Can't install openSuse 11.1 on Dell Dimension 2400

English Install/Boot/Login
1

I have two Dell computers (Dimension 8300 and a Dimension 2400). The 8300 dual boots WinXP and Linux; the 2400 is Linux-only. I’ve run openSUSE 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3 on both with no issues. When 11.1 came out, I updated the 8300, but I couldn’t upgrade the 2400 to 11.1 because of what I believe is a video/monitor issue. The 2400 uses an Intel i845 video chip. On the 10.3 install, the default video mode is 800 x 600 and it works, but 11.1 uses 1024 x 768 (although it has other options on boot, and I’ve tried them all). When whatever video mode I’ve chosen on boot up, it works until it hits the splash screen, then hangs with a scrambled line across the top of the screen (more about this later).

Over the past few months I’ve looked for any forum threads similar to my problem, but haven’t found any. I’ve reviewed /usr/src/linux/Documentation, on-line docs, reviewed error logs, etc., until I’m blue. So here’s my issue:

  1. Insert the 11.1 Live CD and tell the BIOS to boot off it.
  2. It boots and readable text scrolls by. Everything looks OK. No errors or failures indicated.
  3. When it gets to “Creating X Configuration” it sits there for a few seconds. Then the screen goes blank for a few more seconds.
  4. The next thing on the screen is a scrambled, mottled black and white line about 16 pixels high across the top of the screen and about 20% of the second line. It sits there for around 20 seconds. Nothing is readable. CTRL + ALT + DEL will reboot the computer.
  5. Next, if not rebooted, there is a greenish and bluish checkered pattern across the entire screen. Nothing is readable. It sits this way for another 20 seconds or so. CTRL + ALT + DEL will generally reboot the computer.
  6. If not rebooted, a series of vertical blue, green, and yellow stripes of various shades and widths covers the entire screen. It will lock at this point and CTRL + ALT + DEL usually no longer works.

I’m using a KVM, because I have 3 computers. At first I thought maybe the Dell 2400 was having problems recognizing the monitor through the KVM, so I connected the monitor directly to the video port, and had the same problem. :expressionless:

All video modes have been tried on installation (1024 x 768, 800 x 600, VESA, and text). I’ve tried installing each video combination in fail safe mode, too. In the 2400’s 10.3 /var/log/boot.msg file, I see vga=305, so I’ve added that (and many other options from /usr/src/linux/Documentation/Kernal_parameters.txt to the Failsafe command line. I’ve turned off combinations of APIC, pci BIOS, AGP, and just about every other possibility attempting to identify what is causing the problem. After what must have been 500 tries over the past 3 months, nothing has worked so far. :frowning:

Then I thought maybe a different Live CD download might work better (I first used Gnome), so I downloaded the KDE Live CD. Same problem. >:(

Frustrated, I downloaded the latest version of Ubuntu, and it installed OK! But I don’t want Ubuntu – it works, but I want openSUSE 11.1. :’(

I went back to openSUSE 10.3 on my 2400, probed the hardware, and saved the file. The BIOS is version A05, dated 12/02/2003. It has an Intel 845 video chip. I’m connecting it to a Dell M992 monitor. With SAX2, I’ve been able to set the monitor to 1024 x 768 x 8 at 76 Hz, 800 x 600, VESA, etc., when running openSUSE 10.3 on the 2400, and all the video modes work OK. They also all work with the Dell 8300. The Dell 8300 hardware probe file shows vga=0x31a, so I tried it on the 2400. But when I used that for the 2400, I got a message that it is invalid.

There was one documentation file I read that indicated that 11.1 video mode 1024 x 768 x 8 defaulted to 85 Hz. Is there a way to change the refresh rate from 85 to 76 Hz (which is what the 8300 works with)? If I could just get the initial screen up properly, I can probably continue the installation without any problems.

Thanks for any fresh ideas.

2

> Thanks for any fresh ideas.

try the install from a DVD…make sure to check the install media’s
md5sum before burning the disk…and then use the disk’s self test…

AND, if trouble persists, try installing without using the GUI
installer…but, i’m not sure how to get into that curses based
install script…

but i GUESS if you press F1 (for HELP) on the first screen you can
find how…hmmmmm, or maybe F3…

–
deConficter

3

Unfortunately, my Dell 2400 doesn’t have a DVD player – and I’m not sure that even if it did that the video would work. Something I hadn’t thought of is upgrading the BIOS. I’ll check Dell’s website, hoping an upgrade will help.

4

try ctrl-alt-F3

then type in “init 3” to kill the GUI and run in text only mode. Then type SaX2 and configure your display. You can then safely type init 5 to bring the full graphics mode back up.

Edit to say nevermind, didn’t read it through that you were still at the setup part of this. I would suggest you try a text/ncurses install

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I’ve had some success. :\ Still not able to install openSUSE 11.1, but I was able to install openSUSE 11.0 using a LiveCD. Here’s what I’ve found. I assume the 11.1 LiveCD boot process is pretty much the same as 11.0. When the LiveCD runs through initial booting, and all the text goes by, it then says “Creating X Configuration” and (correct me if I’m wrong) apparently attempts to detect the monitor. In that first screen where there’s a graphic ‘X’ (which I can’t see on 11.1 install), is where the LiveCD hangs on 11.1, but not on 11.0. For whomever wrote the change into 11.1, it’s broken for the Dell Dimension 2400. I haven’t looked at the source code, and doubt that I could fix it myself.

The 11.0 LiveCD installation correctly identifies my monitor as 1024 x 768. I went into SAX2 and corrected the screen size, and monitor make and model, but it works. I’m thinking I should submit a bug report on this problem.

Now that I have 11.0 running, I’ll try to upgrade to 11.1.

6

Thats likely a good idea. To help you: Submitting Bug Reports - openSUSE

My view is if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There is a about 18 months (maybe a bit less) of support left for 11.0, so you may wish to stay with 11.0.

Well done in getting this far.

7

@oldcpu

My view is if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

IMHO :wink: :
True If “ain’t broke” = “nobody found a failure yet”
Otherwise, nobody would have any reason to apply security patches to something they /think/ “ain’t broke”.
(I’m saying this as a general rule too, not for reasons to update or not to 11.1.)

Personnaly, I would like to update to 11.1 for 2 reasons:

  • X crashes from times to times (too often in my taste).
    Sometimes, I’m back to KDM; sometimes it’s a total lockup leaving me no choice other than to reset the computer (hopefully so far, the HD journalized transactions are replayed successfully).

  • I wish to have a more recent version for GNUCash and for the Finance::Quote Perl module (which fixes a problem retrieving quotes from Yahoo).
    I found a more recent version for GNUCash on one of the repositories, but there are several dependencies issues (Yast suggest me to uninstall some packages, and I’m not keen to do so.)

Again IMHO, updating is a good thing, as it allows to keep your system up-to-date and secure. Upgrading (fresh new installation) is even safer, but it ask you alot more times to restore/re-configure everything.
I think a good compromise is to update between minor revisions (like 11.0 to 11.1), and upgrade between major revisions (like 10.3 to 11.0). And if one choose to update, better is to update to EACH version, as a gap could bring more unexpected problems.

8

Not a fix but a workaround…

I had the same problem trying to install openSUSE 11.1 on a Dell Dimension 2400. All attempts failed in X. I then tried the network mini CD and that booted and is installing. Yeah it’s slower because it is downloading as it installs but it is installing.