LinuxMCE Forums

General => Users => Topic started by: abletechnician on March 19, 2009, 07:15:58 pm

Title: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 19, 2009, 07:15:58 pm
So I tried loading MCE 7.10 from DVD with the AMD 64 Bit DVD...the install went fine however after reboot it just got into a reboot loop.  I need to get the model off my Mobo but I am fairly certain this is Asus Mobo I will get the model later.  I have a dual core AMD x2 and like 2gig of ram....I have a 7900 GTX Video card.  I have sucessfully installed Kubuntu 8.10 and patched it and had it very stable.  I tried using the 8.10 aplha 2 following the instructiions here
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/LinuxMCE-0810_alpha2

I installed and patched/updated 8.10...rebooted installed the restricted 177 Nvidia driver...and then ran the scrpits from a terminal...I did do sudo in front of the commands and I watched it wget and load files.  I used checklist control on the steps on the wiki and after reboot it appears that it hits an issue with samba and gets stuck in a reboot loop...My Mobo would return a series of beeps.  I had no extrenal speakers.  I also had no tv tuner.  I was trying a barebones installation.  I had onboard Nics and Onbaord sound that does work with ALSA...I am aware that until I list the Mobo that this post is a little premature but just wondering if based on the info I have any ideas or tips.    Additionally I reloaded 8.10 Kubuntu and repatched it...is there a linux equivalent to dxdiag on windows boxes...thanks in advance
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: valent on March 19, 2009, 09:16:50 pm
check this out:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/ASUS_M3N78-EM
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: colinjones on March 19, 2009, 09:23:22 pm
Most importantly - the alpha releases are for developers to test functionality, and feedback into the next build. They definitely are not for newbie users as they will cause you headaches, and there is no support for them (ie you have to be able to install them on your own, without support). They are definitely not for production systems.

The first releases that you can reasonably expect to be able to use in production rather than debugging, and expect to get support on, will be the betas when they come out. Although you may want to wait until an RC or final release.

Secondly, traditionally, the AMD64 version has been less stable than the i386 version. Given that you aren't going to get a performance boost from 64bit (its just not that kind of workload), I would suggest you download 0710-i386 and try that.

Tips: use the DVD not CD versions - it is faster and simpler to install. The CDs are for specific purposes; download using the torrents not the mirror sites as there is less chance of a corruption; use the md5sum tool to verify your download; burn to DVD on the slowest possible speed your drive supports - this one is very important to prevent corrupted burns (which are extremely common on all drives with higher burn rates)

Finally - you have got 2 NICs in this machine haven't you? Check here - http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Network_Setup
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 19, 2009, 09:30:08 pm
Yeah I am downloading the 1386 dvd atm...and yes the motherboard is a two Nic system.  I am just trying to verify that the machine will take a build before I go all crazy with running cables and so on...I assumed I could just add a network connection to do the install without something hanging off the secondary port
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: colinjones on March 19, 2009, 09:35:07 pm
hmmm... I would assume so, too. But I've never tried it.... if you have a switch lying around somewhere, having at least an ethernet termination during the build would ensure that it doesn't get confused or disable the NIC or something silly... but perhaps not necessary...
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: tkmedia on March 19, 2009, 09:45:11 pm
I have successfully installed many times without the internal nic plugged into anything.



Tim
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: Afkpuz on March 19, 2009, 10:07:48 pm
Also, I have had alot of trouble with the DVD install.  If the DVD install of 7.10 fails too, try the CD version.  It takes about 2 hours, but getting LMCE functional I think is worth 2 hours.
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 19, 2009, 10:12:22 pm
description: Desktop Computer
   product: System Product Name
   vendor: System manufacturer
   version: System Version
   serial: System Serial Number
   width: 64 bits
   capabilities: smbios-2.3 dmi-2.3 vsyscall64 vsyscall32
   configuration: boot=normal chassis=desktop
uuid=40BF378D-8DFE-D511-8F48-001731967D1D
 *-core
      description: Motherboard
      product: A8N32-SLI-Deluxe
      vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
      physical id: 0
      version: Rev 1.xx
      serial: MB-1234567890
      slot: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
    *-firmware
         description: BIOS
         vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
         physical id: 0
         version: 1103 (01/02/2006)
         size: 64KiB
         capacity: 960KiB
         capabilities: isa pci pnp apm upgrade shadowing escd cdboot
bootselect socketedrom edd int13floppy1200 int13floppy720
int13floppy2880 int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer
int10video acpi usb ls120boot zipboot biosbootspecification
    *-cpu:0
         description: CPU
         product: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+
         vendor: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
         physical id: 1
         bus info: cpu@0
         version: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+
         serial: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
         slot: SOCKET 939
         size: 2200MHz
         capacity: 2200MHz
         width: 64 bits
         clock: 200MHz
         capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae
mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2
ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt x86-64 3dnowext 3dnow rep_good nopl pni
lahf_lm cmp_legacy
       *-cache:0
            description: L1 cache
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            slot: L1-Cache
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            capacity: 64KiB
            capabilities: pipeline-burst internal varies data
       *-cache:1
            description: L2 cache
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            slot: L2-Cache
            size: 512KiB
            capacity: 512KiB
            capabilities: pipeline-burst internal varies unified
       *-cache:2 DISABLED
            description: L3 cache
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            slot: L3-Cache
            capabilities: internal
    *-cpu:1
         description: CPU
         product: (To Be Filled By O.E.M.)
         physical id: 8
         bus info: cpu@1
         serial: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
         slot: SOCKET 939
         capacity: 2GHz
       *-cache:0 DISABLED
            description: L1 cache
            physical id: 9
            slot: L1-Cache
            capabilities: internal
       *-cache:1 DISABLED
            description: L2 cache
            physical id: a
            slot: L2-Cache
            capabilities: internal
       *-cache:2 DISABLED
            description: L3 cache
            physical id: b
            slot: L3-Cache
            capabilities: internal
    *-memory:0
         description: System Memory
         physical id: 42
         slot: System board or motherboard
         size: 2GiB
       *-bank:0
            description: DIMM [empty]
            product: PartNum0
            vendor: Manufacturer0
            physical id: 0
            serial: SerNum0
            slot: DIMM0
       *-bank:1
            description: DIMM DDR Synchronous 400 MHz (2.5 ns)
            product: PartNum1
            vendor: Manufacturer1
            physical id: 1
            serial: SerNum1
            slot: DIMM1
            size: 1GiB
            width: 64 bits
            clock: 400MHz (2.5ns)
       *-bank:2
            description: DIMM [empty]
            product: PartNum2
            vendor: Manufacturer2
            physical id: 2
            serial: SerNum2
            slot: DIMM2
       *-bank:3
            description: DIMM DDR Synchronous 400 MHz (2.5 ns)
            product: PartNum3
            vendor: Manufacturer3
            physical id: 3
            serial: SerNum3
            slot: DIMM3
            size: 1GiB
            width: 64 bits
            clock: 400MHz (2.5ns)
    *-memory:1 UNCLAIMED
         description: RAM memory
         product: C51 Host Bridge
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 4
         bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
         capabilities: ht bus_master cap_list
         configuration: latency=0
    *-memory:2 UNCLAIMED
         description: RAM memory
         product: C51 Memory Controller 0
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 0.1
         bus info: pci@0000:00:00.1
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
         configuration: latency=0
    *-memory:3 UNCLAIMED
         description: RAM memory
         product: C51 Memory Controller 1
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 0.2
         bus info: pci@0000:00:00.2
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
         configuration: latency=0
    *-memory:4 UNCLAIMED
         description: RAM memory
         product: C51 Memory Controller 5
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 0.3
         bus info: pci@0000:00:00.3
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
         configuration: latency=0
    *-memory:5 UNCLAIMED
         description: RAM memory
         product: C51 Memory Controller 4
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 0.4
         bus info: pci@0000:00:00.4
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
         capabilities: bus_master
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    *-memory:6 UNCLAIMED
         description: RAM memory
         product: C51 Host Bridge
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
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         bus info: pci@0000:00:00.5
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
         capabilities: bus_master cap_list
         configuration: latency=0
    *-memory:7 UNCLAIMED
         description: RAM memory
         product: C51 Memory Controller 3
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 0.6
         bus info: pci@0000:00:00.6
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
         configuration: latency=0
    *-memory:8 UNCLAIMED
         description: RAM memory
         product: C51 Memory Controller 2
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 0.7
         bus info: pci@0000:00:00.7
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
         configuration: latency=0
    *-pci:0
         description: PCI bridge
         product: C51 PCI Express Bridge
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 2
         bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
         version: a1
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 33MHz
         capabilities: pci pm msi ht pciexpress bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
       *-storage
            description: RAID bus controller
            product: SiI 3132 Serial ATA Raid II Controller
            vendor: Silicon Image, Inc.
            physical id: 0
            bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
            version: 01
            width: 64 bits
            clock: 33MHz
            capabilities: storage pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
            configuration: driver=sata_sil24 latency=0 module=sata_sil24
    *-pci:1
         description: PCI bridge
         product: C51 PCI Express Bridge
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 3
         bus info: pci@0000:00:03.0
         version: a1
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 33MHz
         capabilities: pci pm msi ht pciexpress bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
       *-network
            description: Ethernet interface
            product: 88E8053 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
            vendor: Marvell Technology Group Ltd.
            physical id: 0
            bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
            logical name: eth0
            version: 15
            serial: 00:17:31:96:78:d1
            capacity: 1GB/s
            width: 64 bits
            clock: 33MHz
            capabilities: pm vpd msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt 1000bt-fd
autonegotiation
            configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes
driver=sky2 driverversion=1.22 firmware=N/A latency=0 link=no
module=sky2 multicast=yes port=twisted pair
    *-pci:2
         description: PCI bridge
         product: C51 PCI Express Bridge
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 100
         bus info: pci@0000:00:04.0
         version: a1
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 33MHz
         capabilities: pci pm msi ht pciexpress bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
    *-memory:9 UNCLAIMED
         description: Memory controller
         product: CK804 Memory Controller
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 9
         bus info: pci@0000:00:09.0
         version: a4
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
         capabilities: ht bus_master cap_list
         configuration: latency=0
    *-isa
         description: ISA bridge
         product: CK804 ISA Bridge
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: a
         bus info: pci@0000:00:0a.0
         version: a4
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: isa bus_master
         configuration: latency=0
    *-serial
         description: SMBus
         product: CK804 SMBus
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: a.1
         bus info: pci@0000:00:0a.1
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: pm cap_list
         configuration: driver=nForce2_smbus latency=0 maxlatency=1
mingnt=3 module=i2c_nforce2
    *-usb:0
         description: USB Controller
         product: CK804 USB Controller
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: b
         bus info: pci@0000:00:0b.0
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=ohci_hcd latency=0 maxlatency=1
mingnt=3 module=ohci_hcd
    *-usb:1
         description: USB Controller
         product: CK804 USB Controller
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: b.1
         bus info: pci@0000:00:0b.1
         version: a4
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: debug pm bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0 maxlatency=1
mingnt=3 module=ehci_hcd
    *-multimedia
         description: Multimedia audio controller
         product: CK804 AC'97 Audio Controller
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: d
         bus info: pci@0000:00:0d.0
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=Intel ICH latency=0 maxlatency=5
mingnt=2 module=snd_intel8x0
    *-ide:0
         description: IDE interface
         product: CK804 IDE
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: f
         bus info: pci@0000:00:0f.0
         logical name: scsi2
         version: f3
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list emulated
         configuration: driver=pata_amd latency=0 maxlatency=1
mingnt=3 module=pata_amd
       *-disk
            description: ATA Disk
            product: WDC WD300BB-00AU
            vendor: Western Digital
            physical id: 0.0.0
            bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0
            logical name: /dev/sda
            version: 18.2
            serial: WD-WMA6W1837195
            size: 27GiB (30GB)
            capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
            configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=783b2679
          *-volume:0
               description: EXT3 volume
               vendor: Linux
               physical id: 1
               bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0,1
               logical name: /dev/sda1
               logical name: /
               logical name: /dev/.static/dev
               version: 1.0
               serial: 701ab64b-fc91-45bb-9953-91e0fd49e0ee
               size: 26GiB
               capacity: 26GiB
               capabilities: primary bootable journaled
extended_attributes large_files huge_files recover ext3 ext2
initialized
               configuration: created=2009-03-18 19:00:06
filesystem=ext3 modified=2009-03-18 22:32:41 mount.fstype=ext3
mount.options=ro,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered mounted=2009-03-18
21:39:24 state=mounted
          *-volume:1
               description: Extended partition
               physical id: 2
               bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0,2
               logical name: /dev/sda2
               size: 1223MiB
               capacity: 1223MiB
               capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
             *-logicalvolume
                  description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
                  physical id: 5
                  logical name: /dev/sda5
                  capacity: 1223MiB
                  capabilities: nofs
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 19, 2009, 10:13:31 pm
       *-cdrom
            description: DVD-RAM writer
            product: DVD+-RAM 530L v1
            vendor: Memorex
            physical id: 0.1.0
            bus info: scsi@2:0.1.0
            logical name: /dev/cdrom
            logical name: /dev/cdrw
            logical name: /dev/dvd
            logical name: /dev/dvdrw
            logical name: /dev/scd0
            logical name: /dev/sr0
            version: 5M64
            capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
            configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc
    *-ide:1
         description: IDE interface
         product: CK804 Serial ATA Controller
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 10
         bus info: pci@0000:00:10.0
         version: f3
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=sata_nv latency=0 maxlatency=1
mingnt=3 module=sata_nv
    *-ide:2
         description: IDE interface
         product: CK804 Serial ATA Controller
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 11
         bus info: pci@0000:00:11.0
         version: f3
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=sata_nv latency=0 maxlatency=1
mingnt=3 module=sata_nv
    *-pci:3
         description: PCI bridge
         product: CK804 PCI Bridge
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 12
         bus info: pci@0000:00:12.0
         version: a2
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: pci bus_master
       *-firewire
            description: FireWire (IEEE 1394)
            product: TSB43AB22/A IEEE-1394a-2000 Controller (PHY/Link)
            vendor: Texas Instruments
            physical id: b
            bus info: pci@0000:04:0b.0
            version: 00
            width: 32 bits
            clock: 33MHz
            capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
            configuration: driver=ohci1394 latency=64 maxlatency=4
mingnt=2 module=ohci1394
    *-bridge
         description: Ethernet interface
         product: CK804 Ethernet Controller
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 13
         bus info: pci@0000:00:13.0
         logical name: eth1
         version: a3
         serial: 00:17:31:96:7d:1d
         size: 100000000
         capacity: 1000000000
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 66MHz
         capabilities: bridge pm bus_master cap_list ethernet
physical mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
         configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes
driver=forcedeth driverversion=0.61 duplex=full ip=192.168.1.80
latency=0 link=yes maxlatency=20 mingnt=1 module=forcedeth
multicast=yes port=MII speed=100MB/s
    *-pci:4
         description: PCI bridge
         product: CK804 PCIE Bridge
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 16
         bus info: pci@0000:00:16.0
         version: a3
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 33MHz
         capabilities: pci pm msi ht pciexpress bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
    *-pci:5
         description: PCI bridge
         product: CK804 PCIE Bridge
         vendor: nVidia Corporation
         physical id: 17
         bus info: pci@0000:00:17.0
         version: a3
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 33MHz
         capabilities: pci pm msi ht pciexpress bus_master cap_list
         configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
       *-display
            description: VGA compatible controller
            product: G71 [GeForce 7900 GTX]
            vendor: nVidia Corporation
            physical id: 0
            bus info: pci@0000:06:00.0
            version: a1
            width: 64 bits
            clock: 33MHz
            capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
            configuration: driver=nvidia latency=0 module=nvidia
    *-pci:6
         description: Host bridge
         product: K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
         vendor: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
         physical id: 101
         bus info: pci@0000:00:18.0
         version: 00
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 33MHz
    *-pci:7
         description: Host bridge
         product: K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
         vendor: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
         physical id: 102
         bus info: pci@0000:00:18.1
         version: 00
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 33MHz
    *-pci:8
         description: Host bridge
         product: K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
         vendor: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
         physical id: 103
         bus info: pci@0000:00:18.2
         version: 00
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 33MHz
    *-pci:9
         description: Host bridge
         product: K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
         vendor: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD]
         physical id: 104
         bus info: pci@0000:00:18.3
         version: 00
         width: 32 bits
         clock: 33MHz
         configuration: driver=k8temp module=k8temp
 *-network DISABLED
      description: Ethernet interface
      physical id: 1
      logical name: pan0
      serial: 96:f1:c4:90:af:e3
      capabilities: ethernet physical
      configuration: broadcast=yes driver=bridge driverversion=2.3
firmware=N/A link=yes multicast=yes
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 21, 2009, 04:37:49 am
Well even the I386 DVD had no luck...kept panicking and kicking out a dcerouter login....Guess I will try the CD install next...what is a bullet proof motherboard for this install that supports dual core amd processors?
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: colinjones on March 21, 2009, 04:50:10 am
is it actually panicking? a genuine linux panic or is that just a term you are using... it really can't panic and then go to a dcerouter login... once the panic happens, it doesn't do anything, the machine is dead and needs rebooting...
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 21, 2009, 05:22:49 pm
Ok wrong terminology...it gives the dcerouter prompt but before I can type anything..it states the open bsd SSH daemon or some message like that and the screen goes away..I did try typing linux mce and the password..it appears that it reboots over and over and over...
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: colinjones on March 21, 2009, 09:05:05 pm
The ssh message is just that, a message, you will often see such messages at this point and it doesn't have anything to do with the reboot or not being able to type anything. The reboot is strange... at this point the usual issue is that it cannot start X, and so you will see the screen flicker to blank for a short period, then flicker back to this login screen, then back to blank, and so on and on... this is it trying to start X. Does it do this at all, or immediately reboot?
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 21, 2009, 10:46:48 pm
Well the CD install gave me the same results...it is almost like the screen is flickering with the dcerouter login...I think I screwed the install up so I am going to try again...my kids were giving me grief...I even tried moving the Hard Drive and DVD to my main pc and loading there to try a different chipset with the DVD install to no avail.  Is there a bulletproof Motherboard that I could buy and move my stuff too?
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 21, 2009, 10:59:35 pm
Even during the install of 7.10 I386 I have to jiggle the mouse to get the install screen to comeback..its almost like some sort of powersave feature...I have a Nvidia 7900gtx and a sony LCD connected via DVI
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: colinjones on March 21, 2009, 11:24:11 pm
Yes, during the install there is a point at which the screen blanks as it goes to sleep, this is normal, and I usually just hit the Shift key to wake it up. But that is the only point at which it does it. Once you get the login prompt it doesn't do that.... but if it can't start X, the screen will flicker on and off, as I described above, as it repeatedly tries. You haven't answered my question about the reboot... if it isn't rebooting at that point, just flickering the screen, then it is a problem with X not starting. You need to specifically answer the questions I am asking as accurately as possible otherwise I cannot help you.

If it sounds like what I have described here, then you can determine what is causing X not to start by looking in the /var/log/Xorg.0.log file... but given you are using a 7900 chipset, it is probably that you haven't installed the latest nVidia drivers. Look on the wiki for the article Display Drivers, it has a clear and reliable explanation on how to install these from the GRUB boot menu. Also, have you got an on board graphics chipset as well as a graphics card? Or just onboard, or just card? That is important as I will need to give you instructions if you have more than one chipset.
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 22, 2009, 12:07:18 am
I reread what you typed Colin and it is exactly that...what is the fix..I am trying a cd install again but this time I am going to update 7.10 and add the updated Nvidia Driver..
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 22, 2009, 12:32:47 am
There is no Onboard Graphics card and I toggled BIOS to be yes to plug and play OS
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: colinjones on March 22, 2009, 12:36:48 am
Exactly what? Do you mean you need the fix for having 2 graphics chipsets?

Either way, if this is just an X problem due to you using a 7900 chipset, there is no reason to use the CDs as they take much longer. Use the DVD, then use the GRUB menu to exit to the recovery console, and then follow that article to download and install the new drivers.

If you have 2 graphics chipsets, then you need to ensure that the correct one is being used. Allow LMCE to start up and fail - this will create the base xorg.conf file that configures X. Now reboot and break in at the GRUB menu again. You can now type:

lspci

This will list all your PCI devices - both chipsets will be displayed. Make note of the PCI ID for the chipset you want to use. It will be something like 2:01...

Now edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and in the section marked "Device" modify the PCI Bus ID parameter to match what you noted above. While you are there, make sure the driver says "nvidia" not "nv" or "vesa".

Save the file and reboot. This will now get you into the AV Wizard.... however the default connector that it selects is VGA, if you are using HDMI/DVI, you will need to use the keyboard shortcuts documented in the wiki article on the AV Wizard to change the connector once you are inside the AV Wizard.

EDIT: OK, then follow the first bit for installing the latest driver, again DVD is fine...
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 22, 2009, 12:51:51 am
I truly appreciate all the help..I know folks probably come here with all the same questions and most folks would rather just lol at me...I assume you mean this link sir
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Display_Drivers
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: colinjones on March 22, 2009, 01:16:32 am
Yes, specifically this section - http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Display_Drivers#Latest_Drivers

You can try the way it mentions, after the issue occurs by pressing the F keys... but you may find that it continues flickering and loosing the screen whilst you are trying to type, so the alternative (which I thought this article actually documented somewhere, will check into that) is to reboot, then after your BIOS POST check completes and it starts to boot, you will see the GRUB menu pop on for a few seconds of countdown. Hit ESC to get into the GRUB menu, and choose the recovery console. This will drop you out to a command line pretty quickly. The system is in supervisor mode, so you don't need the sudo command from the article, and X hasn't started up, so you won't need the telinit command either.

Its unlikely that you will have the legacy driver issue, so ignore that. When the drivers are installing it will ask you some questions.... don't bother searching for kernel interface, just tell it to recompile them itself. Then at the end, it will ask if you want it to generate an xorg.conf file automatically.... say no. Once it has dropped you back to the command line, you can then edit the xorg.conf file yourself to check the driver says "nvidia". This file is where you can make lots of other alterations as well to tune the screen mode and how it interacts with your display... but lets wait until those issues pop up before trying to fix them!
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 22, 2009, 05:40:41 am
Ok getting closer following the recovery mode instructions I was able to update the driver and if I do startx from there I can at least get to the desktop. Is there a preferred version of the Linux driver that is perhaps more stable....Also does anyone have a basic config for xorg.conf for Nvidia....
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: colinjones on March 22, 2009, 05:49:51 am
Once you can startx you are ready to go, just reboot and let LMCE enter the AV Wizard. You should see the DCERouter login come up, then after a few seconds the screen will flicker, go blank, but stay blank this time. Leave it for a few seconds to settle down - it is now outputing the AV Wizard, however it defaults to VGA which is why you see nothing. The keyboard shortcut to switch it to DVI is '1'.

The screen will flicker again, as X shuts down and reconfigures the xorg.conf file. You will probably see the login again for a few seconds, then it will start back up again - this time you should see the AV Wizard. The output is in 640x480, as long as your screen can go that low you will see the image. If not, you may need to try the other shortcuts to change resolution... process is the same. The output connector and resolution chosen by these short cuts only effects the AV Wizard, not the ultimate resolution of your Media Director. Now as you go through the AV Wizard you will select the ultimate settings for LMCE itself.

There is no base xorg.conf file as it is highly dependant on the screen and chipset. Don't worry about that yet, just try to get a suitable configuration using the wizard. You only need to edit the config file if the wizard can't provide a suitable configuration.
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 22, 2009, 06:01:58 am
It gave me an error on the AV wizard...I am going to install the 64 Bit DVD and try again...can you tell me which is the most stable Linux Driver?
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: colinjones on March 22, 2009, 10:01:00 am
steer clear of the 64 bit if you are having compatiblity issue, stay with i386. As for the driver, there have been several recently, I don't know about the most recent few, but the first 180.xx seemed pretty good and the major release prior to that was very good from my experience...
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: totallymaxed on March 22, 2009, 10:01:41 am
Even during the install of 7.10 I386 I have to jiggle the mouse to get the install screen to comeback..its almost like some sort of powersave feature...I have a Nvidia 7900gtx and a sony LCD connected via DVI

Thats normal its just the screen going to sleep...

Andrew
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: totallymaxed on March 22, 2009, 10:03:31 am
steer clear of the 64 bit if you are having compatiblity issue, stay with i386. As for the driver, there have been several recently, I don't know about the most recent few, but the first 180.xx seemed pretty good and the major release prior to that was very good from my experience...

We're using 180.22 currently and its solid as a rock and does seem to deliver more performance from the same video card.

All the best

Andrew
Title: Re: Trying to get MCE Working with no Luck..Newbie questions inc
Post by: abletechnician on March 23, 2009, 04:08:06 pm
well when I would start the Media Center after start x it would never launch the AV wizard...I appreciate all the help here..However I had PC parts all over the living room floor...so I threw in the towel at this point and loaded Kubuntu 8.10...I will try again whenever the Beta comes out for 8.10...It just seems like with such a basic vanilla PC as mine with an Nvidia card that the standard install would work out of the box.  I did update to both 180.29 and 177...Neither made it where I could reboot and get the Linux Media Center to start.  I always had to go into recovery mode and then start x...I am hopeful that the new Beta will fix some of these basic issues...I believe most folks have Nvidia and DVI connected monitors...Oh well It was an awesome learning experience so far..I haven't played with linux in a long time so I am glad to have a real box up and running again..I will watch the site and when 8.10 Beta is out I will give it a go then..again a heartfelt thanks to all the advice here.  I really appreciate it.