hi,

i know less than nothing about linux yet and want to install mepis 3.3.1 ... but i can't.

every time i've booted from the cd, nothing comes up on screen after the initial boot screen ... it's just black ... despite my using various combinations relating to the boot sequence. if it got past that point, i might just be able to get to the "install" icon on the desktop but so far, nothing!

i've also booted another distro, kanotix 2005-03, which worked but i don't know how to install it as there's no "install" icon on the desktop!!

the spec. for my pc is as follows:
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/20/2005, 17:11:40
Machine name: Mipakial
Operating System: MS Windows 98SE (4.10, Build 2222)A
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
Processor: AMD-K6-2/400MHz, 3D pro, MMX, 3DNow,
Memory: 256MB RAM
Page File: 43MB used, 1749MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 7.0 (4.07.00.0716)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 4.07.00.0700
---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: XPERT 98 PCI (English)
Manufacturer: ATI Tech. - Enhanced
Chip type: Mach64: XL/XC Rev
DAC type: Internal
Device ID: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4752&SUBSYS_00081002&REV_27\BUS_00&DEV_0B&FUNC_00
Display Memory: 8.0 MB
Current Mode: 800 x 600 (16 bit) (default refresh rate)
Monitor: HP D1196A Ergo Ultra VGA 15-inch Display
Monitor Max Res: 1024,768
Driver Name: ati2drae.drv
Driver Version: 4.12.01.2647 (English)
DDI Version: 7 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/6/2000 09:32:18, 271872 bytes
Driver Certified: Yes
VDD: *vdd,*vflatd
Mini VDD: ati2vxae.vxd
Registry: OK
DDraw Test Result:
D3D Test Result:

can anyone help ... but in plain english please as i don't know what the linux terminology means yet?

my thanks in advance from a very frustrated
michael ... in scotland.

It appears that your mepis cd may not have been burned correctly. If you can, download and burn it again at a slower speed.

Also when I first started with linux I used Mandrake (Mandriva) and Red Hat (Fedora (community version)). I have since moved on, but both of these offered some of the easiest installs at the time.

There are other distros as well with easy installs (I'm sure someone will chime in soon with some suggestions), but I haven't tried them all. Yet ;-)

Mepis is great! It's a live CD AND installable, 2in1. Mandake takes forever to download and has to much unecesary stuff that come with it.
gm2fz, I suggest you check it with the md5 thing to see if the ISO was ok. Also, make sure you have the CD-rom to boot first. I use Mepis 3.3.1 and it works great and really easy to install as well.
Hope you get it to work.