Fedora 9. Problem with an instalation process
 

I came across the strange problem while installing Fedora 9 on my PC.
The installation process didn't even started. I only saw the picture
inviting me to make the choice and start the installation. When I choose Install or upgrade an existing system the black screen appeared and nothing happened. I tried the same installation CD on a few other PCs but there were no problems there. I tried to find the reason in the BIOS of my computer, but I couldn't. The hard drive of the PC doesn't have any partions, but I think it isn't an obstacle to start an instalation. Can anyone help me?

If you tried it on other PCs and it worked then maybe the problem is with the candidate machine. I suspect the CD/DVD ROM you are using might be the cause but you could try with one from the other PCs and see if it installs. Atleast you could rule out the hardware if you try this.

All the best

I believe there is a non-graphical installation option hidden in there somewhere, perhaps you may get some helpful error messages?

Even after you do a "text" install, you may have problems.

My laptop uses a nVidia chip-set, and -- of course -- F9 "black screened" 'till I told it to use the vesa driver (at 1200x768 since that was the minimum resolution supported by the GPU in the laptop). Then I installed the nVidia driver from the nVidia web site since the x86_64 driver in the livna repository was an older version that didn't support the GPU in this laptop. Now it works fine.

I suspect that your problem may be similar. Remember that F9, by policy, will not (re)distribute proprietary drivers.

Note: Telling F9 to use the vesa driver at 1200x768 means that you have to boot in level 3 (by adding a 3 to the kernel line using the GRUB editor during the boot process) or log in a "root" from the "black screen" by pressing <Ctl>-<Alt>-<F2> (which sometimes works). Then you need to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf so the "Driver" line for the hardware says "vesa" and the resolution in the "Monitor" section starts with 1200x768. (Editing the configuration file is fairly easy if you can install the mc command-line "pseudo" full-screen file manager and editor application.)

Thanks for all the advices above but they didn't help. I changed the CD and I didn't find any hidden non-graphical installation option. The matter is that when I see Welcome to Fedora 9 screen and press Tab when the Install or upgrade an existing system is highlighted then I see the following line vmlinuz initrd=initrd.img. So I decided that something didn't allow the kernel to be downlowded to the memory and be docompressed. So I should change something in the BIOS or use special options to start installation? Please I need your help !!!