Linux Refuses to run on my Compaq Presario SR1020NX at all,! I'm at my wits end
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Linux Refuses to run on my Compaq Presario SR1020NX at all,! I'm at my wits end
Okay, so I have tried several different distros and none of them will run on my machine. I managed to do a HDD install using the Ubuntu alternate install disk, but it still crashes every time I try to boot the OS. I can't figure out why. All I know is when you try to boot live CDs it crashes giving squashfs errors out the wazoo, and when you try to boot from HDD then it fails when loading the drivers and gives a bunch of abnormal exit errors. In both cases the system becomes completely non-responsive and I have to hold power to shut it down and restart.
All the info on my machine is here. I have upgraded all the drives except the cd writer and upgraded the memory to 2 gigs, and installed a wireless card. I have the exact specs of that hardware if needed as well.
I have run linux just fine on computers with hardware similar to this one in quality. What could possibly be the problem here?
It would really help a lot if you could somehow show us the EXACT errors that occur when the machine quits booting or acts up (even a attached photograph if necessary)
However, meanwhile, try booting with acpi=off added to the end of your kernel boot line, and see if that helps. It sounds otherwise like a relatively normal machine.
This sounds like issues related to the RAM memory, and I did see that for that older computer from your link, the maximum allowed RAM is 1 GB as this; (2 x 512 MB), so that PC does not support 2 GB of memory. So first try haveing just 2 modules of 512 MB each for 1 GB total RAM, and you can run a memory test on it when booted to a CD with that on it. Also you may want to boot to your BIOS to make sure all settings seem to be correct.
According to the motherboard specs at this link, 2Gib is supported.
Sasha
PS - depending on the BIOS version on the machine, flashing it to the newest version may help. (NOTE: it may help, but may not). The original BIOS apparently supported Ubuntu 6.0 so maybe a newer one would help.
Last edited by GrapefruiTgirl; 08-25-2009 at 11:17 PM.
Reason: added BIOS suggestion.
Memory test links; http://www.memtest.org/ , http://www.memtest86.com/ ,and I would run a full hardware diagnostic on that PC, even if your hard drive is new, test that too, hardware items do fail.
Is the cd any good? Did you check for errors. Some people claim that live cd's should be burned at low speed (4x ?) for best results.
That's a good question
For the record, while *some* people don't agree either way, it's *generally* recommended to burn ISOs to media at the slowest speed one can tolerate, particularly LiveCD's and other bootable Linux discs.
I usually use 2x or 4x and have never had a bad burn that I can recall. It takes a little while burning at really slow speeds, but the lack of coasters is rewarding
Checking the disks was the first thing I did. I have been burning at 4x (it wont go any slower then that) and all the md5 checks are sound and the disk checker says the disks are okay.
As for the hardware, it works great on Windows XP. I would think if the memory was bad or something of the like that Windows wouldn't boot either. I will definitely run a diagnostic on the hardware to check though, since you never know.
I did note that it said that the ram was upgradable to 2 gigs but recommended 2 512 ddrs. I have no idea why that would be though, either the board is designed to take 2 gigs or it isnt. I no longer have any 512 ddrs laying around so I certainly hope that is not it. But if it is, then I could craigslist some ram for cheap.
Responding to the first post now:
I did take some screen shots of the error messages, I just need to get them off my phone. I also did the acpi=off thing and got pretty much the same result. I have tried quite a few different things to enter in and modify the boot sequence, but so far nothing has done a single thing.
Oh, one more thing:
The first distro I tried installing (Mint 7) stalled, and I hit ctrl+alt+delete about 1 minute after it installed, and it terminated three processes and then proceeded to load the live CD. That is the ONLY successful boot of linux I have achieved with this computer, and since I have not been able to repeat whatever I did to get it to load. I don't know if that helps or not, but I thought I'd give it a shot.
I will return this evening with the hardware diagnostic results and the pictures of the error messages I am getting. I will also see about updating the bios.
Thank you all very much for your suggestions. I hope I can get this worked out soon.
Okay, did the hardware diagnosis via belarc. Everything is fine. But I decided to copy and paste that info in case it helps at all:
Operating System System Model
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States) Compaq Presario 061 DW255A-ABA SR1020N NA510 0n41411RE101GIOVA10
System Serial Number: MXK4091097
Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
2.80 gigahertz Intel Celeron
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
128 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Not hyper-threaded Board: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD Gamila/Giovani/Neon series 030
Serial Number: 4113185351
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.06 12/31/2003
Drives Memory Modules c,d
500.10 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
472.80 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
Slot 'A0' has 1024 MB
Slot 'A1' has 1024 MB
Local Drive Volumes
c: (NTFS on drive 0) 500.10 GB 472.80 GB free
Network Drives
None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details) Printers
local user accounts last logon
john valenzuela 8/25/2009 11:24:19 PM (admin)
QBDataServiceUser18 7/15/2009 7:47:46 PM
Document Converter 300 on LPT1:
Microsoft XPS Document Writer on XPSPort:
Controllers Display
Intel(r) 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller-24CB
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller [Display adapter]
VisionTek Radeon X1300 Series [Display adapter]
VisionTek Radeon X1300 Series Secondary [Display adapter]
Default Monitor (2x)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
Intel(r) 82801DB/DBM USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller - 24CD
Intel(r) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C2
Intel(r) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C4
Intel(r) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C7 Realtek AC'97 Audio
Virus Protection [Back to Top] new Group Policies
McAfee VirusScan Version 99.9.99
Realtime File Scanning On
None discovered
Plan for your next computer refresh...
click for Belarc's System Management products
Operating System System Model
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States) Compaq Presario 061 DW255A-ABA SR1020N NA510 0n41411RE101GIOVA10
Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
2.80 gigahertz Intel Celeron
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
128 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Not hyper-threaded Board: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD Gamila/Giovani/Neon series 030
Serial Number: 4113185351
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.06 12/31/2003
Drives Memory Modules c,d
500.10 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
472.80 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
From what I can gather from the 'net, that machine, with its HP Compaq proprietaryness, being designed for WinXX only, has a screwed-up ACPI configuration and/or screwed up BIOS, and/or other screwed-up hardware implementation, in order to make it 100% Win-Only compatible. The hardware apparently is not compliant with much in the way of spec standards, which makes it completely compliant with the WinOS that it came with.
PS - if it does boot, and/or you can install the Linux if you haven't got it properly installed yet, the immediate next step(s) would be to configure your video driver. Either use VESA at the beginning, just so you can log into the desktop and work on the machine, or use a radeon opensource driver until you can get whatever driver you actually want, installed.
Good luck!
Sasha
Last edited by GrapefruiTgirl; 08-26-2009 at 08:20 PM.
Still need to know what the error is when it refuses to boot... Without that it's like trying to throw ring toss in the dark, really it's not as fun as it sounds. =( Whatever the problem is we can't really give much help without knowing what piece of hardware it is complaining about.
Still need to know what the error is when it refuses to boot... Without that it's like trying to throw ring toss in the dark, really it's not as fun as it sounds. =( Whatever the problem is we can't really give much help without knowing what piece of hardware it is complaining about.
Yes, I agree generally, in almost every case. However, if you Google this mobo/machine+linux as much as I have in the last 2 days (and probably the OP as well has), you'll come up with no shortage of the exact same problem, with the exact same machine: Linux simply will not boot nor install, period.
Still, you're right, I'd really like to see an image/picture/copy&paste of what's going on.
Yes, I agree generally, in almost every case. However, if you Google this mobo/machine+linux as much as I have in the last 2 days (and probably the OP as well has), you'll come up with no shortage of the exact same problem, with the exact same machine: Linux simply will not boot nor install, period.
Still, you're right, I'd really like to see an image/picture/copy&paste of what's going on.
Sasha
Well damn, lol that's just weird. Rarely do you find a non-linux friendly PC. =( Kinda makes me sad inside... haha
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