I'd like to use Slackware on a Librem 14 (I like it better than PureOS), but I'm having trouble installing. When I try to install, the kernel and ram disk load OK but then the screen goes blank and the keyboard LEDs turn off and the machine becomes unresponsive. I tried the kms.s option, but I get the same result. Am I overlooking something simple?

tjallen --

pchristy's post: Slackware - Installation: HOWTO prevent installation hangs on recent hardware has helped quite a few people ( including me ) with symptons like yours ...

Maybe ?

HTH

-- kjh

Thanks, kjhambrick. I'm going to give it a try! I'll report back when I've succeeded or given up on this route.

I'm sad to report that there's no change.

The Librem 14 is an odd machine in that it runs Coreboot/SeaBIOS, which apparently uses DOS partitioning and the usual booting from the MBR or bootable partition, and not UEFI. There are no settings for SeaBIOS that one can change. It either boots or it doesn't.

I'll keep thinking about it. Now I'm wishing I'd held off and maybe gotten a Frame.work laptop.

At what point in the install process does it crash? Or do you mean you're having problems after you've installed and it won't boot?

Is this Slack15 standard iso you're using?

Slack handles bios-non EFI just fine. Maybe you do need to run fdisk before you getting into setup?

I get the boot: prompt and I hit enter. Then the kernel loads with the dots . . . . . , and then the initrd loads and then the screen goes blank and the keyboard backlight LEDs turn off. The Librem may be continuing to boot up, but there's no indication that that's so and no video output. I don't see any messages from the kernel and I don't get to a login: prompt, at least one that's visible.

I'm using the standard Slackware64 15.0 installer made with usbimg2disk.sh. I also tried that installer with pchristy's EFI/grub hack.

tjallen --

I am not at all familiar with Coreboot/SeaBIOS so the issue might be something that is addressed specifically by the PureOS Distro ...

Digging a little but not much ... I wonder if there's an answer here: About Purism FAQ

And I also wonder if Alien Bob's LiveSlack Image will boot ?

If so, then it would seem to me that there is hope for installing Slackware over Coreboot/SeaBIOS.

HTH and good luck tjallen.

-- kjh

Thanks, kjhambrick. It seems to me that if the kernel loads and so does the initrd, then its is less likely to be Coreboot/SeaBIOS that is the problem, though maybe some hardware isn't getting initialized the way Slackware needs.

I'll try Alien BOB's LiveSlack next. It's not the worst thing not to be able to use Slackware on this machine, but it sure would be nice if I could.