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Thread ID: 58239	2005-05-25 21:40:00	Linux Mandrke won't install on an Intel Xeon twin cpu system...	Nicky (112)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
358522	2005-05-25 21:40:00	Becoming vexed with wunduhs and in the mood to experiment with alternatives as encouraged by Edward Albo's article The Linux Experiment, we purchased from the Dick Smith chain a Mandrake Linux 10.1 four CD set for $10 and sought to exercise the "Simple and Fast - automated installation process makes it easy to install" first claim on the back of the package, on this system, a two-screen wunduhs XP (pro) on an intel Xeon twin cpu 3.2GH with 1000MB main memory, and 70GB disc, some of which can surely be devoted to Linux, if not simultaneously (one cpu to each screen? But only one keyboard and one rodent :) )... Alas, on poking the "Install Mandrake Linux" option provided via the CD autorun in wunduhs, nothing happened. On restarting the system with the Mandrake CD ready as the bootstrap disc, we get the invitation to press F1, or press enter; after enter, nothing again: black screen now. On re-restarting and choosing F1, then typing "text" to select the installation mode, some action ensues, then almost immediately a crash, with 24-line screen display that ends with loading alt0 (etc) init init/main.c:714 --------------[cut here]------------------ kernel BUG at arch/i386/kernel/apic.c:358! invalid operand: 0000[#1] Modules linked in: CPU: 0 EIP: 0060:squarebracket anglebracket c0263a3e anglebracket squarebracket Not tainted VLI EFLAGS: 00010246 (2.6.8.1-12 mdkBOOT) ...more dump stuff... [] Kernel Panic: Attempted to kill init! Well, it would be nice to know who (or what) made that attempt, but that's as far as the installation gets. :groan: We disabled hyperthreading (so that there are now two cpus only, rather than four but two is another number not equal to one) to no gain, and likewise, we tried creating a Linux bootstrap floppy disc, to no improvement. So, what should we do? Stick with windows? :eek: Say it ain't so!	Nicky (112)
358523	2005-05-26 02:39:00	So, what should we do? Stick with windows? :eek: Say it ain't so!One of the beautiful things about Linux, is that it comes in so many flavours that there is inevetably going to be a flavour that luuuuuuuvs your hardware.... All is not lost yet!	personthingy (1670)
358524	2005-05-26 21:59:00	On discussing the matter with a Dick Smith floor manager who turned out to have himself struggled against this very problem, fiddling startup scripts and whatever, the problem appears to be the existence of a two-screen display, such as the ATI screens this system has. However, Fedora Core 3 loads and I'd be happily linuxing, were it not that the description of disc partitioning options is such that for my state I'm uncertain that my existing data is safe. (Yes, I have a system backup, but I'd rather not have to exercise it) My state is simple.The system has a 70GB disc, in one partition (fully occupying it) and just about half-full but well defragged so that the second half of the disc is clear. (Yes, I know that the actual disc state is under the control of the disc drive software so that apparently adjacent blocks may not be physically adjacent, but I'm presuming that this doesn't matter) My wish is simple. :o From this empty space (which is assigned to the current sole partition), shrink the existing partition but retaining the data, create a second partition of say 12GB from the liberated space, and load linux stuff into it. However, the information presented by "disc Druid" and its options offered do not seem to handle this, and I don't want to wreck the disc and have to restart from the backup... :annoyed: I don't partition discs all that often, so I'm going to have to learn more...	Nicky (112)
358525	2005-05-26 23:04:00	However, the information presented by "disc Druid" and its options offered do not seem to handle this, and I don't want to wreck the disc and have to restart from the backup... :annoyed: I don't partition discs all that often, so I'm going to have to learn more...Again.. with all the different flavours come different approaches to partitioning. By memory i found FC3s fairly good, allthough mine is a dedicated linux system, and the last 2/3 of flaptops disk is for "/home", with "/swap" and "/" taking the first 1/3. Because i'd allready tried Suse and Mandrake, it was just a matter of letting FC3 set up things as seen fit on the first 1/3, and then using existing data on "hda5" for "/home". Most of the distros detect exsisting file systems, such as 'dose, and work around them. If your not sure about FC3s approach, then my suggestion is to use the partitions that Mandrake set up for you, as it would appear that installing Mandrake did not destroy your windows data. FC3 should be able to be installed on whatever partitions Mandrake set up, and leave alone anything like your first partition which i assume is (or will be) your 'dose partition. ;) Footnote...Ubutus setup of the disk was the worst, allthough i like it in mot other ways.	personthingy (1670)
358526	2005-05-27 00:57:00	The first thing I would have thought to do would be to append "noapic" after the kernel boot paramater......	Chilling_Silence (9)
358527	2005-05-27 01:25:00	The blurb associated with Mandrake's installation indeed looked to produce a safe re-partitioning of the wunduhs disc, except that Mandrake Linux's installer fails on this twin-screen system. The installer for Fedora Core 3 works, but its partitioning scheme as perceived by me in my ignorance is not reassuring for my situation. It is all very well to have uncountable linux flavours and options and to those already well-versed in linux banquets it is no doubt pleasing to try a different recipe weekly, but I am not about to wander amongst the daisies when a single misstep could scrag all my existing data, force a restore from the backup, and still not produce a working dual-boot system. The system state I present the Fedora Core 3 installer with is surely not unusual: a pure windows system that is to be enlightened. The installer would be much more useful were it to recognise that and state explicitly that it is ready to shrink the windows partition and place linux in the space secured, or, explicitly that this cannot be done, the disc must be cleared, re-partitioned and old data restored from a backup as the only way ahead. Instead there are vague murmurings that something of the sort might be possible by suitable use of some software or other, and always, the clear risk of a mess and all the aggro of recovery. So, before I try something, I want to be sure of what it will do, and what should be done. The subsequent mess will then be due to some other bungle. The designers of the installers are no doubt thoroughly familiar with all the issues, but have failed to state the obvious (to them) for the benefit of those who have not devoted endless time to these questions.	Nicky (112)
358528	2005-05-27 04:04:00	I've done this a few times using win2k, your milleage may vary . I find it easier and safer to prepare the drive for a dual OS installation then let the Linux partition app do it's thing on the Linux partition only . While in windows, slice of a hunk of space using the Disk Manager ( . microsoft . com/?kbid=313348" target="_blank">support . microsoft . com) or a thrid party manager like Partition Magic or a utility form the drive manufacturer if a suitable one is available (look for words like non-destructive, as in, should not toast your precious data) . Once you have sliced and diced a suitable chunk, boot up your disytro of choice and use the partition app to slice it further as per the distro's recommedation (Size requirements will vary from distro to distro, and depend on how much user data you intend to produce . I carved off 23 . 5GB bulk space which I then partitioned further during installation [= 6 . 5 GB for Mepis Linux ( . mepis . org/) OS (root, swap, partitions) + 17 . 0GB for user data (home partition)], I imagine that Mandrake and Core 3/4" target="_blank">www . mepis . org/) OS (root, swap, partitions) + 17 . 0GB for user data (home partition)], I imagine that Mandrake and Core 3 will require considerably more space than that with a bells & whistles installation) . If your going to be experimenting a bit, I'd put home on it's own partition so that you can format and reload an OS without losing the data . BTW, I see your in Lower Hutt . I can provide Mepis, Fedora core 3 or the basis of a stage 3 Gentoo installation . Use the PM feature if interested .	Murray P (44)
358529	2005-05-27 07:21:00	Fedora's anaconda installer will not resize in use partitions for you. If you wish to shrink your partition then you should do this prior to installing Fedora. There is a Linux PartitionMagic clone called QTParted that can do this non-destructively (even NTFS). You can download SystemRescueCd (http://www.sysresccd.org/) (110 MB) and use this to resize your partitions. As with all non-destructive partitioning, bad things can happen. Backup first and make sure the drive is freshly defragged. Leave the freed up space as unallocated and then let anaconda automatically use this space and further partition it using the default settings.	Jen (38)
358530	2005-05-27 07:26:00	There is no such thing as guaranteed non-destructive repartioning. Noone has ever been able to remove the major problem: the user. Users happen. I'm sure there are some README type files on the Mandrake installation CD. It's always a good idea to "read" them. Dual processors and other (too)clever things will always be a problem.	Graham L (2)
358531	2005-05-27 07:35:00	Probably the only 100% safe way to install *nix, or any second OS for that matter without risking damage to exsisting data, is to have an entirely seperate HDD for the purpose! I don't know how much data you need to keep, but i'd be tempted to send it all sideways, either on to disks or over a network JUST IN CASE. Murphys law says it will then go perfectly for you. :thumbs:	personthingy (1670)
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