I am trying to install linux mandrake 9.1 on my Packard Bell iDesign system but I can't get it to work. The disks are fine and they installed on my old computer which I have just sold but I can't get it to install on this computer. It starts up presents me with the graphical menu( F1 or Enter) I press enter then nothing. I have also tried text mode but it still does the same. The screen goes blank. I have gone into my bios and disabled everthing I can although I don't really know what I am doing in bios but it hasn't made any diffrence can anybody offer me any advice.

Thanx

Taz

my spec( not sure what is relevant)

AMD Athlon 1900+
ACPI uniprocessor PC
ST340810A Hard drive
S3 graphics prosavage
Logitech keyboard and mouse

Is there any other spec you would need to assist you with helping me?

Don't know the box/BIOS, but would suggest
you start looking for something like "Boot order"
and then select the CD-ROM to be first ;)

Cheers,
Tink

It does boot and it loads up the initial screen but when i start press enter on the mandrake graphical menu the page just goes blank

Have you looked at the F1 options, it might be that you would need to follow the "expert" route!

regards

John

I just had this problem and worked around it.

My prob was that I have more than a GIG of mem and a TI4200 128MB.
Apperantly there is a bug in the bootloader that causes the machine to freeze just after boot. so I found out after a quick check on the MDK website.

the work around is to hit F1 and enter the following

"linux vga=0"

I give a low VGA install but does not affect the final result.

Too easy and I had no problem after that.


G

Thanx for your help but I have tried expert and linux vga=0 but neither of them have made a diffrence.
any other ideas? PLEASE!

I borrowed Red Hat of a mate of mine but that did exactly the same so it is odviously my computer, but I have know idea what or how to get round it so unfortunately for me I am stuck on Windows for the time being :-(

Taz,

I seem to be having the same problem but with a completely different distro. I can install in text mode but as soon as the system starts the graphical environment I get nothing on the screen at all.

Let me know if you resolve your drama.

AMD Athlon 1G
512 Mb RAM
nVidia GeForce 4
RH9.0

Willo

well since your saying you are screwing around in the bios, why don't you try just to go into the bios and "load setup defaults" and then try to install...maybe you did something that was a no no, and if it don't work after setup defaults then it shouldn't be a mistake you made in there...
and also if that don't work , i noticed in your specs you didn't mention your make/model of your mobo so how bout filling us in with that info if the bios defaults don't help

I have reset the bios defaults but it doesn't make a diffrence.
Also how do i find out which type of motherboard I have.

I think that you will find that the name and model are written on it - though there is always the sandra prog from sisoft (for windows) you should be able to get most of your system info from that.

regards

John

I think I have found the motherboard.
does this sound right?
Explorer (MS-6511) and if so does this help?

I can't find this motherboard on the Mandrake Hardware database does this mean that the motherboard is probably the problem? and if so is ther a way of getting round it>

Nah, mine is an MS6503or maybe 2(If I remember correctly)(and I don't think that showed up on the mandrake database) but the MS bit suggests that it's Taiwanese, built by Microstar International.

John

I tried making a floppy for installation as I heard from another forum that this may help but it hasn't does anyone out there have any more suggestions PLEASE!!!