this isn't intended to be a rant, but it may feel like one. I apologize for that. It's definitly mainly an attempt to get some helping hints.
I've got used to linux installations working mostly fine, getting better over the years. However, I also got used to the slick update screens and the wizzard-like behavior of many of the installation tools and system modification tools. If they work they are great.
Now I tried a new installation of FC6 on a Dell Inspiron 4000, after an attempt to update from FC5 failed with a crash. Since any of the graphic installation methods didn't work, I finally tried the text mode installation and ended in the deep doodoo without a paddle, just like in the stone age of linux: A barren desktop, no window manager, and nothing is set up. No windows, no sound, no clue.
Something's wirring in the background the whole time: A mounstrous search is on for some beagle - anyone lost a dog?
In those days, stoneage, one would then be able to find information somewhere of how to make things work. Now this is basically a question of running all kinds of funny named configuration programs. However, most of these assume already the existence of a viable X11. For instance, if I run system-config-display, from my stoneage desktop (big white letters on black background), it will come up with a a completly garbled up blue but otherwise pretty graphic screen on which I can't see what to enter or modify. If I type system-config-soundcard, it will do "something" - who knows what, and then exit. startx brings up a garbled screen as well.
I suspect the text mode installation assumes the user needs to acting member of the Fedora project. Unfortunatly I'm not. Is it just that I'm getting old?
The thing that bothers me is not that the text mode installation would be more difficult, but that there is basically no mentioning of the following issues:
What do you do after you have made an installation by text method?
How do I get the system to bring up automatically X11 and
the login screen after boot up?
How do I go about fixing the sound driver problem?
More to the point: What are all the kernel options that are possible in the install boot up? That also isn't documented anywhere, to my knowledge.