Text 3463, 283 rader
Skriven 2005-04-08 14:29:58 av Gary Britt (1:379/45)
Ärende: Tribulations Of Installing Linux or Johnny O is right.
==============================================================
From: "Gary Britt" <zotu@nospamforme.com>
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About 6 months ago I bought a magazine that came with Mandrake Linux = 10.1. I
did so to install linux just for the hell of it on an old = laptop (2 gig HD,
Pentium 200 MMX, NeoMagic 2mb Video, capable of = 800x600 on LCD and 1024x768
on external monitor.)
I know windows and dos and PC Hardware, but I know nothing about Linux. =
Unlike when I first began installing windows or before that OS/2, I made = no
effort to study anything about how linux works and how to install it. =
So I approaced the install as a normal uninformed computer user.
Plunked in the CD, but it either didn't want to install under windows or = I
didn't give it enough time. Decided to just boot the CD and let it = install,
but this laptop won't boot any CD, even though it is supposed = to have that
capability. A problem for me but not Linux's fault. Made = up a dos floppy
with cdrom drivers and tried to get linux to install, = but when this didn't
work realized that Linux needs its own boot floppy = to install this way.
Directions in a text file for creating this floppy = were VERY incomplete. If
I wasn't familiar with dos commands I would = have never figured out how to
create the needed linux boot floppy. The = text file said use this command and
gives and example of the command, = but the example omits the needed full paths
to the util file in question = and the image file it takes as a command line
option, and these two = files are NOT in the same directory. So if you type in
the command as = shown in the text file it fails every time because it can't
find the = needed image file that is in and entirely different branch of the =
directory tree.
Then in using the command to create the floppy you have to choose one of = five
file names to fill in one spot of the command. The descriptions of = the
choices are so poorly written that you are unable to determine for = sure which
one is the real choice you are looking for. After a couple = of wrong guesses
about which image file to use, I finally lucked into = the right one.
Finally, reboot with floppy and CD in place and installation begins. =
Graphics screen in high resolution comes up and I get to the first = install
screen. Select language. The screen is not clear as to what to = do next.
Select other items, hit advanced or hit next. Hitting next = causes the
install to immediately fail and the machine to reboot, so I = think maybe I
should have done something before hitting next. Couple = more tries with
similar failures and I finally notice an error message = going by the screen so
fast you barely have time to read it, that hints = that maybe the problem is
video related. Boot again and select =
advanced options for install, look at my choices that are video related. =
Now the install has no problem displaying graphics to the point of that =
first screen. It just can't figure out how to do it after that first = screen.
Seems odd, but I play along. Select lowres graphics install = option and
reboot. Get to same graphics screen, now in low res, and = same error,
crash-reboot.. Ok try a different option, reboot, graphics = screen, hit next,
same error crash-reboot. OK try text mode install. = Finally, something works
and I get passed the first screen in text mode. =
Next come a series of screens to choose various setup options, sadly =
some of these screens are so poorly written and documented that they are =
impossible to decipher as to what to pick. Like a screen with at least = 50
files or programs or options, not sure which :-( , that is nothing = more than
a list of unintelligible names that look like a series of = random letters
thrown together with absolutely no meaning in the name, = no description of
what the thing is, does, or when it should or should = not be selected. With
such complete lack of info, unable to decided to = select anything on the list
or not, so I just hit next and keep going. = Install continues for about 1
hour more now. Finally, install completes = and I start getting some screens
for configuration of various items, = like root name, server name, security
level choices, etc. etc., = absolutely NO explanation is given for any of these
items. Nothing = NADA. You have no clue as to whether you should fill
something in or = leave it blank. You are given no clue as to what the
ramifications are = if do or don't fill in something or not (like root password
or user = password, etc etc). Finally, I get to a screen that shows a summary
of = what has been configured. I note the video has not been configured. =
While given absolutely no clue by the install routine that anything that =
wasn't configured could be a problem or not, I decide that the video not =
being configured could be a problem. So I select the video and hit a = button
to try and configure it. The install immediately gives me a = screen that
correctly identifies the video card as a NeoMagic 128XD but = it asks me to
choose which resolution and color depth. I remember I = used to run it at
1024x768 so I select that option (unfortunately I = forgot that the internal
LCD will only run at 800x600). Computer = proceeds to lock-up, install is
trashed and I need to start over.
Bottom line. In some respects the install routines of Linux are not as = good
as say OS/2 around 1993. In other ways, it is as good as OS/2 =
1993. The almost complete lack of onscreen documentation and help files = that
can be pulled up for each of the install screens, etc. is a HUGE = drawback to
the quality of the install. When the install crashes, it = never tells you
why. If you don't catch something as a log entry goes = flashing by at the
bottom of the screen by accident, you have no clue = what the problem is with
the install.
A real newbie would have never gotten past the create boot floppy part = to
even begin the install with help from someone else.
I am going to try the install again over the weekend, but I sure hope = linux
runs a hell of a lot better than the install routine.
Gary
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<BODY bgColor=3D#f7f7fa>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>About 6 months ago I bought a magazine =
that came=20
with Mandrake Linux 10.1. I did so to install linux just for the = hell
of=20
it on an old laptop (2 gig HD, Pentium 200 MMX, NeoMagic 2mb Video, = capable
of=20
800x600 on LCD and 1024x768 on external monitor.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I know windows and dos and PC Hardware, =
but I know=20
nothing about Linux. Unlike when I first began installing windows = or=20
before that OS/2, I made no effort to study anything about how linux = works
and=20
how to install it. So I approaced the install as a normal = uninformed=20
computer user.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Plunked in the CD, but it either didn't =
want to=20
install under windows or I didn't give it enough time. Decided to =
just=20
boot the CD and let it install, but this laptop won't boot any CD, even =
though=20
it is supposed to have that capability. A problem for me but not =
Linux's=20
fault. Made up a dos floppy with cdrom drivers and tried to get = linux
to=20
install, but when this didn't work realized that Linux needs its own = boot
floppy=20
to install this way. Directions in a text file for creating this =
floppy=20
were VERY incomplete. If I wasn't familiar with dos commands I = would
have=20
never figured out how to create the needed linux boot floppy. The =
text=20
file said use this command and gives and example of the command, but the =
example=20
omits the needed full paths to the util file in question and the image = file
it=20
takes as a command line option, and these two files are NOT in the same=20
directory. So if you type in the command as shown in the text file =
it=20
fails every time because it can't find the needed image file that is in =
and=20
entirely different branch of the directory tree.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Then in using the command to create the =
floppy you=20
have to choose one of five file names to fill in one spot of the =
command. =20
The descriptions of the choices are so poorly written that you are = unable
to=20
determine for sure which one is the real choice you are looking = for.
After=20
a couple of wrong guesses about which image file to use, I finally = lucked
into=20
the right one.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Finally, reboot with floppy and CD in =
place and=20
installation begins. Graphics screen in high resolution comes up = and I
get=20
to the first install screen. Select language. The screen is =
not=20
clear as to what to do next. Select other items, hit advanced or = hit=20
next. Hitting next causes the install to immediately fail and the =
machine=20
to reboot, so I think maybe I should have done something before hitting=20
next. Couple more tries with similar failures and I finally notice =
an=20
error message going by the screen so fast you barely have time to read = it,
that=20
hints that maybe the problem is video related. Boot again = and
select=20
advanced options for install, look at my choices that are video =
related. =20
Now the install has no problem displaying graphics to the point of that =
first=20
screen. It just can't figure out how to do it after that first=20
screen. Seems odd, but I play along. Select lowres graphics =
install=20
option and reboot. Get to same graphics screen, now in low res, = and
same=20
error, crash-reboot.. Ok try a different option, reboot, graphics =
screen,=20
hit next, same error crash-reboot. OK try text mode install. =
Finally, something works and I get passed the first screen in text =
mode. =20
Next come a series of screens to choose various setup options, sadly = some
of=20
these screens are so poorly written and documented that they are = impossible
to=20
decipher as to what to pick. Like a screen with at least 50 files = or=20
programs or options, not sure which :-( , that is nothing more = than a
list=20
of unintelligible names that look like a series of random letters thrown =
together with absolutely no meaning in the name, no description of what =
the=20
thing is, does, or when it should or should not be selected. With =
such=20
complete lack of info, unable to decided to select anything on the list = or
not,=20
so I just hit next and keep going. Install continues for about 1 = hour
more=20
now. Finally, install completes and I start getting some screens = for=20
configuration of various items, like root name, server name, security =
level=20
choices, etc. etc., absolutely NO explanation is given for any of =
these=20
items. Nothing NADA. You have no clue as to whether you = should
fill=20
something in or leave it blank. You are given no clue as to what = the=20
ramifications are if do or don't fill in something or not (like root = password
or=20
user password, etc etc). Finally, I get to a screen that shows a =
summary=20
of what has been configured. I note the video has not been=20
configured. While given absolutely no clue by the install routine =
that=20
anything that wasn't configured could be a problem or not, I decide that =
the=20
video not being configured could be a problem. So I select the = video
and=20
hit a button to try and configure it. The install immediately = gives me
a=20
screen that correctly identifies the video card as a NeoMagic 128XD but = it
asks=20
me to choose which resolution and color depth. I remember I used = to run
it=20
at 1024x768 so I select that option (unfortunately I forgot that the =
internal=20
LCD will only run at 800x600). Computer proceeds to lock-up, = install
is=20
trashed and I need to start over.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Bottom line. In some respects the =
install=20
routines of Linux are not as good as say OS/2 around 1993. = In
other=20
ways, it is as good as OS/2 1993. The almost complete lack of =
onscreen=20
documentation and help files that can be pulled up for each of the = install=20
screens, etc. is a HUGE drawback to the quality of the install. = When
the=20
install crashes, it never tells you why. If you don't catch = something
as a=20
log entry goes flashing by at the bottom of the screen by accident, you = have
no=20
clue what the problem is with the install.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>A real newbie would have never gotten =
past the=20
create boot floppy part to even begin the install with help from someone =
else.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am going to try the install again =
over the=20
weekend, but I sure hope linux runs a hell of a lot better than the =
install=20
routine.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Gary</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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