Fast Window - How do I get out of it?
 

I just bought a system with Linux installed. It has a program called Fast Window that apparently overrides everything. All I want is the Linux prompt.

Does anyone know how to get to the regular prompt from Fast Window or how to get rid of Fast Window. It doesn't seem to have a readily recognizable way out.

Thanks for any help or ideas on this.

fishbeast9

Hmmm, I think you're asking from a way out from X Window...
If yes, edit /etc/inittab. In line
id:5:initdefault:
change 5 to 3, reboot.

No, it's not X Window. It's called Fast Window (The Complete Multimedia Environment, version 1.0), which comes on screen when I boot up, and I can't get out of the damn thing.

It apparently overrides everything so I can't see any Linux files or get to a Linux prompt. Maybe it's "burnt in", whatever that means. Don't know.

I'm at the point where I'd just like to get to DOS prompt somehow, and reformat and install Caldera Linux (of which I have a boot disk). Aaaack!

Excuse my French.

fishbeast9

Maybe just insert the boot cd and start install. I don't have Caldera, but I suppose it can format a partition during installation.

Thanks. Good idea. I tried it, but right after it installed the kernal, it froze up with an error message that led me to believe it was having a conflict with the Linux version that was already installed (I don't know what distribution it is--I received no documentation with the computer and, as you know, I can't get out of the damn Fast Windows to find out. Aaack! Pardon my French.).

Do you know if there's some way to get to a DOS prompt (so I can just start from scratch) thru the BIOS or something?

fishbeast9

Boot with a rescue floppy and nuke the partitions, create some new ones and then reboot with your install cd.

Sounds drastic. I like it.

fishbeast9

I downloaded the rescue disk files, made a floppy, but couldn't get it to boot (it says remove disk and press any key).

I also tried crashing Fast Window, but it won't seem to crash ("burnt in", or something?). I'm usually pretty good at crashing programs.

It looks like I have no way of running it or fdisk or something like that until I figure out how to get to a DOS prompt.

fishbeast9

I'm presuming then that <CTRL><ALT><Fn> doensn't work?

hope i dont offend anyone but why dont ya just use a win98 boot floppy and and use fdisk. Format the drive then use your linux cd to install. i have have problems with linux boot disks not working and thats what i've done. the only good thing i have gotten from M$. Try it or dont. Its an easy solution. well, should be anyway.

:confused:


bullwinkel

Do you have anymore info about this "Fast Window" thing? a web site perhaps? how about a link to whoever it was that made the box?

Thanks for all the fine suggestions--much appreciated. I've tried them all. Here's where I am so far:

I'm still not able to get out of Fast Window to get to a Linux prompt. I can find no info on FW so far on the Net, and I received no documentation with it, nor is the store where I bought the computer any techical help. I'd be happy to run fdisk or whatever and reformat, at this point, but I can't get to a DOS prompt because I can't get any of my boot floopies to boot (W95 and W98 startup disks (wiith sys files), and a GNU/Linux rescue disk I downloaded off the Net).

I also can't get my Caldera Linux cd to run. It starts to boot, but then stalls. Here's what it shows:
Loading kernal............ok
Unable to handle kernal NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 00000004, etc, etc...

I wonder, is there any way I can get to a DOS prompt thru the BIOS, or something like that? Or does anyone have an idea on how I might crash the system (I already tried cntrl-alt-bkspc and several other ideas)? Or should I just hang it off the balcony by the AC cord and let the kids downstairs hit it with a pinata bat a couple times?

fishbeast9

Have a look in the BIOS and check that the floppy is set to boot before the hard drive.

Yeeeeeeooooooow!!
 

Eureka! I finally got a DOS prompt! I found an old W95 boot disk and shoved it in, and viola! For some reason the W98 and "newer" W95 disks didn't work but this one does.

So, here's where I am:

1. The c: dir (DOS) command shows no folders or files on the hard drive (it says "File not found), but it does show that there's 19,083 MB free-space, so I know it's reading it and I know about 1 MB is being used by the operating system that's on there. I was hoping to maybe find the damn Fast Windows exe file and delete it the hell into oblivion.

2. What I'd like to do also is look at the files on my Caldera Linux cd, but it isn't recognizing the CDROM drive. When I type d: dir, it should show what's in there, but it gives the "Invalid drive specification" response. I am able to access the a: drive fine, though, to see what's in the W95 boot disk, so I know it's working.

Any ideas on why these things are occurring?

fb9

if all ya have is one partition and part of its being used by this fast window thing
just use that boot disk ya got to work and get and a: prompt and type format c:
that will wipe everything out and start fresh. no reason it shouldnt work.
good luck. If that doesnt work hang it out the window!!!! hehe the kids will
love that i'm sure.

oh and if ya use d: for your cd drive its probably a dos virtual ram drive
when ya use a boot disk like that so try e: as your cd drive..