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Thread ID: 47687 2004-08-02 11:26:00 Gentoo linux low-resolution install command. Growly (6) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
257627 2004-08-02 11:26:00 Trying to install Gentoo 2004.2 - but the screen I'm using can't handle more than 640x480 resolution.

What is the boot command to start in this mode? Or start in text mode?

I used the F2 Option at startup to give me list, and the closest thing there was the "- agpgart" option.

I'm not sure of it's syntax (it doesn't clarify) - but i tried:

gentoo - agpgart
gentoo agpgart


Neither of them did anything to stop the screen chunking out.

Thanks.

PS. I checked Google, couldn't find much.
Growly (6)
257628 2004-08-02 11:53:00 Try:
gentoo nofb
disable framebuffer :-)


Chill.
Chilling_Silence (9)
257629 2004-08-02 11:58:00 Actually, try this first - It'll be prettier:
gentoo vga=784

That should work also but with 640x480 framebuffer so it'll look cool! :-)
Chilling_Silence (9)
257630 2004-08-02 22:55:00 sorry about hijacking your thread Growly,
I understand you are installing Gentoo on to an old machine p200? ish.

I am looking to do the same at some stage with a similar machine, so could I ask you a few questions.

1) Are you compiling from source (stage 1 tarballs? I think)
2) if so, roughly how long does it take to compile for the older machine, as I have heard it can take a while (to say the least)

Thanks
Nigel Thomson (629)
257631 2004-08-03 00:00:00 Ive done a Stage1 Installation on an AMD 300Mhz.
It didnt take too long - I just had to boot the CD "failsafe" rather than "gentoo nofb" as growly will be.

Compile time can take a while... Stage 3 may be a better idea and then later on you can:
emerge -e world
This will re-compile ALL packages from sources, with your new CFLAGS etc.

I had the Blackdown-jdk installed and it took me about 7 days to recompile everything the third time around....

You could do a Stage 3 and genkernel in an hour or two in all honesty :-)

Im about to do a Stage 1 with love-sources on reiser4 rootfs on a 133Mhz later next week!


Chill.
Chilling_Silence (9)
257632 2004-08-03 07:03:00 I'm not quite sure on how to go about this compiling business - but I couldn't get them anyhow because my data media - floppies, and a half broken disk, and a broken network card.

I've got more CDs now, so I'll be looking at that if this network issue isn't sorted.
Growly (6)
257633 2004-08-03 07:11:00 Thanks chill, the vga=768 worked - damn well.

I figured out the nofb thing by chance last night, didn't have time to post on it though - damn. Nevertheless, it don't look as nice.

One thing is nagging me - how'd you figure out to use 768?
Growly (6)
257634 2004-08-03 07:20:00 Hi Growly,

Gentoo has fabulous documentation on installation (stage 1, 2 or 3) as well as documentation on every other possible Gentoo related topic. Have a look through them as it will make how Gentoo operates easier to understand. :)

Gentoo Documentation Resources (www.gentoo.org)

Gentoo Handbook (www.gentoo.org)

Happy Reading! :D
Jen C (20)
257635 2004-08-03 08:05:00 Thank Jen,

I have a question that needs clarification:

In the install documentation, it says that the message "Note: You can ignore any "No such file or directory" warnings regarding ./proc. Also, the message "Error exit delayed from previous errors" can be ignored as well."

It doesn't mention anything about device write errors because there's no space....

So anyway, I attempted to tar the stage 1 file to pieces, but towards the end it always says that there's no room and "Error exit delayed from previous errors". Do i ignore this?

Do i need a bigger hard drive?

Do i need to get the minimal install?
Growly (6)
257636 2004-08-03 08:46:00 > It doesn't mention anything about device write errors
> because there's no space....

What sort of HDD space do you have? It recommends at least 1 Gig of free space plus 300 MB of memory (RAM + swap).

> So anyway, I attempted to tar the stage 1 file to
> pieces, but towards the end it always says that
> there's no room and "Error exit delayed from previous
> errors". Do i ignore this?

You have mounted the gentoo partition first before trying to untar the stage tarball?
cd /mnt/gentoo
#tar -xvjpf /mnt/cdrom/stages/{whateverstage}-<subarch > -{date}.tar.bz2
> Do i need to get the minimal install?

What ISO have you got now? The mininal install ISO is about 82 MB total and is used basically to get the system booted and the networking up and running. From here on in you download and compile everything from either a stage 1, 2 or 3 tarball.

The Universal LiveCD (674 MB) is used when you want to get your system up and running as fast as possible and you do not need a working network connection.

I am guessing you are using the Universal LiveCD? This should be fine, but if you are doing a stage 1 you will need a working internet connection to get the rest of the packages
Jen C (20)
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