PDA

View Full Version : Linux on a Chaintech S1689 with Uli chipset


Chris R
November 28th, 2005, 02:33 AM
I made a post about it earlier today on mandrakeusers.org, but haven't gotten any replies earlier, here's what I posted.

Last night I downloaded Mandriva 2006, and after several hours, I was finally able to get all of the Linux CD's burned.

When I switched hard drives and attempted to boot from the CD, I would get the "F1 and Install" menu, and after pressing enter to choose install, the screen would go black. Under recomendation of a friend, I went to look up motherboard compatibility (I have a Chaintech S1689, with a Uli chipset, running an AMD 64 4000).

I came up with this, http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1192075&CatId=1750,
the first review says that the board works well on both Linux and Windows, however the last one states that a large number of the Linux Distro's don't. My question here is, for one, if either of those are true, and if the first one is, how can I get Linux up and running, or what Distro (preferably one with a decent GUI, I'm a n00b) would work?

I am planning on upgrading a PCI-E board, but that won't happen for a couple months, and if possible, I'd like to get Linux up and running before then. If you've read this far, thanks for your time.


If any of ya'll here can help me out, it'd be greatly appreciated.

buntu is having trouble installing too, going to check up the documentation, but the last message it sends is "Kernel - Panic!", or something similiar.

pk!
November 28th, 2005, 03:00 PM
Perhaps the screen is going black because it is being switched to a mode it doesn't support. Try CTRL+ALT and + or - on the numpad to switch resolutions, or consult your documentation on how to boot into framebuffer mode. For example in knoppix, at the boot prompt type fb800x600 and enter.

[edit] Another, more likely possiblity is that you need a 64-bit linux, such as SuSE.

pk!
November 28th, 2005, 07:44 PM
okay, I've just tried booting my AMD 64 laptop with a variety of distros, and onlly SuSE has worked. Haven't looked on the net yet but I think that's your problem, that you need a 64 bit OS. I will investigate this.

Have you looked at the Linux Documentation Project for a HOWTO or readme?

http://www.tldp.org/index.html

"Sleep on the left side, keep your sword hand free.."

Moe_Rahn
November 28th, 2005, 07:47 PM
Haven't looked on the net yet but I think that's your problem, that you need a 64 bit OS. I will investigate this.
I don't know if Linux throws a hissy fit over such things, but 32-bit Windows will run just peachy on a 64-bit Athlon.

pk!
November 28th, 2005, 07:55 PM
Thanks Moe. I guess we all kinda knew that...

Found this very useful page which details the author's experience with various distros. Searh the document for "64" and you'll get to the relevant bits.

http://www.rodsbooks.com/distribs/

and I got there from http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=AMD64+linux+distribution&meta=

"I am kurious, kurious, kurious oranj..."

Chris R
November 28th, 2005, 08:25 PM
The Ubuntu (and Mandriva) Distro's I was using at the time were 64 bit. However, I'll read those documentations, hopefully I'll be able to find something. Even though that one review says it the board has trouble with linux and a ULI chipset, I've seen numrous reports of Linux doing alright on a board with Uli, so I think there is a way around it.

Glock23
November 28th, 2005, 09:08 PM
So far, it makes me think that it's either a kernel panic or a video driver issue.

Does mandriva have a graphical installer? Or is it text based?
Also, try booting up a Knoppix or Gentoo live CD to see if those work.
In my experience, a Gentoo CD has worked where many others have failed.

Chris R
November 28th, 2005, 09:17 PM
So far, it makes me think that it's either a kernel panic or a video driver issue.

Does mandriva have a graphical installer? Or is it text based?
Also, try booting up a Knoppix or Gentoo live CD to see if those work.
In my experience, a Gentoo CD has worked where many others have failed.

The error I get from Ubuntu is a kernel panic, mandriva, as far as I know, is graphical. I'll try a Gentoo live CD, and see what I can do. Do I have to work with text on the Gentoo live, or can I just boot up?

pk!
November 28th, 2005, 09:30 PM
Try both - it'll only cost a restart.

Glock23
November 28th, 2005, 09:32 PM
It'll be a text-based thing, but if it boots up, you'll already be about 2x as far along as you were before.

Use the smaller CD image, it's only like 70 meg or so.

Chris R
November 28th, 2005, 09:39 PM
Alright, will do, and out of curosity, what exactly is a kernel panic?

pk!
November 29th, 2005, 01:28 PM
The kernel i the core of the OS, and when it panics it can't continue running. This can be caused by lots of things but it's often because of lack of drivers