Installation Problem: Graphic fails and keep asking for user and password.

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hi everybody.

I downloaded OpenSUSE 11.4 x64 Gnome LiveCD, verified checksum, burned into a CD and a pendrive.
I boot from CD, the OpenSUSE boot menu opens. And no matter if I choose to Install Linux or Boot LiveCD for testing, it loads up some text on a black screen and in the end it asks for a user and password.
If I enter with linux it logs in terminal and all I get is “Have fun!”.

I tried downloading OpenSUSE 11.4 Full DVD and installing, but I got almost the same problem. The only difference is that it boots the installation GUI I configure the settings and the installation starts.
But when it reboots to continue the installation I think Gnome GUI fails to load and the installation continues on a “DOS like” installation. After that happens the same thing, terminal appear and asks for a user login, but nothing happens if I log using my configurated user.

I don’t know if I was clear, but if you guys want I have some videos of it.
I also don’t know if it helps, but I tried to install Mandriva and Fedora too, and both of them freeze during the installation boot. The only GNU/Linux that worked was Ubuntu 11.4.

I’m trying to install it on an Eurocom Neptune laptop (Clevo P170HM). Specs are:
Another info, all the CDs and DVDs I tryed on laptop worked on my PC with any problems.
Just to know, Im having the same problem as these guys from 2007 :confused:
What is my linux login?

Computer: EUROCOM P170HM Neptune
CPU: Intel Core i7-2720QM (Sandy Bridge-MB SV, D2)
2200 MHz (22.00x100.0) @ 797 MHz (8.00x99.7)
Motherboard: EUROCOM P170HM Neptune
Chipset: Intel HM67 (Cougar Point) [B3]
Memory: 4096 MBytes @ 664 MHz, 9.0-9-9-24
- 2048 MB PC12800 DDR3 SDRAM - Kingston 9905428-038.A00LF
- 2048 MB PC12800 DDR3 SDRAM - Kingston 9905428-038.A00LF
Graphics: AMD RADEON HD 6970M [Clevo]
ATI RADEON HD 6970M (BLACKCOMB XT/PRO), 2048 MB GDDR5 SDRAM
Drive: ST95005620AS, 488.4 GB, Serial ATA 3Gb/s
Drive: TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633F, DVD+R DL
Sound: Intel Cougar Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller [B3]
Sound: ATI Barts - High Definition Audio Controller
Network: Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6230
Network: JMicron PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (x64) Build 7601

2

So it was not clear to me if the installation was complete and you just did not get a graphic desktop to start and was left at the terminal prompt. It is possible that due to your graphics chipset, you need to enter the kernel load option nomodeset. You can actually type in nomodeset, just before you press the enter key when in the Grub Operating System Selection menu. Type in the nomodeset command and then press the enter key as normal and see what you get.

Thank You,

3

No, the installation was not complete.
It fails when booting to the installation GUI. And only thing that appears is the black terminal screen asking for login.

4

No, the installation was not complete.
It fails when booting to the installation GUI. And only thing that appears is the black terminal screen asking for login.

So, before you start the installation, one of the function keys allows you to select a text based installation. Have you looked for or tried that option?

Thank You,

5

On 2011-09-19 00:36, eduedp wrote:
>
> No, the installation was not complete.
> It fails when booting to the installation GUI. And only thing that
> appears is the black terminal screen asking for login.

To me it looks like complete, but failed graphics. You can log in text mode.

Try the nomodeset boot parameter.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)

6

I’ve already tested nomodeset. Same problem.

I tried downloading Fedora Full DVD, I could install it, but on first boot I get the same problem as OpenSUSE.
It’s weird the only distros that my laptop can boot was Ubuntu 11.4 and Mint.
All other distros I get really weird buggys on boot, some from LiveCD, or installation GUI.

I really thins it’s some big incompatibility with laptop hardware.
Any other idea?

7

I’ve already tested nomodeset. Same problem.

I tried downloading Fedora Full DVD, I could install it, but on first boot I get the same problem as OpenSUSE.
It’s weird the only distros that my laptop can boot was Ubuntu 11.4 and Mint.
All other distros I get really weird buggys on boot, some from LiveCD, or installation GUI.

I really thins it’s some big incompatibility with laptop hardware.
Any other idea?

So I love openSUSE but I must say that if I were you, I would go with what works AND I think Linux Mint is what I would use if it works. I would ask you give us another try when openSUSE 12.1 comes out in November. We will be sporting kernel 3.1 by then and perhaps it will work better for you. Until then, I think Linux Mint would be worth giving some extra effort to. And good luck in your endeavors…

Thank You,

8

Thank you for your help.
I guess I will have to stick with that.

I was wondering, just Mint and Ubuntu works. And last Mint is based on Ubuntu Natty.
Do you think Mint is better than Ubuntu?

9

Really depends on you needs and preferences. No one but you can say what is better for you and your equipment.

10

Hi

I’m not sure if I should start a new thread, but I have gone through a very similar series of events so thought I’d just tag at the end here.
I’ve been trying to install from a liveCD to a new Dell XPS 8300 desktop.
Went through the same process, then I kept on getting fatal error at runtime level 5 before I could get to the installation GUI.

Tried the “nomodeset” approach, together with running the Kernel in safemode, but still no luck and I think like eduedp there’s a hardware compatibility problem. The 5 times I’ve installed OpenSUSE prior to this worked fine “out of the box” so I’m slightly frustrated to have to look at other Linux flavours.

I’m off to bed for now, but if anyone has any other “quick/easy” suggestions, I’ll have another pop tomorrow :wink:

Cheers.
James

11

I had the same problem when I tried installing 11.4 on my old laptop. I don’t know if this will work for your card but disabling dri got my X to start.

https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=678264#c29

12

I took the problem to my teacher and he is 100% sure in my case it’s new Radeons incompatibility with Fedora, OpenSUSE and other distros drivers.
About working with Ubuntu, it’s because it comes with Radeon proprietary driver.
He said I could “include” it in my linux installation. But I have no idea how to do that :X

Although I have Radeon 6xxx, I will try londy’s suggestion.
But how can I do this part ?

  • add the following section to your /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-device.conf

Section “Module”
Disable “dri”
Disable “dri2”
EndSection

  • use this “Device” in your /etc/X11/xorg.conf./50-device.conf

Section “Device”
Identifier “Default Device”

Driver "radeonhd"
Option "AccelMethod" "xaa"

EndSection

Other question. Will I have problems or less resources by disabling this “dri” ?

Thanks

13

About working with Ubuntu, it’s because it comes with Radeon proprietary driver.
He said I could “include” it in my linux installation. But I have no idea how to do that

To install the proprietary driver follow the instructions under “The Easy Way (CLI)”:

SDB:ATI drivers - openSUSE

If you want to try the open source drivers, then I first recommend installing nano.

sudo zypper in nano

Then edit that file with nano:

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-device.conf

Append the following to the file:

Section "Module"
   Disable "dri"
   Disable "dri2"
EndSection

Section "Device"
   Identifier "Default Device"
   Driver "radeonhd"
   Option "AccelMethod" "xaa"
EndSection

You can exit nano with ‘Ctrl + X’.

14

Hi all.
I got it working. I had to download and install fglrx drivers with zypper.
Now graphics are working… But it appears that after I updated all the packages, my OS started to randomly crash and freeze.
Now I don’t know what to do again :confused:

15

Have you tried nomodeset after installing fglrx?

16

Since the title matches my problem, i’ll post here. what is happening is I get a plain gray login screen with huge fonts that say: welcome at linux-xaqi.site and a login prompt. at the bottom left of the page is a kind of plain text status screen. if i login the screen blanks and them comes right back. the gui desktop will not come up. i have a dell xps-1530 with an nvidia 8600 graphics adapter. what happened is an update from 11.1, where everything was working fine, into 12.0 asparagus. since the major update i can only log in to cli and have tried a number of things including most recently the nomodeset with no change. any help would really be appreciated.

17

updating that far is not recommended. I’d recommend a full install, keeping the home partition (ie don’t format it) Also note that though soon to be released 12.1 is still in beta.

18

is the full install done best with a DVD/CD or can it be done with the CLI (zypper or other)? will I lose my data?
thanks!

19

On 10/22/2011 08:26 AM, pdoxey wrote:
> will I lose my data?

there are two supported ways to do an “upgrade” from one version of
openSUSE to another:
http://tinyurl.com/35p966c
http://tinyurl.com/6kvoflv

the first says: “It is very important that all important data is backed
up prior to beginning the upgrade process.” and the second: “Before
upgrading, copy the old configuration files to a separate medium (such
as removable hard disk or USB flash drive) to secure the data. This
primarily applies to files stored in /etc as well as some of the
directories and files in /var. You may also want to write the user data
in /home (the HOME directories) to a backup medium.”

so, to answer your question: you will not loose your data if you took
the above steps–did you? otherwise, i have no idea if you have the
ability to recover a working system without loosing data…

however, neither of the supported methods will upgrade from 11.1 to 12.0
(i guess you meant 12.1 since there is no 12.0) but why install a system
which is still in testing? and certainly do NOT install a BETA system on
a machine with data you are not readily prepared to loose.

so, if i were you i would boot from a live CD and copy ALL data you want
to protect to a safe, off machine place…and then try to rebuild a
working, currently supported system (today those are 11.3 and 11.4)

–
DD
http://tinyurl.com/DD-Caveat
http://tinyurl.com/DD-Hardware
http://tinyurl.com/DD-Software
openSUSE®, the “German Automobiles” of operating systems

20

No. The OP doesn’t know how to install the ATI proprietary driver on 11.4 and has received and followed wrong advice. You are trying to update your system from 11.1 to 12.1 on a nvidia machine. The two problems have nothing in common and the solution will be very different. In your case, as already mentioned, you should back up and reinstall. If you can afford to wait 26 days, you could install the final release.