PcLinuxOS

[Dave_Lethal]

I figured I have this old PC that I'm running Windows XP on that I never use, so I thought I'd give Linux a try. I've never used Linux before, so I am using a live cd so that I can try it out and stuff before I replace Windows. Already, I'm having problems. I'm using Pclinuxos.

When I booted normally from the cd, it looked as if it was going to start up, but after the loading screen, all I got was a blank screen with a cursor in the upper left corner that wasn't blinking, and I couldn't do anything but manually shut off the machine. I rebooted again but this time I picked safeboot and everything went well. Why can't I boot regularly?

I did get an error message on the desktop:

Sound server informational message:
Error while initializing the sound driver:
device /dev/dsp can't be opened (no such file or directory)
The sound server will continue, using the null output device.


Also, it is verrrrry slow. Is this because I'm booting from a CD?

Oh yeah, and I can't get into any display properties, I get an error message: The program has exited abnormally.

[Gecko]

Dave_Lethal,

Sounds like Pclinuxos did not detect your video right or it doesn't have drivers for you video or sound.

Yes it's slow because it's running from a cd.

I've had the best luck with Mandrake move (now Mandriva move) for a bootable linux OS.
You can download a copy of Mandrake move from .

As for the easiest free Linux OS to install and get running I would say try

[Dave_Lethal]

Thanks I got PCLinuxOS installed to my hard drive and up and running. I installed the drivers for my ATI card on it, so all is working well.

Seems a bit complicated right now, but hopefully I can learn it and comprehend it by doing some research and whatnot.

[Gecko]

Welcome to Linux

You are truly a geek now

So what flavor did you install Big Daddy, Junior or MiniMe?

[Dave_Lethal]

Junior

Apparently I'm still having issues with my drivers. I'm not sure if you're familiar with this but when I type fglrxinfo into the command line it comes back as

OpenGL vendor string: Mesa project: www.mesa3d.org
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
OpenGL version string: 1.2 (1.5 Mesa 6.5)

Instead of my ATI settings.

Already getting frustrated I've been at it for a few hours now.

Here's what I did: I downloaded the ATI drivers from here https://support.ati.com/ics/support/def ... lderID=300

I installed the kernel stripped source rpm for my kernel version from Synaptic (hopefully I did that right)

In the command console I typed "chmod a+x ati-driver-installer-8.28.8.run" and then "./ati-driver-installer-8.28.8.run" to run the installer, seemed to go OK.

Do you know what I'm talking about? Because I barely do

The first time I rebooted I got a blank screen after the startup screen. Second time was OK. But I tried playing Neverball and it's verrrrrry SLOW. It takes 3 minutes just to go to a different menu. ANd like I said before, I'm not getting my ATI properties when I type fglrxinfo. I'm assuming the install did not go as I had hoped.

[Gecko]

[Dave_Lethal]

I actually signed up on those forums and I am getting some help from there too

I actually got it to start working, but I had no 3D acceleration and a terrible framerate. Well, it's been a long headache and I can't really explain everything I've done here, so I'll just give ya a link:

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php?topic=9663.0

I've been trying to figure this out for the last 2 days lol.

I may just say "screw it" and go buy a cheapo 100 dollar Nvidia card. I'm beginning to hate ATI.

[Gecko]

I read through the thread and it looks like you have it working now but only at 800 x 600 resolution.
Well that's a lot better than a black screen

I know how you feel, I have a system that's running red hat I never could get my ATI All-in-wonder card to work with it.

[Dave_Lethal]

Really...that would drive me nuts.

It's still driving me nuts that it's 800x600, everything's so big.

But you're right, it's a LOT better than a black screen

[vijay2525]

[Gecko]

[vijay2525]

[Gecko]

[vijay2525]

thanks!!!!!.. will make a new copy and try!

[vijay2525]

Hi..
I made a new copy of Madriva move and bingo!! It worked.. I have one more question.. how do I connect to the internet on mandriva.. I use a wireless internet card to connect on windows using some unsecured network... how do I configure it in Linux. any help is appreciated!