Graphical interface crash with Network installer. No F3 for textual mode?

Escain · June 16, 2015, 8:25pm

Hello:)

Short description:
The graphical installer of OpenSuse make the computer to restart. To solve it I would like to install in text-mode, but F3 is not working.

Long description:
I already installed Opensuse several times, I got a new Laptop but I am unable to install on it.

I do not have enough space in my pendrive so I made a network installer drive.
I disabled the encryption of the bios to be able to launch the installer.
The boot seem to work, There are the following options: install, rescue, check drive, normal booting. (F3/F2 or any further option do not work). I find how to open the console of the GRUB and also something that seem the configuration to start the installation.
When I select Install, It detect USB and made some other operation before to put the screen in black. After 1-2 minutes, the Laptop restart.

Other interesting data:
I try to install OpenSuse 13.2
I have a 4K screen, maybe it has something to do with the black-screen.

The question:
How to continue with the install of OpenSuse 13.2?

Could I kindly ask you for help?

wolfi323 · June 16, 2015, 8:36pm

If you are having an (U)EFI system, the ‘F3’ menu won’t be available.
In that case, press the ‘e’ key to edit the boot entry, and append “nomodeset” to the line starting with “linux” or “linuxefi”. Then press ‘F10’ to start the boot and installation.

If it’s a graphic driver problem, the installer should start then. And in that case, chances are good that the installed system boots as well, at least in “recovery mode”, which you can select in the “Advanced Options” of the boot menu then (second entry).

For further help, please ask back if needed…

Escain · June 16, 2015, 9:08pm

First of all, thanks you for your fast reply!

The startup menu I have is much simpler than the one you posted (now removed).

I tryied your solution:

setparams 'Installation'

set gfxpayload=keep
echo 'Loading kernel ...'
linuxefi /boot/x86_64/loader/linux splash=silent nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk...'
initrdefi /boot/86_64/loader/initrd

And F10 to start the installation.

The problem is the same:

The installation start, showing lot of console text. Then 3 green dots start to blink in the middle. I press Esc to see more console texts.
After initiating the USB desvice, the screen become Black (the screen still on, but with only black content).
Also the CapBlock light is blinking on/off.
After 1-2 minutes, the PC restart and go back to windows.

Did I missed something with the UEFI? I just disabled the encryption in the bios to allow the drive to boot.

Any further idea? Is the Full-Disk installation drive a best solution?

wolfi323 · June 16, 2015, 9:31pm

Yes, I removed it, as I noticed it doesn’t apply.
(you changed the title, didn’t you? )

Any further idea? Is the Full-Disk installation drive a best solution?

I don’t know anything about (U)EFI setups, sorry.
And unfortunately I don’t have any idea what to try next.

But I suppose others will jump in soon, trying to help you…

robin_listas · June 16, 2015, 10:08pm

On 2015-06-16 21:16, Escain wrote:
> - Also the CapBlock light is blinking on/off.

Blinking leds, usually alternating caps with num block, I think, is used
by the kernel to signal a panic.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 13.1 x86_64 “Bottle” at Telcontar)

Escain · June 16, 2015, 10:33pm

(you changed the title, didn’t you? )

Nop, I had not yet enough permissions. rotfl!

Thanks you for your help, at least we discarded what the problem is not.

Blinking leds, usually alternating caps with num block, I think, is used
by the kernel to signal a panic.

I got access to files through the grub console, but I did not find any log file there. Is there something like that?

Is there any solution to try for that? (Sorry, my level in linux is just enough to solve basic issues)

gogalthorp · June 16, 2015, 11:23pm

Ok let us start at the beginning. What hardware? What video? Does the laptop actually have a 4K screen or are you connecting it to an external monitor??

Did you first resize Windows to allow space to install the second OS?

It is truly unclear at exactly what point things fails. Please try to describe it with more detail since we can not look over your shoulder

Did you try pressing e and adding nomodeset to the linux line as Wolfi suggested??

Be sure that the ISO you downloaded has the correct check sum. It would be better to try the full install image rather then the network installer. Also exactly how did you make the USB boot drive? Did you use any special Linux boot helpers???

Escain · June 17, 2015, 1:05pm

What hardware?

This is the computer, sorry i do not found any page in english.
http://www.ldlc.com/fiche/PB00187667.html

Here the majors specifications:
Processor: Intel Core i7-4720HQ
Memory: 8GB DDR3
Graphic card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M + Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600
Matherboard: I do not know
Screen: 3840*2160 15.6" touchscreen
Solid drive: 128GB, Hard Drive: 1TB
Windows 8.1 installed in the Solid drive, + 100MB of startup partition +15GB of recovery partition.
The Bios seem to have UEFI + encryption.

Does the laptop actually have a 4K screen or are you connecting it to an external monitor??
I did NOT connected an external monitor.

Did you first resize Windows to allow space to install the second OS?

I usually just override the whole hard/solid drive with OpenSuse, so NO, I did not resized the Windows partitions.

Please try to describe it with more detail since we can not look over your shoulder

My pendrive is 4GB, so I made the network install drive. (the laptop has not optical device). I tested the drive is able to boot in an other computer, but I did not tested up to the graphical installation.
I started the Laptop, pressed Esc to select the boot option, selected the USB drive and accepted.
On the first startup, the BIOS thowed an encryption error, so I gone to BIOS options and set the Encryption option OFF.
Now situation:
I start the Laptop, press ESC, select USB drive, accept, and it show me the OpenSuse install selection: Install, Upgrade, rescue and check the drive, in a minimal interface. The resolution is the full 4K (with very little text).
With the 3 first options I got the same result:- Some lines of console text (about 200).

The 3 green dots (waiting) blink. I usually press ESC to see the console messages.
Just after the correct initialization of USBs (I do not have time to see any further console print); the screen become black (not power off, just with black content). In this situation, i can see the power button with light and the block-cap button light blinking on/off slowly. There is also a LED on the F2/fly-mode button which is also on. There is no further LED on the keyboard that could add any indication.
After some seconds in this situation (around 1minute), the Laptop restart.

I tryied the solutions explained here without any difference.

Did you try pressing e and adding nomodeset to the linux line as Wolfi suggested??

Yes, you can read what exactly I set in the script. I also tryied to use the GRUB bash, but the content structure is unknown for me, so I did not achieved to found a /var/log or any .log file that could help.

how did you make the USB boot drive?

I followed the guide SDB:Live USB stick - openSUSE Wiki >> “Write ISO to USB” which worked without troubles.

Did you use any special Linux boot helpers???

What exactly do you mean with “boot helpers”? If not specified on top, probably not.

Be sure that the ISO you downloaded has the correct check sum
I will check at home this night (in 8h aprox)

It would be better to try the full install image rather then the network installer
I already bought a new pen-drive, I will try this evening.

Kind regards

robin_listas · June 17, 2015, 3:33pm

On 2015-06-17 13:06, Escain wrote:

> - Just after the correct initialization of USBs (I do not have time to
> see any further console print); the screen become black (not power off,
> just with black content). In this situation, i can see the power button
> with light and the block-cap button light blinking on/off slowly. There
> is also a LED on the F2/fly-mode button which is also on. There is no
> further LED on the keyboard that could add any indication.

There must be documentation somewhere of what the different forms of led
blinking mean, but basically they mean a kernel failure or panic, so bad
that it can no further write to the display or anything. It only can
blink the leds as a signal of despair.

> - After some seconds in this situation (around 1minute), the Laptop
> restart.

This is curious, but not unexpected.

You should try 13.1, see if it behaves differently. If same, then try
tumbleweed. Another alternative is the old 11.4, still gets some updates
(Evergreen).

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 13.1 x86_64 “Bottle” at Telcontar)

Escain · June 17, 2015, 9:40pm

The network drive was ok and I achieved to install another computer with it (but still not working on this laptop).

I tried with the full install drive and it work! ) I am finishing the installation just now.

Thanks you to all of you for your help. I understand this kind of thread should be frustrating for you, but I learned a lot of your posts. And maybe somebody else will have the same problem, so THE SOLUTION IS TO USE FULL INSTALL DRIVE, NETWORK DRIVE MAY NOT WORK.

Have a nice evening.
Kind regards,
Adrian M.