Can't install any linux distribution
 

Hi, I'm having a problem installing linux on my desktop PC..
Basically, the screen randomly goes black after awhile during a live CD session or during installation and I can't do anything but shut it down.

This happens with Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Scientific linux, Mint.. no matter which one I try they all do the same and I can't figure out what's the problem.

The frustrating thing about it is that windows runs perfectly fine, but as soon as I boot up any linux, I get this thing.

Is there any inbuilt temperate monitor or something that makes my screen go black if my graphic card's temperature is too high? That's the only thing I can imagine causing it, since I know my graphic card can get pretty hot.

My PC specs:

ECS nForce4M-A mainboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+
2 GB's of RAM (that I tested with memtest, no errors)
ATI Radeon HD 5570

The harddrive I want to install it on is a 250GB maxtor, IDE.

If you suspect it is a temperature deal then might look at bios settings for what it should do on temp. Some have beeps to warn.

Almost no company tests their systems for use with linux so it may never work.

Things I'd try. Check bios settings. Set to failsafe or default. Check that your power supply is OK, cooling OK, cables of the best quality and not bad spots or kinks. Boot to bios to test temps.

Might be an issue with the cd drive or controller on it. Swap it.

Never hurts to run maxblast diags.

Have you tried an install without a live session?

It has been almost an entire day and I'm curious to know if you resolved this. I'd say it's either the cdrom or the graphics card. ATI cards ain't very nice with linux. So if you have not done so try a known good cdrom. If that doesn't help -- and I hate to lay this on you -- try a different graphics card. IMHO Nvidia.

I'm not sure that suggesting buying a new graphics card is good advice. If Linux doesn't work with the system then the best bet is to use whatever OS does work.
Only use Linux if it works, if not then use whatever does -- if you need to use a PC you can't afford to mess around.

I don't think they're coming back..

I love this old wives tale and how it keeps coming back. AMD/ATI has done alot of work with regards to Linux compatibility and this anti ATI thing is getting pretty old now.

The thing is, computing is moving on FTL speed and before people notice that, it already advanced so much and things just change really fast. The new become old and the old become ancient in no time.

Regards

I know what you mean but it has been years since ATI has been as bad as what people are still saying.

Member response
 

Hi,

Generally it boils down to the individuals lack of understanding & possibly to lazy to figure things out. Carry the untruth to mask for the lack/abilities to get proper performances from the hardware. So blame things on the manufacture. I too agree that ATI/AMD have made great gains to get things ironed out. Support for open and propriety on their part has provided major gains for Gnu/Linux.

As I stated; Blame game is easier than trying to get things functional.

"A tool is but the extension of a man's hand and a machine is but a complex tool. He that invents a machine augments the power of man and the well being of mankind.” - Henry Ward Beecher

Thank you for all your replies,

I did check all my BIOS settings and they're fine, plus as far as I know if any BIOS setting would've cause this, then shouldn't it do the same in Windows?

It's not any SATA or IDE controller issue either, I tried installing from both CD and USB and later from USB with the CD/DVD drive unplugged, in the end I even had all harddrives unplugged too and plugged in a USB harddrive, but i still had the same problem..

I haven't tried installing in text mode, I will try that later today when I get home.

Well, we're all entitled to our opinions. Mine is if it won't work with Linux it isn't worth having. If using Windows is the only option why bother consulting a Linux forum?

Because.. I want to use linux, I also use linux on my laptop but I'd like to have it on my PC.

Something doesn't just work for no reason and I want to know why.

Which distros can run fine just with live cd ? And when you install do you do the default install or something different?

Regards

None of them run fine, they all do the same thing.. after awhile screen goes black and I can't do anything. Sometimes even before I can initiate the installation and sometimes after partitioning, it's randomly. Just windows runs fine.

And yea I always choose default.