I know I'm like a plague on this forum, and I'm sorry. I've been trying very hard this past week to get linux running, it's like a crusade to me.

However, my plans are being foiled once again.

No linux disk will work on my computer. I have tried 4 diffrent boot disks, 3 of them made by me, 1 made by a friend.

The boot disks are Knoppix3.4, Knoppix3.6, Mandrake10.1, VectorLinux.

When I try to do a normal boot with any of these disks, I get the exact same problem. I get to the load screen, where generally a message saying "Press enter to boot linux" or something of the like, after I press enter, the computer screen goes black. With mandrake10.1 and VectorLinux, the computer also restarts.

I can boot knoppix3.4 and knoppix3.6 in "failsafe" mode, with "(almost) no hardware detection". This makes me believe that my hardware is to blame.

It is going to be impossible to switch to linux untill I can determine exactly which piece of hardware (if that is indeed the case) is causing my computer to crash when I try to boot linux.

My computer is fairly new, it was bought last summer.

APCI uniproccessor PC
Compaq 7500 monitor
504mb of ram
Intel Graphics controller
Intel Ultra ATI storage controller-24CB
Compaq PS2 keyboard

Here's the entire list:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...1/hardware.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../hardware2.jpg
Please help me make my dream of linux a reality.

Just a simple question... have you verified compatibility of your hardware before you installed ?? For mandrake, here is the place you can visit:

http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/hardware.php3

Well, mandrake doesn't show that it knows of any intel graphics cards at all, and it doesn't have my processor either... doesn't tell me much. Are compaq computers really that rare?

It's not just mandrake that messes up, it's all versions of linux.

when you say "boot disk" do you mean floppy or cd?

im guessing cd

Well before installing any software, the fisrt rule I use before even starting an installation, is to make sure that hardware compatibility is settled.

To utlimitly solve the issue, I would call COMPAQ tech support or search their support web site to verify if harware compatibility is met.

There are some compaq computers that are Linux compatible but they are CLEARLY specified on their web site.

There is this on the HP/Compaq website - leaving aside all their 'enterprise solutions' crud and bumpf that is.

Well then, I thinks it's pretty self explanitory...

1- Can't have information on compatibility
2- Installation won't work
3- Mandrake doesn't recognize some intel components
4- Can't find info from Google ( which I presume you did search there )
5- Called COMPAQ tech support and had no info ( Which I presumed you did as well )

If you follow this logic.... the answer is quite clear !

hehe...

but seriously, "joe user 11" can you explain your install procedure? you should just be able
to slap in the cd-rom of the burned ISO image into your cd and cold boot the box. thats how windows is installed. thats how u load the compaq restore disk. do u have the boot order set right in the BIOS? the cd-rom has to be seen first. you're not trying to cold boot with a linux restore floppy are u? if u are that is not right.

bla bla bla...

Didnt he said i get screen where it written press enter to start linux bla bla :P .

Btw can be cd-rom issue too .
Intel 845 motherboard with no extra graphic card hmm . This graphic drivers are supported by almost alllll distro's . Also as of that ultra ata storeage there isnt driver needed for it in linux it automatically configures that stuff

Is there anything u did in bios maybe then live cd has trouble wtching hardware . Restore all ur bios setting to default and make cd-rom as first boot device and see .

UR hardware really seems fully ok to me from that pic ..

My bios setting are correct. The CDs do work, I have tried them with
other computers with fine results. My computer has a sticker that says
"Built for use by WindowsXP", I'm not sure if this is just a general
sticker or if it means that it won't run anything else. I hadn't even
thought of calling tech support, I figured that they wouldn't support
anything but windows on their computers, so it would be like calling microsoft
and asking them how to put a mod chip in an xbox. I'll try it though.
I acquired slackware boot cds, If those don't work, I'll call compaq.
I'm at school right now, and due to the firewall, I can only get
to the internet through telnet. I don't feel like navigating the compaq
site in text, but I'll do that too when I get home. I really appreciate
everyones help, and I'll keep you posted.

Well, good news friends. Mercifully, the slackware10.0 install looks promising, it didn't crash after the boot screen. I've read that slackware might not be so friendly to new linux users or those unaccustom to command line (both describe me), but since it's the only distro that will work, I guess it's what I'll be using. I'm hoping I don't wipe harddrive, but it won't be too bad if I do.


Edit: I'm defragging my HD right now, if anybody has any quick tips for slackware10.0 installation, please post them quickly!

Ok, looks like this will take a while. Can anybody suggest a slackware10.0 installation guide or a good newb-friendly disk partitioner for windows?

there is a really good installation guide here:
http://www.bitbenderforums.com/vb22/...?postid=311808

It's is very detailed, and has pictures On the downside it's for Slack 9.1, but I don't think the installation procedure changed much, if at all.