I am having a problem trying to install RHEL 3.0AS onto a generic 32bit AMD Athlon machine. I boot up from the first install CD, and it gets to the point where it runs anaconda. The xserver starts and I get a white background with a mouse pointer, which I can move around for a few seconds, then it just hangs at that point.
I mean, it totally spanners the machine, can't do jack apart from turn it off or hit the reset switch on the front.
The machine spec is as follows...
1024MB DDR RAM Athlon 2800XP ATI Radeon 9600 AGP Graphics Single 80gig IDE HDD
The strange thing is that exactly the same sort of thing happens when I try to install RHEL 2.1. However, if I install either using the 'linux text' option, the installation runs right the way through and it doesn't crash until it first starts to boot up.
It runs firstboot and a couple of seconds after starting the xserver and the graphical config wizard thingy, the system hangs again.
The really bizarre thing is that I have had Redhat 9.0 and Mandrake 10.0 both running on this system without a hitch.
I had this once, and to get around it I just installed in text mode (I forget the command at the prompt from the install cd - maybe "linux text" ? -anyway, it says it on screen as an option). Later, after the install had completed, I just ran an init 5 and it all came up ( I might have run "kudzu" in there first - check it out - it should't hurt anything).
Another case similar was with an Nvidia card. I once again loaded the OS in text mode, and then just followed Nvdia's instructions for loading the video driver. The I did an " init 5" and I was in graphics mode.
What I'm saying is - just get the OS running in text mode, then fix the graphics problem later.
We are the people our parents warned us about --Jimmy Buffett
There have been cases where Athalon processors produced this problem.
I would try a text mode install and then see if all my hardware is supported. If not, replace what is not supported.
SEP
Steven E Protter Owner of ISN Corporation http://isnamerica.com http://hpuxconsulting.com Sponsor: http://hpux.ws Twitter: http://twitter.com/hpuxlinux Founder http://newdatacloud.com
Thanks for the replies. As I was saying, I was able to fully install RHEL 3 in text only mode. After you initially install RHEL when it boots up to the graphical login it fires up an Xserver and launches the 'firstboot' programme which lets you do a bit of final configuration (date / time etc).
When managing to complete the installation in text mode, I am getting to this 'firstboot' point and this is where it is then hanging.
I think I will try it again, only this time specifying an inital text mode login instead of graphical mode.
Lee, where it hangs maybe where the system offers to help configure Xwindows for you ... if it is hanging there - tell it no (not to offer to load and configure X), and then go load your video card drivers. I've found thus far that the tool that comes up and offers to help me is no good with an Nvidia card. Nvdia's driver and install scripts do a much better job. Maybe you can find the same.
We are the people our parents warned us about --Jimmy Buffett
