[Leaplist] Install Troubles ... still

[Bruce Metcalf]

Bruce Metcalf wrote:

> I've given up on the dark side and am switching over.
> 
> Mybig machine won't load the distro I want ... Dapper Drake Kubuntu
> 6.06.1 LTS. Whenever I try, I get as far as the first splash screen
> and it hangs at "Mounting root file system".

Another day's work and finally some results:

William suggested disabling the onboard NIC and using an independent 
card. I disabled the onboard port and *didn't* install a NIC -- no change.

Steve suggested using a "low rez" or "text" install. Same results from 
expert mode and an Alternate install disk. (That's all you get with 
Kubuntu.)

He also suggested I, "Try loading the CD image on another box,
loopback mount it, NFS export it, and try an NFS install," or "fdisked 
and mkfs'ed it with Knoppix, and then ran your favorite distro's 
installer." I don't have the *faintest* idea what he means. Sorry, but 
I'm too much of a newbie to try this without much handholding.

Pberry2 asked about my mb hardware. It's an MSI K8N Neo4 with nVidia 
northbridge and no onboard video.

He also wisely observed, "I suspect there is a problem with some 
proprietary chipsets that are not yet reverse engineered," and suggested 
I, "Run the slightly older stuff, and not update...."

This turned out to be the key. I burned a copy of Kubuntu 5.10 Breezy 
Badger, and it loaded first time without a hitch.

Given that hint (or smack upside the head with a trout) I was able to 
Google some opinions from several sources that something in the kernel 
between 5.10 and 6.06 screwed the pooch with several chipsets of this 
vintage. Given my luck, it's not surprising that mine is one of those.

So, my thanks to you all for your efforts to help me find a resolution, 
Pberry2 especially.

Next challenge, which I'm *quite* confident I'm presently unprepared to 
tackle, is to figure out how to patch these newer kernels to work with 
such chipsets. Ah well, an extra-credit project for the advanced 
students -- or perhaps a teaching opportunity for someone willing to 
lead a non-programmer thru the process. <G>

Thanks again,
Bruce