Installation Problems

[Hurmoth]

I got my new notebook in last week and ever since then, I've been trying to get Linux installed on it. I've tried Fedora Core 3, Ubuntu 5.04, SUSE Linux 9.3, & Mandriva Linux 10.1.

After booting into the CD/DVD and I get the boot prompt screen, I can type "linux" and normally a graphical installation will start... but the only thing that happens is the screen goes black, completely black. I thought it might be my video card (ATI Radeon Xpress 200m), so I tried to do a text based installation and the same thing happens, blank screen. Anyone got any suggestions?

[TheWahbinator]

How about typing in "linux noprobe" or "linux text noprobe" and seeing what happens?

This way, it will not automatically detect the hardware.

Yay, another golden star

[Hurmoth]

That didn't work either :no:

[markwolfe Veteran]

Strange... Try plugging in a CRT to see if the video is going out your VGA port for some reason?

[raid517]

This is a little repetative - as I seem to say it a lot - but what happens with Knoppix?

GJ

[Hurmoth]

This is a little repetative - as I seem to say it a lot - but what happens with Knoppix?

GJ

585990297[/snapback]

I tried Knoppix and it pretty much does the same thing. I'll select to boot the CD and it starts to load and then everything goes black.

@markjensen | I'll try hooking it up and I'll let you know what happens ;)

[Hurmoth]

Ok, I hooked it up to external monitor and it allows me to see everything, however, the keyboard doesn't work :laugh:

If it isn't one thing, it's another!

I'm going to try and hook up an external keyboard & mouse now and see if that does the trick.

[EDIT] Nevermind about the keyboard, I don't have any USB Keyboards around here... I'll have to wait 'til tomorrow to borrow one from work :(

[EDIT] Could this be caused by Linux not having the drivers for my system? Windows installs just fine on this system, but Linux won't even go with a text based installation :(

Edited May 30, 2005 by Hurmoth

[Hurmoth]

Thought I'd give an update to this problem. I had wanted to install FC3, but completely forgot the keyboard coming home this afternoon ... but, I did try SUSE Linux 9.3 and some how it installed just fine. Now I did have a video feed problem because it is using Framebuffer drivers, so I've got to figure out how to install the RPM and get the drivers working. But regardless, it is working :yes:

Thanks for the help everyone :D

[EDIT] By the way, the video feed problem was caused by it trying to use 24bit color instead of 16bit color and to high a screen resolution.