
hour more now. Finally, install completes = and I start getting some screens
for configuration of various items, = like root name, server name, security
level choices, etc. etc., = absolutely NO explanation is given for any of these
items. Nothing = NADA. You have no clue as to whether you should fill
something in or = leave it blank. You are given no clue as to what the
ramifications are = if do or don't fill in something or not (like root password
or user = password, etc etc). Finally, I get to a screen that shows a summary
of = what has been configured. I note the video has not been configured. =
While given absolutely no clue by the install routine that anything that =
wasn't configured could be a problem or not, I decide that the video not =
being configured could be a problem. So I select the video and hit a = button
to try and configure it. The install immediately gives me a = screen that
correctly identifies the video card as a NeoMagic 128XD but = it asks me to
choose which resolution and color depth. I remember I = used to run it at
1024x768 so I select that option (unfortunately I = forgot that the internal
LCD will only run at 800x600). Computer = proceeds to lock-up, install is
trashed and I need to start over.
Bottom line. In some respects the install routines of Linux are not =
as good as say OS/2 around 1993. In other ways, it is as good as OS/2 =
1993. The almost complete lack of onscreen documentation and help files = that
can be pulled up for each of the install screens, etc. is a HUGE = drawback to
the quality of the install. When the install crashes, it = never tells you
why. If you don't catch something as a log entry goes = flashing by at the
bottom of the screen by accident, you have no clue = what the problem is with
the install.
A real newbie would have never gotten past the create boot floppy part =
to even begin the install with help from someone else.
I am going to try the install again over the weekend, but I sure hope =
linux runs a hell of a lot better than the install routine.
Gary
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<BODY bgColor=3D#f7f7fa>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>OK, Spent several hours off and on =
trying to get=20
MandrakeLinux 10.1 to install. After trying just about every =
possible=20
video choice finally got the install to complete and tell me = congratulations
I=20
had successfully installed Mandrake Linux. Gave off a deep sigh of =
relief=20
with the thought FINALLY!! Rebooted with excitement awaiting my = first
try=20
of Linux. Machine goes into the same constant reboot cycle I got = when
I=20
didn't get the install successful message. Took the 3 = MandrakeLinux=20
install disks and threw them away. Thought, well at least they = came
in=20
this nifty DVD Type Case that holds 3 CD's one on top of the other in=20
safety. This turned out to be both the best and only good thing =
about=20
MandrakeLinux.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I sure hope nobody here owns any stock =
in the=20
company that puts out this Mandrake crap, because that's exactly what it =
is. Someday I will give Novell Suse Linux Desktop or Lindows a try = on
this=20
same machine. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Gary (at least os/2 would install =
with this=20
kind of effort, not Linux or MandrakeLinux)</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>"Gary Britt" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:zotu@nospamforme.com">zotu@nospamforme.com</A>> =
wrote in=20
message <A=20
=
href=3D"news:4256cd14@w3.nls.net">news:4256cd14@w3.nls.net</A>...</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>About 6 months ago I bought a =
magazine that came=20
with Mandrake Linux 10.1. I did so to install linux just for the =
hell of=20
it on an old laptop (2 gig HD, Pentium 200 MMX, NeoMagic 2mb Video, =
capable of=20
800x600 on LCD and 1024x768 on external monitor.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I know windows and dos and PC =
Hardware, but I=20
know nothing about Linux. Unlike when I first began installing =
windows=20
or before that OS/2, I made no effort to study anything about how =
linux works=20
and how to install it. So I approaced the install as a normal =
uninformed=20
computer user.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Plunked in the CD, but it either =
didn't want to=20
install under windows or I didn't give it enough time. Decided =
to just=20
boot the CD and let it install, but this laptop won't boot any CD, =
even though=20
it is supposed to have that capability. A problem for me but not =
Linux's=20
fault. Made up a dos floppy with cdrom drivers and tried to get =
linux to=20
install, but when this didn't work realized that Linux needs its own =
boot=20
floppy to install this way. Directions in a text file for =
creating this=20
floppy were VERY incomplete. If I wasn't familiar with dos =
commands I=20
would have never figured out how to create the needed linux boot =
floppy. =20
The text file said use this command and gives and example of the =
command, but=20
the example omits the needed full paths to the util file in question =
and the=20
image file it takes as a command line option, and these two files are =
NOT in=20
the same directory. So if you type in the command as shown in =
the text=20
file it fails every time because it can't find the needed image file =
that is=20
in and entirely different branch of the directory tree.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Then in using the command to create =
the floppy=20
you have to choose one of five file names to fill in one spot of the=20
command. The descriptions of the choices are so poorly written =
that you=20
are unable to determine for sure which one is the real choice you are =
looking=20
for. After a couple of wrong guesses about which image file to =
use, I=20
finally lucked into the right one.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Finally, reboot with floppy and CD in =
place and=20
installation begins. Graphics screen in high resolution comes up =
and I=20
get to the first install screen. Select language. The =
screen is=20
not clear as to what to do next. Select other items, hit =
advanced or hit=20
next. Hitting next causes the install to immediately fail and =
the=20
machine to reboot, so I think maybe I should have done something =
before=20
hitting next. Couple more tries with similar failures and I =
finally=20
notice an error message going by the screen so fast you barely have =
time to=20
read it, that hints that maybe the problem is video =
related. Boot=20
again and select advanced options for install, look at my choices that =
are=20
video related. Now the install has no problem displaying =
graphics to the=20
point of that first screen. It just can't figure out how to do =
it after=20
that first screen. Seems odd, but I play along. Select =
lowres=20
graphics install option and reboot. Get to same graphics screen, =
now in=20
low res, and same error, crash-reboot.. Ok try a different =
option,=20
reboot, graphics screen, hit next, same error crash-reboot. OK =
try text=20
mode install. Finally, something works and I get passed the =
first screen=20
in text mode. Next come a series of screens to choose various =
setup=20
options, sadly some of these screens are so poorly written and =
documented that=20
they are impossible to decipher as to what to pick. Like a =
screen with=20
at least 50 files or programs or options, not sure which :-( , =
that is=20
nothing more than a list of unintelligible names that look like a =
series of=20
random letters thrown together with absolutely no meaning in the name, =
no=20
description of what the thing is, does, or when it should or should =
not be=20
selected. With such complete lack of info, unable to decided to =
select=20
anything on the list or not, so I just hit next and keep going. =
Install=20
continues for about 1 hour more now. Finally, install completes =
and I=20
start getting some screens for configuration of various items, like =
root name,=20
server name, security level choices, etc. etc., absolutely NO =
explanation=20
is given for any of these items. Nothing NADA. You have no =
clue as=20
to whether you should fill something in or leave it blank. You =
are given=20
no clue as to what the ramifications are if do or don't fill in =
something or=20
not (like root password or user password, etc etc). Finally, I =
get to a=20
screen that shows a summary of what has been configured. I note =
the=20
video has not been configured. While given absolutely no clue by =
the=20
install routine that anything that wasn't configured could be a =
problem or=20
not, I decide that the video not being configured could be a =
problem. So=20
I select the video and hit a button to try and configure it. The =
install=20
immediately gives me a screen that correctly identifies the video card =
as a=20
NeoMagic 128XD but it asks me to choose which resolution and color=20
depth. I remember I used to run it at 1024x768 so I select that =
option=20
(unfortunately I forgot that the internal LCD will only run at =
800x600). =20
Computer proceeds to lock-up, install is trashed and I need to start=20
over.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Bottom line. In some respects =
the install=20
routines of Linux are not as good as say OS/2 around 1993. =
In=20
other ways, it is as good as OS/2 1993. The almost complete lack =
of=20
onscreen documentation and help files that can be pulled up for each =
of the=20
install screens, etc. is a HUGE drawback to the quality of the =
install. =20
When the install crashes, it never tells you why. If you don't =
catch=20
something as a log entry goes flashing by at the bottom of the screen =
by=20
accident, you have no clue what the problem is with the =
install.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>A real newbie would have never gotten =
past the=20
create boot floppy part to even begin the install with help from =
someone=20
else.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am going to try the install again =
over the=20
weekend, but I sure hope linux runs a hell of a lot better than the =
install=20
routine.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>Gary</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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