When trying to run the Live version of OpenSuSE 11.0 from a CD, I can run from the command line, only. No graphics at all. No error messages. Tried some of the other suggested fixes on other threads, but nothing worked. The machine in an old HP OmniBook.
What I really want to do is reformat the HDD and install OpenSuSE on it, but the machine has no DVD drive, so I downloaded an iso image of the live version of 11.0 and burned a bootable CD. It boots, but I can get no X-Window, or the KDE desktop. I’d really like to convert this old machine from Windows 98 to Linux, but seem to have hit a brick wall.
deesy58 wrote:
> Does anybody have any ideas that might help?
MINIMUM openSUSE 11.2 System Requirements
-Pentium III 500 MHz or higher processor (Pentium 4 2.4 GHz or higher
or any AMD64 for Intel EM64T processor recommended)
512 MB physical RAM (1 GB recommended)
3 GB available disk space (more recommended)
800 x 600 display resolution (1024 x 768 or higher recommended)
in other words, openSUSE needs FAR exceed those of Win98!
but, don’t despair, you can get your feet wet with full service Linux
which has been trimmed down to fit such old machines, one of these
from a previous post of mine here, might be just what you need:
I believe that the machine has about 256Megs of RAM, and a few Gigs of available HDD space. Are there any commands I can run from the command line that will tell me these things?
either of these (one at a time) will give you RAM info:
free
cat /proc/meminfo
these will give different views of the hard drive situation (the last
one will require your root password, i think with the 11.0 live cd
you can just hit enter [and it accepts a blank field], if not try
‘linux’ or ‘root’):
df -h
df --print-type
su -c "fdisk -l"
you should be able to sort out the info you need from the output, with
some head scratching, maybe…if not see the manual and information
this way:
man free
info free
man df
info df
if your machine doesn’t have enough of either, then you might wanna
consider a ‘smaller’ Linux…just ask us for a list…
Sorry for the delay getting back with you, but the battery in the old OmniBook has apparently died, and I can’t get past the opening HP splash screen. I have ordered a new battery (probably not a smart move), and will post when it arrives and I can (hopefully) get the machine running again. Thanks for the advice.
yep! do you not have a power cord you could have used to learn the
strength of your machine?
I do have a power cord, and I have been using it. The machine was dormant in a cabinet for several years, and the CMOS battery went dead. I plugged in the power cord and let the machine recharge for several hours. It recovered and reset its CMOS, and booted into Windows 98. The main battery indicator led was yellow.
I then left the machine connected to the AC power for about a week, hoping that the main battery would recharge a little more. When I booted to Live Open SuSE 11.0 from a CD, the led was yellow. That’s when I posted the question regarding the command line, because I could not seem to be able to run the X-Window.
Now, the battery indicator led is red, and I can’t even access the BIOS setup screen. I assume that the machine requires a functional battery in order to operate at all, so I took a gamble and ordered a new battery.
The reason I wanted Open SuSE was that I have another older machine (Pentium 4 Desktop) that is running Open SuSE 10, and I preferred to run only one version of Linux at a time. A less logical reason, I suppose, is that I used to be a Novell Authorized Reseller, and I had completed about half the requirements to become a CNE. My experience with Novell Netware was universally good.
If I get the machine running again, and if it becomes apparent that it has insufficient resources to run SuSE, then I will acquire a different distro and try to install it.
Once you have got the pc running again, you can give slax a try (slax.org) - at least it will allow you to get your feet wet with linux.
Since you have a low spec system, you can try some of the netbook versions.
Debian will also do a minimal install with a window manager.
At a scratch, you should be able to do a tex mode install of opensuse and use a window manager like icewm.
I used to lug an old Pentium III desktop computer around to teach a class on UNIX. It had RH 7.0 installed, and it ran pretty well. I don’t remember if it had more RAM than the Omnibook, though.
I finally received the new battery and inserted it into the Omnibook. After an eternity of charging, I noticed that I received an error message when trying to reinstall a different Linux distro. I was informed that I had insufficient memory to install the KDE Desktop, so I check the amount of available RAM, and the machine has only 64 Megs of RAM installed.
It would cost me up to another $50 to increase the RAM to 256 Megs (maximum), so it isn’t worth spending any more money on. I “shredded” the HDD, re-partitioned it, reformatted it, and installed DOS 6.22 on it. I will either give it away, or recycle it at the recycling center. Oh well … it was a gamble that did not pay off.
I did, however, install OpenSuSE 11.2 on my desktop Linux machine. I don’t think I like the new KDE desktop. It looks too much like Windows Vista with its translucent windows. I think form is supposed to follow function – not the other way around.
I have a Windoze box running XP on a Pentium D, and my desktop Linux box is running Open SuSE 11.2. I have been thinking about installing a new MB with an I7 into my Windoze machine, and taking the Pentium D MB from it and installing it into my Linux box.
First, I have to save up enough money to buy the hardware.
You could always use it as a dedicated firewall pc. Linux firewalls don’t need the eye candy and will run on minaimal hardware.
Look at smoothwall.org or ipcop among others.
I loved OS/2. I made a number of OS/2 installations. I attended a 2-day IBM OS/2 support training class. I couldn’t believe it when IBM screwed up one of the best products they had ever developed. I read Gerstner’s book *(Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?). *It was clear that he didn’t have a single clue as to what IBM had, and what business they were in.
Thanks for the suggestions, but this machine is so old that I don’t think I should waste any more effort on it. I’m going to concentrate on my desktop machines.
