RedHat Enterprise keeps rebooting
 

Hi everyone- I'm currently trying to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 4 Update 1 (x86) on an older PC of mine for several reasons. The first being I know next to nothing about Linux and I happen to have plenty of free time and the second being that a co-worker (read superior) would like me to get a Linux Server setup with an Apache Server running and a Subversion Repository with a Subversion Repository Server (SVN) running. Like I said I know next to nothing about Linux so I figured that first installing RedHat Enterprise was a good starting point so I downloaded it from RedHat and burned the ISO image using NERO on Windows XP Pro.

I then reformatted my extra computer and put the first installation cd in to have it boot from CD. It does that just fine and I get the RedHat Enterprise splashscreen which says to hit enter to install in graphical mode and so on...
I try typing in 'linux checkmedia' to make sure i burned the cd correctly and when i hit enter the first line to pop up says loading vmlinux... and the second line says loading initrd.img... after those two lines the computer completely reboots and comes back to the same screen. If i try hitting just enter to install in graphical mode the exact same thing happens. My thoughts are that i just did not burn the CD correctly but then i wonder wny the splash screen comes up in the first place. if anybody has any ideas or advice i would be very appreciative! Thanks!

Don't use the checkmedia option.
Just press enter at the prompt.
If this doesn't work, meaning you have the same issue, then you should use the function keys to choose a more appropriate kernel. You are using a more modern, full-featured kernel with "linux" - so it may be trying to do something your hardware doesn't support. There are more stripped down versions that will allow that machine to start.

RedHat and Fedora installs, by default, will offer you the opportunity to check the consistency of the media before you install, without the kernel option.

Lastly, don't give up, as older machines are ideal for what you are trying to do....

I have installed Fedora Core 2 and 3, and thoes both start up with a splash screen, so that is normal. Also, the normal installer on FC2 and 3 always asked me to do a media check right after the part you are stuck at. There is a good chance that it may be an issue with your hardware. I had a CD-ROM that would cause a kernel panic everytime I tried to install. Before you start yanking cards and cables, try some of the install options that you are given (says press F* for these options at the install screen). If they arn't on the splash screen for Enterprise, then here is a site with the options...

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/e...-bootopts.html

Especially try the using options like noacpi, noprobe, and apm=off. Also, try the text mode install.

Good luck.

Having the same Issue
 

Hi,

I'm using a Pentium-MMX CPU with 128MB of RAM, ATI video graphics card and an 8GB Hard Drive. All about 6 years old and running into the same rebooting issues with the same version of Red Hat Linux EL4 as the original poster
booting off the CD.

I have tried all the parameters suggested as well and have even tried to pull boards, swap memory chips and such.

Does this mean that the machine is just incompatible?

GKiang