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08-10-2012, 03:46 PM
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#1
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Aug 2012
Posts: 24
Rep:
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Mint Install from live CD - can't remove hardware acel or reset password
Hi,
I am about at my last straw and really don't want to abandon my Linux attempts but see little alternative.
Trying to install Mint (tried 11 and 12) from Live CD ISO.
Install hangs at "copying files" if not right after. Other sources read indicate it might be a hardware acceleration problem, so trying to delete ubiquity-slideshow-mint as instructed (actually only see usr/share/ubiquity-slideshow and dozens of sub-slideshows; happy to delete all the slidshows as I have little interest in watching them).
Unable to save changes to that file.
Accessing it from terminal yields message unable to locate that package.
Additionally, tried apt-get remove the files in terminal but asked if I am root. I do not recall setting a root password but tried to follow instructions for removing password via Grub.
Problem: cannot access Grub boot options. There is no prompt of loading Grub after Post so cannot select "e" for edit there.
I just want to install Mint.
Happy to try whatever will work - unafraid of typing in code - but I am a Linux newbie and don't know all commands.
Please be as specific as possible if you know a solution.
I am on a Dell Dimension L10000R
2 hard drives - both Western Digital, 1 -- 40 G, 1 - 200 G where Linux will go.
All properly partitioned waiting for install.
Trying to dual boot with Win XP (no dual boot option comes up w/Mint CD; option worked fine for awhile with Ubuntu)
Please help. I'd like to stay with Mint and enjoy the dual boot but have just about had enough with the problems and the need to learn a new language with little return.
Thank you!
Charla
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08-10-2012, 04:03 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Registered: Mar 2008
Posts: 22,128
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Do you have more than 1G ram available to run the live and the installer at the same time?
Did you start off by running memtest for a few days or at least 24 hours?
Start all over. Get the latest ISO or double check your ISO image for md5 or shal to see that it is correct. Burn the to a high quality disk and at the slowest speed your burner can test. If you start mint it might offer a way to test disk but I am not sure about that.
If you have set bios to over clocking then you should return all that to stock default type settings.
Then try to install it again.
If you did have this machine working with ubuntu it should not fail with mint. Mint is maybe 98% the same.
Last edited by jefro; 08-10-2012 at 04:04 PM.
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08-10-2012, 05:04 PM
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#3
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Aug 2012
Posts: 24
Original Poster
Rep:
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Update (no info)
Hi,
I have just 512 M RAM
No overclocking (I'm not even sure what that is)
The ISO checks out to the correct MD5sum and the disk was burned at 4x.
Install is running from the live CD with no other software running while it tries o install.
I have not run memtest. I can do that if you think it will help. Alll othe tests check out fine, no erros.
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08-10-2012, 07:27 PM
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#4
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Moderator
Registered: Mar 2008
Posts: 22,128
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It never hurts to test memory. In some cases a fail is not a bad thing. Use other tests. For example, some dell systems fail because of a usb setting in bios but most computers ought to pass for a day without any errors. Some people say stuff like only 3 errors but that is not good.
Your system is or may be too weak to run Mint. I know it says you could run it with 512 but the newer distro's are getting to where the live cd and the installer will just fail without 1G worth of ram. Some systems use a lot for internal and video so what is left over causes an issue.
Might try a distro designed for lower resource systems. Generally the window manager is the issue. Mint offers I think lxde or maybe xfce or something like that. Try those maybe.
I like mint but sometimes you just have to use what works. Ubuntu is so much like mint there should be no problem to go back.
Last edited by jefro; 08-10-2012 at 07:31 PM.
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08-10-2012, 08:32 PM
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#5
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Aug 2012
Posts: 24
Original Poster
Rep:
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Update
Hi,
I am trying to install Mint LXDE (tried 11 and 12)
If those could run it would be great, else I guess I'll try going back to Ubuntu.
However, if I could get my other questions answered -- how to delete the slideshow when I can't seem to get access to saving the changed files once located and how to get rid of the root user password when I can't get a Grub edit option at boot -- that would also be great.
If anyone else has more guidance I will gladly take it. This has been an exceptionally long battle (we're into months now; I thought Mint would be the answer).
I will look at my options for installing more RAM.
Thank you very much for your analysis and the explanations on these newer distros.
Alas, onward.
Charla
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08-24-2012, 01:32 PM
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#6
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Aug 2012
Posts: 24
Original Poster
Rep:
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Updates
Hello,
Ok, today is it - the last straw. I have wanted to believe in Linux, but this business of not being able to located a distro that can even properly load, the problems finding answers to questions that includes the correct command language used for any given distro. and generally conflicting info from all fronts makes this process virtually impossible. I'm a newbie but reasonably intelligent and, though good at languages, this process if like trying to learn a new language where no one seems to be able to agree or supply correct info on its components.
Last time: I have tried Linux Mint, Ubuntu 12.04, and Lubuntu (incl. alternate install)
MD5Sums check out fine on all ISOs
Disk error checks by Linux before install are fine
Installs report unrecoverable disk errors but no info is supplied at return to live CD.
Computer setup is described in 1st post.
Memtest has been run with no issues, chkdsk /r complete no problems. Results from my last boot-repair un are located here: http://paste.ubuntu.com/1159556/
Please, I'd like to be able to give this a fair shot and just need some correct answers. No one wants to suddenly have to become a programmer, just looking for a reasonable tool to continue getting normal work done.
Thank you for your assistance.
Charla
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08-24-2012, 01:55 PM
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#7
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Member
Registered: Apr 2007
Location: West Virginia
Distribution: Ubuntu
Posts: 981
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I understand you are frustrated but let's look at things. I googled the specs of the machine you reference. It seems to be very light on resources to run Linux Mint. You said it has 512MB of RAM. Does it also have shared ram on-board video? If so, that reduces what you have to work with to run the O/S.
You may wish to take a look at Salix, Vector Linux, Puppy, or even Zenwalk as they tend to run well on systems with more modest specs.
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1 members found this post helpful.
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08-26-2012, 10:03 AM
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#8
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Aug 2012
Posts: 24
Original Poster
Rep:
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Updates
Thank you jkirschner; I have downloaded Puppy and so far I like it. Much lighter for my older PC and excellent guidance and instructions in Englishfor those of us who love computers but don't wish to convert to codespeak-as-a-2nd-language just to get work done.
Generally, I think I understand much of what I need to get done, but still having trouble getting this XP and Linux dual boot up and running:
Setup:
Drives partitioned first using EaseUS Partition Master (for labelling simplicity and GUI simplicity then finished w/in Puppy during install to create /boot, /swap, and / partitions
Drive C: - 40G, XP on this drive, linux-designated /dev/sda1
Drive D: - 200G; Linux Puppy on this drive: Partitioned
/boot Drive E: /dev/sdb1 -- 10G /swap Drive F: /dev/sdb2 -- 10G / Drive G: /dev/sdb5 -- 185G Obviously made some mistakes on 1st install as bootloader would not boot any OS although I did get the nice choice menu ( as though I would succeed). Error: (I think) no boot device found.
I had edited menu.lst according to instructions found in the Puppy Linux Manual http://puppylinux.org/main/Manual-English.htm
but I could have screwed up exact names of the partitions from Puppy (hdX v. sdX) as well as precisely how/where to tell it to find/launch XP.
Any better guidance, a specific listing of how menu.lst and any other required files should be edited if necessary, and any other specific tips will be massively appreciated.
Thank you very much,
Charla
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08-26-2012, 12:35 PM
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#9
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LQ Guru
Registered: Apr 2008
Distribution: Slackware, Ubuntu, PCLinux,
Posts: 10,865
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It's not clear from your last post if you are actually able to boot Puppy from the hard drive. Are you? If so, boot it. If not, boot the Puppy Live CD. In either case, go to the site below and after reading the instructions on the bootinfoscript, download it and run it and post the results.txt file here. It will give you information on your drives/partitions and boot files which should help someone to help you.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/
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08-26-2012, 10:08 PM
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#10
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Aug 2012
Posts: 24
Original Poster
Rep:
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Current problem
Okay, so now we have the Linux Puppy 5.4.3 Live CD.
Unfortunately, it is all that will run.
I cannot boot Puppy or XP.
My menu.lst file is posted at pastebin as wll as here are its contents (sorry for length but desperately looking for help.
# Frugal installed Puppy
title Lupu 528 (sdb1/puppy528)
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /puppy528/initrd.gz
kernel /puppy528/vmlinuz psubdir=puppy528 pmedia=atahd pfix=fsck
initrd /puppy528/initrd.gz
title Lupu 528 (sdb1/puppy528) RAM mode\nBoot up Puppy without pupsave
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /puppy528/initrd.gz
kernel /puppy528/vmlinuz psubdir=puppy528 pmedia=atahd pfix=ram,fsck
initrd /puppy528/initrd.gz
# Windows
# this entry searches Windows on the HDD and boot it up
title Windows\nBoot up Windows if installed
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map --hook
errorcheck off
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /bootmgr
chainloader /bootmgr
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /ntldr
chainloader /ntldr
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /io.sys
chainloader /io.sys
errorcheck on
# Boot from Partition Boot Sector
title Lupu 528 (sdb1:PBS)
uuid 56683dc8-1067-481a-9a31-c42ee5c3dbf4
chainloader +1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional (sda1:PBS)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map --hook
uuid AE10CB0010CACE91
chainloader +1
# additionals
title Bootup from HDD\nBootup from the master boot record of the hard disk drive
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map --hook
chainloader (hd0)+1
title Find Grub2\nBoot up grub2 if installed
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /boot/grub/core.img
kernel /boot/grub/core.img
title Grub4Dos commandline\n(for experts only)
commandline
title Reboot computer
reboot
title Halt computer
halt Can someone please tell me what's wrong here. Excepitionally frustrating to 1) have been working on this for so long; and 2) to know that everything I need is, in fact, located onthe computer and I can't access it.
The correct answer will be deeply appreciated.
Thank you for your time and your dedication!
Charla
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08-27-2012, 11:52 AM
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#11
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Aug 2012
Posts: 24
Original Poster
Rep:
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Boootinfoscript Results
Hi all,
As instructed by Yancek, following is my result from Bootinfoscript. As I know I have no idea about what's going on/what's gone wrong right along here, I've taken no stab at reading/interpreting it.
Yancek, thank you and if you're aboard, please help if you can.
Wish me luck --- I'm still hanging on by a thread and trying to give this a chance. I believe it could be good if I can just get things up and running.
Thank you,
Charla
Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012]
============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================
=> Grub Legacy (v0.97) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on boot
drive #2 in partition #1 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> Grub4Dos is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb.
sda1: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP: NTFS
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sda1 starts
at sector 63. But according to the info from fdisk,
sda1 starts at sector 16063. According to the info in
the boot sector, sda1 has 57657221 sectors, but
according to the info from fdisk, it has 78140161
sectors.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM
sdb1: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext2
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files: /menu.lst /grldr /grldr
sdb2: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sdb5: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext2
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files:
sdb6: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Windows XP: FAT32
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb6 starts
at sector 63. But according to the info from fdisk,
sdb6 starts at sector 204812748. "63" and "2048" are
quite common values for the starting sector of a
logical partition and they only need to be fixed when
you want to boot Windows from a logical partition.
Operating System:
Boot files:
============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================
Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders, total 78165360 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System
/dev/sda1 * 16,063 78,156,224 78,140,162 83 Linux
Drive: sdb _____________________________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sdb: 200.0 GB, 200049647616 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24321 cylinders, total 390721968 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 63 102,398,309 102,398,247 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 102,398,310 390,716,864 288,318,555 f W95 Extended (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 102,398,373 204,812,684 102,414,312 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 204,812,748 390,716,864 185,904,117 b W95 FAT32
"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________
Device UUID TYPE LABEL
/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/loop1 15baf152-1896-4933-995d-1a7bd0c3eb64 ext2
/dev/sda1 AE10CB0010CACE91 ntfs FITBOOTDESK
/dev/sdb1 56683dc8-1067-481a-9a31-c42ee5c3dbf4 ext2
/dev/sdb5 467445ec-2503-46bc-9111-08aa17bf6880 ext2
/dev/sdb6 10EE-41D6 vfat LINUX ROOT
================================ Mount points: =================================
Device Mount_Point Type Options
/dev/loop0 /initrd/pup_ro2 squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop1 /initrd/pup_rw ext2 (rw,noatime,errors=continue)
/dev/sdb1 /mnt/sdb1 ext2 (rw,relatime,errors=continue)
/dev/sdb5 /initrd/mnt/dev_save ext2 (rw,noatime,errors=continue)
================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================ sdb1/menu.lst: ================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# menu.lst produced by grub4dosconfig-v1.7.2
color white/blue black/cyan white/black cyan/black
timeout 10
default 0
# Frugal installed Puppy
title Lupu 528 (sdb1/puppy528)
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /puppy528/initrd.gz
kernel /puppy528/vmlinuz psubdir=puppy528 pmedia=atahd pfix=fsck
initrd /puppy528/initrd.gz
title Lupu 528 (sdb1/puppy528) RAM mode\nBoot up Puppy without pupsave
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /puppy528/initrd.gz
kernel /puppy528/vmlinuz psubdir=puppy528 pmedia=atahd pfix=ram,fsck
initrd /puppy528/initrd.gz
# Windows
# this entry searches Windows on the HDD and boot it up
title Windows\nBoot up Windows if installed
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map --hook
errorcheck off
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /bootmgr
chainloader /bootmgr
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /ntldr
chainloader /ntldr
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /io.sys
chainloader /io.sys
errorcheck on
# Boot from Partition Boot Sector
title Lupu 528 (sdb1:PBS)
uuid 56683dc8-1067-481a-9a31-c42ee5c3dbf4
chainloader +1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional (sda1:PBS)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map --hook
uuid AE10CB0010CACE91
chainloader +1
# additionals
title Bootup from HDD\nBootup from the master boot record of the hard disk drive
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map --hook
chainloader (hd0)+1
title Find Grub2\nBoot up grub2 if installed
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /boot/grub/core.img
kernel /boot/grub/core.img
title Grub4Dos commandline\n(for experts only)
commandline
title Reboot computer
reboot
title Halt computer
halt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
========================== sdb1/grldr embedded menu: ===========================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pxe detect
configfile
default 0
timeout 1
title find /menu.lst, /boot/grub/menu.lst, /grub/menu.lst
errorcheck off
configfile /menu.lst
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
configfile /grub/menu.lst
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /menu.lst && configfile /menu.lst
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /boot/grub/menu.lst && configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /grub/menu.lst && configfile /grub/menu.lst
errorcheck on
commandline
title commandline
commandline
title reboot
reboot
title halt
halt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=================== sdb1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================
GiB - GB File Fragment(s)
0.062533855 = 0.067145216 menu.lst 1
========= Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive: =========
hda hdb hdc hdd sdc sdd sde sdf sdg sdh sdi
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08-27-2012, 06:34 PM
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#12
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Aug 2012
Posts: 24
Original Poster
Rep:
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Changing Thread Title
To ensure I try to get help from appropriate folks, I'm reposting the salient details and changing this thread to reflect that I'vm now trying to get Puppy up & squared.
Thanks everyone for your help so far, please take a look at http://www.pastebin.com for 2 posts titlede FitBoot, uploaded 8/27/12 about 4:15 for my menu.lst file and the text ouput f4rom Bootinfoscript.
Thanks and have a great day (pls respond and help!)
Charla
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