Hi everyone

I've been trying to get linux running on my Compaq R4025 laptop. So far, I've tried installing redhat, fedora, and debian. All have the same problem, the install hangs after only a few seconds.

I am currently trying to get the amd64 version of debian to install properly. I have played with a number of boot options.

'debian-installer/framebuffer=false' - This option disables the framebuffer, but it still crashes at the language selection screen. The foreign characters don't display right.

'vga=788' or 'vga=771' - Both of these cause the framebuffer to load (seemingly) properly, and the language selection screen looks how it should. However, the system is still unresponsive (not even the capslock light comes on and off).

I read in the debian installation documentation that there is an option 'nolangchooser' which is supposed to disable the language screen, but it doesn't seem to have any effect.

Anyone know what is happening here? I know linux can run on this system, because Knoppix boots and runs fine.

Thanks for any help

Chris

OK, I got it not to freeze. By using 'acpi=off vga=771' I was able to get it to boot the installer properly, but now it cannot mount the cdrom. It just keeps saying "cannot mount install medium".

Doing it by hand from the command line gives me an 'invalid argument' error from the mount command... It sees the cd because it says "mounting read-only.." but the mount fails.

Chris

Got it, it wasn't working because the cd was not finalized when I burned it. Once I reburned the iso image using "disc at once" mode everything went fine.

Another update on this:

'acpi=off' causes the network interface not to work. It comes up and seems to be ok, but no traffic will pass through.

Instead, I discovered that the system is not actually frozen: The keyboard driver just needs to get reset. To do this you hold the function key and the left shift key. After this everything went well (I still needed to use 'vga=788')