FC5 does not boot up after removing packages and some tinkering

kwei · 06-08-2006, 08:02 PM

I installed FC5 recently on a Dell e1705 laptop as a dual-boot. Immediately, I found a few things that were not satisfactory: no wireless, low-res display and no sound.
I worked on wireless connection first, and finished the job with ndiswrapper solution. I then proceed onto screen resolution problem and this was where disaster strikes. The end results: every time it boot up, it would go thru most of the boot up sequence, until it hangs soon after 'Start service Readahead'. I would be looking at a blue, empty, screen with only a mouse pointer, which I can move.

The following are things I did (trying my best to remember) before it stopped booting up:

1. Have 915Resolution installed and in /etc/inittab, change the default runlevel to 3.
2. Removing entire /usr/src/redhat dir manually via commands, since kernel source code in there was out-of-date.
3. Removing the following packages via 'Add / Remove software': package manager, after I realized that's the wrong solution for the hardware:
a) http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-5.rpm
b) http://rpm.livna.org/RPM-LIVNA-GPG-KEY
c) kmod-fglrx-smp (this installs a video card driver:fglrx)

Any suggestions on what might've gone wrong or how to figure it out and fix it would be greatly appreciated.

TIA,

Kwei

DeusExLinux · 06-08-2006, 11:40 PM

Quote:

kmod-fglrx-smp (this installs a video card driver:fglrx)

You don't happen to have an ati card, do you?

AwesomeMachine · 06-09-2006, 10:25 AM

Use the rescue system to put things back the way they were.

kwei · 06-09-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusExLinux

You don't happen to have an ati card, do you?

No, I have a built-in Intel video card. That's why I wanted to remove drivers from livna since it's for ATI or nVidia.

thx,

Kwei

kwei · 06-09-2006, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AwesomeMachine

Use the rescue system to put things back the way they were.

Not sure what you meant by that? Did you mean Linux Rescue CD? What do I do with it? Is there a url for it?

thx,

Kwei

DeusExLinux · 06-09-2006, 03:47 PM

the resuce system is your install disks. There should be an option for system recovery when you boot from them. At least, from what I remember from FC, it has that option.

kwei · 06-10-2006, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusExLinux

the resuce system is your install disks. There should be an option for system recovery when you boot from them. At least, from what I remember from FC, it has that option.

Yes, I found it on the install DVD. Managed to revive the system. Made a mistake in setting RunLevel. All is well, for now.

thx for the help.

Kwei

DeusExLinux · 06-10-2006, 11:51 AM

On a sidenote, what runlevel did you set, so if someone else is looking through the forum for an answer, they might be able to find it?

kwei · 06-10-2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusExLinux

On a sidenote, what runlevel did you set, so if someone else is looking through the forum for an answer, they might be able to find it?

I incorrectly set the RunLevel near the bottom of inittab to 3 (it was 5) and that did it. Not quite sure what that runlevel is for and why it disrupted the boot. As you can tell, I'm a newbie.

Regards,

Kwei