openSUSE freezes on boot up after new install

Hi there, I am new to the linux world, so I will try and explain my problem.

I installed openSUSE earlier today, I have Windows 7 on this PC too. I installed using all the default option.

Installed fine, booted up. Working perfectly. Used it for a few hours

I changed an option to enable the desktop effects (the 3d effects). When I did this the computer froze completely, I had to pull the plug.

When I rebooted the computer froze on reboot.
I get to the point where it displays the graphical screen, then the screen switches to the brighter green, higher resloution graphical screen. I get the white progress bar under the chameleon. It gets to half way. Then the mouse cursor becomes quite flickery and slow, and it doesn’t progress any further. Again to reboot I have to pull the plug. (Although interestingly the contrast buttons (F4/F5 on my laptop still work).

Steps I have taken.

I have repeated the install, does exaclty the same thing.

I have downloaded the 32 bit version (I originally installed the 64 bit) and again resinstalled - does exactly the same thing)

I have hit escape so I could see the not graphical boot screen, unfortunately it get past that, goes to the graphic screen/progress bar and then hangs at the same place.

The LiveCD (running from the CD still works fine)

I really dont know what to try. If nothing else could you tell me the quickest way to remove it, delete the grup bootloader and recover the space it took from my partitions.

Thanks.

This can be solved. Your current config can not run the desktop effects.

We need a bit more info from you.

Which desktop? KDE4 / Gnome?
Video card/onboard chip.

Try creating a new user and login as the new user. If that works, things can be repaired. Don’t panic or worry, you’ll be OK.

Hi, I am running KDE. My graphics chip is a Radeon HD 4570.

There is a problem with that graphics chip, I have the same problem with Ubuntu, it puts the fan on full blast and eventually reaches critical temperature and turns off. The thing is, with Ubuntu (Gnome) when you enable desktop effects it finds a new graghics driver and all is fixed. I could never figure out how to do this with Kubuntu.

I tried reading some of the threads on here about ATI, it seems a lot of people have the same problem but I cannot follow them because I really don’t know what to do with the console unless it’s spelt out for me.

Thanks for responding anyhoo, I did not mean to seem stressed out, I am only doing this for sh*ts and giggles and to learn Linux, I can always go back to Windows, I have figured out how to remove Linux and restore the Windows MBR.

I put the Gnome version on and it is fine apart from the overheating problem.

Hi there. I’m a new user here and new to Linux. My situation is the same as stu484 here. It does exactly the same and it happened right after I was tinkering with some of the effects ( I learned about my Windows 7 themes, tweeked them, and decided to play around with my OpenSuse the same way). After rebooting, it was a no-go. I even tried to reboot in safe mode, but all it showed was text going down the screen very fast and I really couldn’t read it. It never stopped.

I believe I have the KDE, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 display adapter, and AMD Turion II Dual-Core Mobile M500 2.2GHz. Any help would be appreciated.

Try typing nomodeset at the boot screen.

Tell us what happens.

Did you install the ATI driver?

Thank you gogalthorp, for the response. I tried nomodeset at the green suse screen where it allows you to choose between windows or suse to start ( I suppose that’s the GRUB). Don’t know if it matters, but first I erased what was there; vga = (something) and typed nomodeset. No dice. Rebooted and second attempt I didn’t erase anything. I just typed nomodeset. It still did the same thing.

As for the driver, no I didn’t install it. It came with the computer. I however did check the driver to ensure it was up to date and yes it is. I have the latest driver for that card.

No need to replace "vga (something) " … just leave a space after it and type ‘nomodeset’ (no quotes).

Did you try booting with the Failsafe setting, and if that works, then go in and disable special desktop effects (if not already disabled) ?

You say you checked and you have the latest driver. Please, what driver is that ? Did you also update your kernel recently ?

The drivers that come with the install are open source drivers. In many cases the proprietary drivers from the card maker is far better especially when it comes to 3D which is what is needed for the fancy desktop effects.

openSUSE Graphic Card Practical Theory Guide for Users

I’ve tried the Failsafe mode, but without adding “nomodeset”. It got stuck there and continued scrolling text down infinitely, however, I’ll try again with nomodeset.

I did try nomodeset without deleting vga = _____ and it didn’t work.

As far as which driver, I don’t know what to say, so I just copied and pasted the version…8.634.1.0. Also, I had windows search for the driver update and it reported back that the current driver is up to date. I’m pretty sure it checked the proprietary company for the right one.

I’m ashamed to say I don’t know anything about messing around with the kernel, but…I’m currently reading O’reilly’s Running Linux. : )

…Ugh…frustrating.

Tried again. Making sure I put a space after vga = ____ then nomodeset and nothing. Tried failsafe again with nomodeset and still the same scrolling text. Hard to capture the scrolling but from what I could make out, at the start of each line there was “ACPI” then either “Error” or “Excerpt”, some more stuff I couldn’t tell, then at the end was AE not found…over and over and over.

It reads like something was done to corrupt your boot/install.

Here are some boot codes you could consider: http://old-en.opensuse.org/SDB:Kernel_Parameters_for_ACPI/APIC

Can you boot to run level 3 ? ie when you press ‘3’ (no quotes) in the grub splash menu, do you get a full screen text login prompt?

I did the boot to run level 3 for the first time (had to go thru a few times to make it work), but it looks like I’m in a text-only interface. Is this the Kernel? I logged in with login & password and it gave me my last login time then said, " Have a lot of fun…". I thought that was funny. What do I do now? Let me try some of the boot codes suggested above and I’ll check back.

Say what ? Is this the kernel ? … ah … no, this is NOT a command line interface to the Kernel. Consider it closer to DOS but INFINITELY more powerful. Just as powerful as the GUI but one needs to be a long in the tooth Linux Guru who has been sleeping next to the keyboard and terminal for the past 20 years (and a Unix hacker for 10 years before that ! ) in order to obtain the full power of run level 3. :slight_smile:

Knowing you can boot to run level 3 suggests strongly the problem is with your graphics or desktop configuration and not with your basic install.

My guess is either an X update or a kernel update broke things, although it could be your desktop effects.

Note you could try to create a NEW user from run level 3, and then log in to that new user’s account. Maybe they do not have the problem.

You can create a new user from Run Level 3 by 1st logging in as your regular user. Then at the full screen prompt (after successful login) type: su #and enter root password.

Then type: yast #to launch the text yast. You navigate yast using the TAB, SPACE-BAR, ARROW KEYS, and ENTER key. Navigate to Security and Users and create a new user. Then exit YaST, and log out of root, logout of your current user, and login as your new user. Then as your new user type:

startx 

Does that work ?

If that works, that indicates the problem is in your desktop settings. If that does not work, it suggests it could be your graphic driver.

Edit, note you can shut down from run level 3 (with root permissions) by typing:

shutdown -h now 

and you can restart from run level 3 (with root permissions) by typing:

shutdown -r now 

AHHHHHHH. Nice to sit back and relax. I’m taking in this wonderful moment…to enjoy this feeling…Thank you. This was the problem. It happened after I was trying to personalize it like my Windoze platform.

I’m glad to have provided you some good laughs. I guess it’s kind of embarrassing to know so little about linux. What can I say? I was raised by Mcoot (Mcoot?)

It seriously can’t take that long to master run level 3…really? Is there not a handful of books available to help you master this stuff in like 10 years? IDK. It IS a bit abstract. I’m interested in learning what makes this so powerful. I suppose after learning how to use linux, it will all come to me.

I installed this on my laptop and recently it’s driving me mad. I want to install other linux OS’s or even a UNIX or BSD to play around. Is that possible? Maybe to have 4 or 5 OS’s on my laptop of 200 Gb? I’d like to learn how to use it as a server as well. The reason I chose openSUSE 11.2 was because I’d read that was the best for laptops.

Now for my next immediate problem to solve…
wireless connection

Have you gotten to the GUI?

Ok if the new user works you need to consider installing the ATI graphic driver. Since the default open source ones seem to fail with the 3D acceleration.

I have gotten to the GUI, but only as a new user. I’m so thankful to you and oldcpu for your help. I got stuck in a hole, you guys pulled me out, but the hole is still there. What driver would that be? I couldn’t find in Suse where the device drivers would be. Also, in Windoze, I checked for the latest driver for the ATI card and it’s good. Help.

You need to install the ATI driver please read the article I linked to above.