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Hello
Everybody, I am new to
Linux (RH C4) and after some weeks of stuffing around to get even the
basics
working, I am asking for help. My setup: Mobo D945GTP
(onboard Sigmatel audio, onboard video) Processor
Intel P640 RAM
1GB, 2GB L2 Cache HDD 2
off SATAII, WD 160GB in raid 0, incl. prim. Active C:/ partition with
XP Pro
SP1 HDD 1
off SATAII, SG 160GB NTFS, 1 swap partition 2GB, 1 Linux root partition
15GB) Monitor
Modem External Siemens SpeedStream 4200 (as
supplied by
Telstra Bigpond), presently used via USB connection, Ethernet connected
to 2nd
PC for 2nd Internet
connection. I bought
the ‘RH Fedora 4 Unleashed’ book incl. DVD, kernel 2.6.11.
The installation as 2nd OS went
OK, partitioning and formatting 2 GB swap and 15GB root partition (both
primary) with Disk Druid and using Linux front end for selecting either
OS
(Windows XP Pro SP1 or Linux RH Core 4).
I got the following ‘issues’: Problem 1
Can’t establish a working ADSL Internet
connection Problem 2
Video only works in 1280x1024
resolution, for me too small to be comfortable with Problem 3
Can’t get audio working Problem 1 –
ADSL Connection The
installation program does not ask me to setup my network connection,
which I
tried under ‘Setup Internet Connection’ as well as ‘Network’. My modem is not listed and that’s were the
trouble starts. Somebody
advised that I should setup the connection using DHCP instead of PPPoA
(listed
when I access the modem thru Windows).
Even with the 1200 odd pages book I got, the instructions are to
me at
least very confusing. The same applies
to Stanton Finleys installation notes. It appears
that I have to download and install some program. With
the internet not working under Linux
this is not possible. Problem 2 –
Monitor Resolution The monitor’s
HorizSync frequency range is picked up by the installation program
incorrectly. As soon as I change this to
the correct info as per manual, I get an ‘Out of Range’ signal after
reboot. The
vertical refresh rate is correct and I have not changed this one. The
monitor’s support pixel resolution I had to change to cover all
resolutions
available in acc. with the manual. I tried and
re-installed Linux at least 15 times with various configurations of the
/etc/X11/xorg.conf file, both altering horizontal frequency as well as
pixel
modes. The only resolution that works is
the monitor’s native one, i.e. 1280x1024. Problem 3 –
Audio During the
installation I am ask to test sound, which does not work.
I get the message ‘Audio will not be
available on your system’. No further
info, that’s it. I have
installed as part of the mobo drivers Sigmatel as the audio driver, in
acc.
with the mobo installation instructions. On the
Intel website, for my motherboard, there is a network, video and audio
driver for
Red Hat Linux available, (…._1.3_RHEL4_U1.TAR.GZ). Should I
download and install the individual drivers in Windows? Will
my Windows OS still work? What chance is
there that the Linux RH problems I have will be fixed? I
have to say that at this stage I cannot
afford to loose Windows since this is the only thing I have that works. To make
matters even worse, two days ago I was changing from Linux (with the
above hiccups)
to Windows using Acronis OS Selector when suddenly nothing worked. After re-booting I got a black screen with a
blinking underscore cursor on the top left, nothing else. The only
way to get into the system was by using an Acronis Disk Director Boot
Disk
which got me going again, that is Windows only.
When I select Linux as the OS, I’ll get a black screen with
‘Grub_’ on
the top left, nothing else. If I
deactivate Acronis OS Selector, I get a black screen with ‘Grub_”. Going in circles, must have to do something
with the MBR, don’t know how to wipe it. Well this
is my present situation, a pretty mess; not to mention the hours spent
during
the last six weeks. Somehow I
am a bit weary, Stanton Finleys installation notes in the beginning
point out
that the installation of Linux is easy and can be done by everyone;
however
there are apparently 45 pages of installation notes needed to get the
job done! Sorry, I am
to say the least a bit frustrated and would appreciate some help. Wilfried |
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