Random Lockups and Black Screens

jstrick1 · 05-07-2003, 05:30 PM

Hi Folks:

I have finally made it through the install of Mandrake 9.1 without any errors. Now when I am using the computer (using KDE) I get random lockups and sometimes it will kick over to a black screen with the monitor LED flashing.
I have had somewhat similar problems in WIN XP pro, but not nearly as frequently.
I am running Mandrake 9.1, Athlon T-Bird 1GHz, ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 7500. It seems to mostly do this after searches, or when using the menu bar.

Help if you can!

iceman47 · 05-07-2003, 05:56 PM

Only thing I can think of is that the drivers for your ATI may be buggy. From what I hear driver support still isn't really bugfree.
Have you tried sending ATI a mail?
I don't think it's Mandrake's nor KDE's fault as you have probs in windoze too.

fancypiper · 05-07-2003, 05:58 PM

AGP and AMD have some problems. See this article.

Essentially, pass mem=nopentium to the kernel via your bootloader. Perhaps this will clear it up. It stopped my freezeups.

I haven't had the black screen, though.

jstrick1 · 05-07-2003, 06:05 PM

How do I go about passing mem=nopentium to the kernel via my bootloader?

fancypiper · 05-07-2003, 06:13 PM

You can pass it manually on boot or put it in your bootloader configuration.

Mandrake uses LILO, I think. You will have to find your lilo.conf file, edit it and run /sbin/lilo IIRC.

See the LILO mini-HOWTO or type man lilo in an x terminal.

whansard · 05-07-2003, 06:14 PM

for lilo
in /etc/lilo.conf
append="mem=nopentium"

for grub in
/boot/grub/grub.conf

fancypiper · 05-07-2003, 06:21 PM

Just checked my 'drake and it's etc/lilo.conf. Look fot the boot section and use the append statement. Here is an example of the section

Code:

image=/boot/vmlinuz
        label=linux
        root=/dev/hda7
        initrd=/boot/initrd.img
        append="quiet devfs=mount hdd=ide-scsi mem=nopentium "
        vga=788
        read-only

Then, after you save the file, command

Code:

[root@tinwhistle root]# /sbin/lilo

HTH

jstrick1 · 05-07-2003, 06:30 PM

When I have Linux up i can go to the /etc, do I open the
lilo.conf file in a text editor?

If i do it from the bootloader (LILO) will i have to do it everytime or will it be a permanent fix?

Thanks for your help!

fancypiper · 05-07-2003, 06:31 PM

Permanent

jstrick1 · 05-09-2003, 03:13 PM

OK:
I reinstalled Mandrake 9.1. During the configuration I added the mem=nopentium to the LILO setup. Now a short time after it boots, the screen will lockup except for the mouse. I can move the mouse anywhere, but my clicks do nothing.
The only things I changed during this install was to add to the LILO config, and to add a few extra items to the install.
My video card appeared to be detected correctly, and i am using the default resolution and number of colors.
I am dual booting with Windows XP. I really like the experiences that I have had with Mandrake 9.1 so far except for these instability issues.
What should I do to fix this situation?
And what should I do when the computer locksup like that? (push reset?)
Help me if you can.

Remember that I am a complete newbie!

whansard · 05-09-2003, 05:48 PM

I think something's wrong with your computer.
memory, motherboard, or video card. or maybe your
bios' settings should be more conservative, or maybe
you're overclocked too much.