Fedora 3 stalling
 

Hi, I am fairly new to linux coming from a Windows environment. I have one main problem with my Fedora Core 3. It is installed on an Xplio notebook, a custom designed laptop from Staples Business Depot, it has a Pentium 4 moblie CPU at 2.2 GHz, 256 MB ram, running a dual boot Fedora 3 and Windows XP.

My problem is that when I'm working with Fedora it will just stop. The mouse will not respond to any movement, the keyboard will not work, the harddrive working light will not move, it just freezes. I would have to restart it manually after. I thought installing all new updates would help, but it doesn't. Is there somebody that can help? Thanks.

Have you considered upgrading to Fedora Core 4, or choosing another distro? Personally, I had some very bad experiences with FC3, it always used to crash, there were tons of stuff I needed to configure, and it was just a NIGHTMARE. Luckily, I discovered Ubuntu, and that has helped me learn quite a lot about Linux, without making me want to throw my computer out of the top floor window! I haven't tried the new Fedora Core 4, but from what I've heard, it's "better", so you may want to try that?

As long as you have a separate /home partition, upgrading should be a breeze. If not, you may want to back up all your stuff! ;)

I'm sorry that I can't actually answer your question, but I think it's because FC3 isnt that great a distro - just my personal opinion. You may not agree, but I just didn't think it was "top quality". Heck, even FC2 was better! Best of luck!

J_K9

P.S Welcome to LQ!! :D

not got much experiance with fedora on a laptop but it might be something to do with processor clockings. It should try and clock down the processer to save power when it idleing. might be worth disabling that esp. if its a custom build.

Thanks, I might try the upgrade then. But also, how would I change the clock settings. This is one thing I don't even know how to do in Windows.

Donato

Processor clockings, err...pats? I'm not sure if you are able to set it in the BIOS, or if it's actually a setting within Fedora Core 3...

I'd just suggest upgrading to either FC4 or another distro like Ubuntu "Hoary" (GO FOR UBUNTU!) :D

J_K9

J_K9
i might not have made my self very clear. i'm not sure in fedora but one of my mates runs kubuntu on a laptop and i know that when its running idle it clocks the cpu down. not entirely sure how to enable/disable this but it is possible and is a laptop specific thing for battery saving purposes (windows does it automatically for laptops)

although i don't like to condone switching to kubuntu/ubuntu it might be your best option

I'll keep that as my last ressort. I've been working with Redhat for a bit and Fedora. First I will try upgrading to 4. It doesn't stall on idle, it's any time. Working or not, and rarely stalls under root, and never stalls when running on AC, only battery.

it it a toshiba laptop?...
random question i know

No it's not. It's an Xplio. Not a very big name, and because its custom designed from Staples.

I have updated to FC4 and it still has the same problem. I think I will change to Ubuntu, however can somebody please help in how I would be changing the Linux distro. Do I just insert the bootable CD and install, and will it remove my old FC4 or I would have to do it myself?

just as you said.
make sure you get the right drive to install onto tho and don't pick one with xp on or say 120gig of films on like i did!!! still mourning the loss of those films.

I've installed Ubuntu, everything looked like it went well until I restarted the computer. I get a message saying:

I cannot Start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly...

I have used sudo dpkg-reconfigure xsever-xorg to fix it, but when I get to the color depth, it leaves the coniguration and says:

xserver-xorg postinst warning: overwriting possibly-customised configuation file; backup in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.200507201522

and bring me back to the prompt. I have already done the the updating of the X server as outlined in the xorg.conf file, but no help. Same problem. Anyone please help. I really like to use linux in a GUI.