Would the command "/failsafe" that I recently started Knoppix with work in my MEPIS HD installation (or any other distro on the HD)? Or is there a MEPIS-specific command that does the same thing? I'm trying to bypass monitor autodetection.

Just hit the f3 key as soon as the grub screen shows up on the live cd. When you hit the f3 key you can then choose your resolution. If you don't hit the f3 key and set the resolution then the text will be way too small.

Understood. What if I needed failsafe mode on the HD copy, though?

You shouldn't need failsafe for anything. The new 6.5 rc1 installs three different kernels so if you bugger one of them up you can just choose another kernel to boot from. They will be there in your grub screen to choose from.

You can also add an appropriately titled single user mode stanza to your menu.lst. Copy the stanza of an appropriate kernel, re-title it, & add "S" to the passed parameters.

This may or may not weaken the security of the system.

Three kernels? No wonder the latest MEPIS release needs a DVD, eh? (As I saw on the mirrors.) I was disappointed at that, because one of the reasons I liked MEPIS was its fitting on one CD.

The MEPIS dvd is no better than the MEPIS cd. It just has more programs on board. It is meant for those that might have a slow internet connection. The cd is a completely full MEPIS. All you need to do is ask synaptic to install whatever packages that you may want or need. The dvd has those already installed. The cd version is the same only there is less programs installed. You can get all of the programs that are in the dvd installed when you use the cd. Just fire up synaptic and go shopping. Then your cd install will be the same as the dvd one.

Yes, but unless I just missed it, I didn't see a MEPIS 6.x CD on those mirrors.

They are there. You may need to look through some of the mirrors but don't do that. Get your copy of MEPIS at linuxtracker. A bunch of us from mepislovers.org are seeding the new 6.5 Rc1 32 bit at linuxtracker. There has been trouble with the downloads from the mirrors having non-matching md5sums. The isos at linuxtracker all have good md5sums. I'm helping with seeding so go there and join up. Get a new copy of gparted too. It's a lot better than qtparted if you don't already know that one. Gparted runs like a live linux cd.

As for the failsafe mode there is a failsafe mode you can choose from when you sign in under the 'sessions' tab. Can't say that I have ever tried it though.

Thanks for the good clarifications & advice, mepnoob2005.

Is this "sessions tab" at the GRUB level, or somewhere further along, like at the KDE login?


Traditionally, "failsafe" & "rescue" mode(s) have been achieved in the bootloader by adding stanzas that present options for other run levels that might be helpful, things like "no GUI", "no network", & the "single user" I mentioned.

In addition, some of the live CD's have a wide variety of video options to match to different possible hardware.

Sometimes 2 kernels, say a 2.4 & a 2.6, have been offered. If you got really anal & decided to put all possible combinations in your menu.lst, you could have 2 kernels x 4 run levels x 5 video options, or 40 stanzas. . . .
Can you say "clutter" ?

For those inclined to go down that path, GRUB has the "configfile FILE" command. This "chains" to alternate/subsidiary menu.xxx files. I have seen this technique used for additional languages.


So, 1st check out what mepnoob2005 says -- you may already have failsafe. If not, then decide what constitutes "failsafe" for your installation, & implement it.

There is a failsafe mode at the place where you sign in and input your password. It on left bottom under 'sessions' as you thought. It is there in my install of SimplyMEPIS 6.5 32 rc1. There are also choices there to pick other desktops if you have them installed. As well a a kde choice and another one for restarting the last session I think.

In other words -- correct me if I'm wrong -- it requires that the booting process get as far as KDM or other display mgr. I believe that means that X must be working correctly. So it's completely different from the rescue/failsafe boots that are sometimes provided in the GRUB menu.

OP, which are you trying to ask about? -- I believe the Knoppix "/failsafe" is a boot (GRUB) level option.

If you want to know what Knoppix is doing, try reading its menu.lst.