PCTech Forums

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.

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

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.

Welcome to Linux

You are truly a geek now

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!