LinuxMCE Forums
General => Installation issues => Topic started by: tjwib29 on January 09, 2009, 07:04:44 am
-
Let me first start by saying that I new to the Linux world, but very excited to get this stuff working. I am a windows guy for now and pretty competent in that arena. I grew up using Xenix, Unix and Aix, but it has been about 10 years.
So I am on my second attempt at getting a machine to load correctly. I have an Asus P5N7A-VM, Core 2 Quad 2.5, 2x2GB Corsair, LG Blu Ray Drive, and a Samsung 1TB HD. I started out getting errors about the fd0, but I disabled the floppy in the BIOS and that went away. Now when I boot off the i386 710 DVD download and select Install Linux MCE, I see the splash screen and then the BusyBox message with (initramfs) prompt. I have tried disabled and reconfiging the BIOS with no luck. Now I am back to defaults in the BIOS with the floppy change. Can anyone help me PLEEEEASE!! And please keep in mind I might not know all the obvious stuff yet.
Thanks
TJ
-
Are you sure the dvd is good did you run mdsum against it did you use torrent to download
HTH
Tim
-
Not sure but maybe the problem is related with blu-ray drive. Try to use some IDE or USB DVD drive and see if it'll be ok.
-
No need for a Blu-Ray Drive in linuxmce box right now any way.
Tim
-
tjwib:
Problem is RAM. This goes back to Kubuntu and Ubuntu. Very funny about ram. Note your message says 'initramfs'. It's not liking the ram you have when its trying to start setting things up for the Live Kubuntu to start up.
As I said before Linux is very funny about the quality of ram. Windows on the other hand will use just about any junk out there. In fact Windows actually gets blamed for a lot of problems that are really just bad ram.
Note that even though your ram test will show your ram as good, this is not a good indicator of GOOD linux ram.
Sucks I know. I had the same problem and after much searching this was the fix. I'm very, very cautious about the type of ram I buy now when I want to run Linux.
This is probably why we see such better up times with Linux than with Windows.
Get yourself some new ram (Linux recommended and advertized as linux approved) and I think you'll find your DVD is good.
Best of Luck.
Glenn.
-
What you need to do is go into the bios and change SATA mode select under Storage Configuration to AHCI mode. Then when the installer comes up, before hitting 1 to start installation, hit F6 and type "all_generic_ide" (without quotes). That should do it. Now if you can get HDMI sound to work let me know.
-
What you need to do is go into the bios and change SATA mode select under Storage Configuration to AHCI mode. Then when the installer comes up, before hitting 1 to start installation, hit F6 and type "all_generic_ide" (without quotes). That should do it. Now if you can get HDMI sound to work let me know.
Hi there
I am using ASUS M3N78 board and was getting the same error initramfs prompt. since I am not using any sata drive, I have left the sata operations to IDE on the bios and did the F6 all_generic_ide
And it appears to have worked.
-
I have the same MB and this has been very helpful. My current problem after the initial reboot my screen just toggles between resolutions. I reboot again and end up at the Launch Manager which then begins to download some updates. It then freezes and I can hear a woman saying something about "If you can see and hear me...." over and over again.
-
tjwib:
Problem is RAM. This goes back to Kubuntu and Ubuntu. Very funny about ram. Note your message says 'initramfs'. It's not liking the ram you have when its trying to start setting things up for the Live Kubuntu to start up.
As I said before Linux is very funny about the quality of ram. Windows on the other hand will use just about any junk out there. In fact Windows actually gets blamed for a lot of problems that are really just bad ram.
Note that even though your ram test will show your ram as good, this is not a good indicator of GOOD linux ram.
Sucks I know. I had the same problem and after much searching this was the fix. I'm very, very cautious about the type of ram I buy now when I want to run Linux.
This is probably why we see such better up times with Linux than with Windows.
Get yourself some new ram (Linux recommended and advertized as linux approved) and I think you'll find your DVD is good.
Best of Luck.
Glenn.
Where on earth did you get this idea?! RAM is hardware, and either it works or it doesn't work, the OS is irrelevant. RAM maybe incompatible with a motherboard or chipset, or simply too slow, but if it works and your RAM test confirms it is working, then that IS a good test. It will work with Linux just as it will with Windows or any other OS. Memory is abstracted as far as the OS is concerned, it doesn't actually talk to, or read/change the memory subsystem at all, that's the BIOS's job and only during start up. If the BIOS fails to determine the RAM's parameters accurately or cannot set the memory subsystem's parameters based on them, then the RAM test will fail and the PC will not even attempt to boot any OS (again, irrespective of which OS, it simply doesn't get that far!)
If, however, you have faulty RAM with a memory cell damaged, then it is highly dependant on where that cell is, and whether/what the OS attempts to use it for as to whether it will eventuate in stability issues. These faults sometimes do not show up on memory tests unless they are run very extensively over a period of time. Either heating, or the particular failure data pattern can influence this. In some cases it is entirely conceivable that Windows under normal use never/rarely ends up useing that cell whereas Linux happens to place a critical data structure or piece of code in that spot quiet frequently. But this is hardly an indication that either OS is more or less tollerant of memory types... it is just an indication that you have faulty memory!
-
Is there anyone out there who can help with my issue before I try the CD installation instead of the DVD install?
-
Is there anyone out there who can help with my issue before I try the CD installation instead of the DVD install?
Have you install nVidia drivers? You should boot in rescue mode, download the latest nVidia drivers and install them. After that AVWizard runs correctly.
-
I didn't since I read that it works out of the box. I will try that now. Thanks for the help.
-
I have an Asus P5N7A-VM
I have the Asus P5N7A-VM mobo and was able to install LinuxMCE and go through the A/V Wizard. I am still learning/configuring, but the two things I had to do were to change the BIOS SATA to ACHI (using the all_generic_ide to boot) and install the latest nVidia drivers. I am also using a second NIC (Intel) to connect to the internet, and have not setup my internal network (need to fix the Realtek NIC). So far I have been able to setup a hybrid core/md and rip a DVD (linux friendly format) to my core. Right now I am connected to a 720 TV via HDMI (with no audio). I am not a linux guru, but I get around reading and trying. Here is where I am going to be documenting what I am doing and my results: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:Elf (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:Elf)
-
Has anyone gotten HDMI Audio working yet? I followed this thread: http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=6714092 (http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=6714092), but I don't see the HDMI device when I when I do 'aplay -l'. I only see the analog and spdif devices. I think this is my main hurdle. Any thoughts?
-
I spent a lot of time to configure audio over HDMI but without success. As I understand it isn't possible with 0710. I upgrade the kernel up to 2.6.27.2 and ALSA up to 1.0.19 but the card wasn't recognized as HD Audio. As result there wasn't HDMI device in the aplay -L output (but it existed in the aplay -l output).
I also tried to configure audio over HDMI under Kubuntu 8.10 with ALSA 1.0.19. The card was recognized correctly, HDMI device existed in the both aplay -L and -l but still no audio. I started an article (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Audio_over_HDMI) in the wiki. So, feel free to add your experience here.
-
have not setup my internal network (need to fix the Realtek NIC).
So I tried the get the ASUS P5N7A-VM working and cannot. I read in the wiki http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/ASUS_P5N7A-VM (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/ASUS_P5N7A-VM) that this can be fixed with this instructions: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Realtek_8168 (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Realtek_8168). So far I have been able to install (using add-on Intel PCI NIC for the external network) and used the A/V Wizard to configure a hybrid/core. I can rip DVD/CDs and watch them with optical audio to my receiver http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:Elf (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:Elf). Right now my eth0 card is my external network and I can see that a virtual eth0:0 was created for my internal. I even tried to update the pluto_main DB and swith the eth0:0 to eth1 after I had following the patching instructions thinking eth1 was there, but not being used.
Since others got it working, I am probably making a mistake somewhere. Anyone care to give me some hints I would appreciate it (linux newbie here).
Thanks!
-
You are getting eth0:0 as a virtual subinterface because the kernel does not see the second NIC, so thinks you have a single NIC system. So the key to your issue is getting the kernel to recognise the NIC. If this is the Realtek 8168/8169/8111C NIC/chipset the you need to follow the article you listed.. until that is completed correctly the system will continue loading the 8169 NIC driver module thinking that it can drive the 8168 NIC.... it cannot, this is a bug in the Realtek driver, so when the driver bombs out, the kernel just ignores the NIC completely. Update and recompile the 8168 NIC driver source after removing the pci alias for 8168 (either editing the file manually and comment it out, or using the 'patch' command if you are feeling adventurous), and ensure that the 8168 driver is installed and modprobed in, then run a depmod and reboot...
-
...
I even tried to update the pluto_main DB and swith the eth0:0 to eth1 after I had following the patching instructions thinking eth1 was there, but not being used.
...
FFS, do NOT mess with the database manually, that's what the web-admin is for.
-
I tried this several times (8168 fix) and the only time I got it to work the connection was extremely slow and unstable. I ended up just buying a second pci nic which Linux picked up immediately. You need to upgrade the kernel to get this board to somewhat work, especially sound.
-
So I am on my second attempt at getting a machine to load correctly. I have an Asus P5N7A-VM, Core 2 Quad 2.5, 2x2GB Corsair, LG Blu Ray Drive, and a Samsung 1TB HD. I started out getting errors about the fd0, but I disabled the floppy in the BIOS and that went away. Now when I boot off the i386 710 DVD download and select Install Linux MCE, I see the splash screen and then the BusyBox message with (initramfs) prompt. I have tried disabled and reconfiging the BIOS with no luck. Now I am back to defaults in the BIOS with the floppy change. Can anyone help me PLEEEEASE!! And please keep in mind I might not know all the obvious stuff yet.
You are on the right track with the BIOS changes and there have been a few suggestions as some settings to try. What is the exact content of any error message that you get. Usually you are not bumbed back to busybox without an error being reported.
Are you able to type 'continue' and get any further?
-
In reference to the audio over HDMI i've updated to most current kernel. I see the HDMI in the aplay -l, but not in the aplay -L. I'm not updating to the latest ALSA and will report my findings. If it is detected and working from the command line, what would I select in the AV Wizard since there isn't an HDMI audio option?
-
Updated to the latest ALSA 1.0.19 running kernel 2.6.28.5. I see the HDMI in both the aplay -l and aplay -L now. Still can't hear any sound using aplay. lspci shows that the sound device exists but says it's an unknown device. Anyone know where I go from here? Seems like I'm so close.
-
Updated to the latest ALSA 1.0.19 running kernel 2.6.28.5. I see the HDMI in both the aplay -l and aplay -L now. Still can't hear any sound using aplay. lspci shows that the sound device exists but says it's an unknown device. Anyone know where I go from here? Seems like I'm so close.
I have exactly the same situation under LinuxMCE 0710. Even more the HDMI audio doesn't work for me under Kubuntu 8.10. But the sound card is recognized correctly as HD audio.
-
As a test I installed Ubuntu 8.10 and XBMC and HDMI Audio worked. I was just hoping it was just the kernel. I can't imagine the KDE is causing the issue. I'm going to try running the the alsaconfig to see if that gets the sound detected properly. I'm not sure if the the ALSA upgrade script did this.
-
As a test I installed Ubuntu 8.10 and XBMC and HDMI Audio worked. I was just hoping it was just the kernel. I can't imagine the KDE is causing the issue. I'm going to try running the the alsaconfig to see if that gets the sound detected properly. I'm not sure if the the ALSA upgrade script did this.
HDMI audio works with 'stock' Kubuntu 8.10 if you are running the latest Intel drivers (see http://intellinuxgraphics.org/ (http://intellinuxgraphics.org/))
Andrew
-
Now when I boot off the i386 710 DVD download and select Install Linux MCE, I see the splash screen and then the BusyBox message with (initramfs) prompt. an anyone help me PLEEEEASE!! And please keep in mind I might not know all the obvious stuff yet.
I managed that issue, when I manually (with an jumper) set my HDD as a "master" - before it was "cable select" default...
Hope it helps
-
BACKGROUND
I too tried LMCE 710 and it failed. I gave up after reading all the other posts having trouble getting everything to work under 710. I downloaded Kubuntu 810 and installed without any problems. I performed the update and dist-update per the LMCE 810a2 wiki and manually downloaded and installed the latest NVIDIA drivers. All seems to be working fine minus a few non-free plug-ins. No problems to report of, but then I am still connected to VGA and analog audio. I have been working with Debian sarge/etch/lenny for quite some time and have managed to perform kernel re-compiles from time to time. So I don't consider myself a complete novice to Linux. I did actually take the time to research the mobo in advance for possible use as a LMCE core.
CONFIG
1. ASUS P5N7A-VM
2. Quad Core2 - 2.66GHz Q9400
3. 4x1GB Kingston (reuse)
4. 2x200GB Segate PATA (reuse)
5. Pioneer BDC-202
6. Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950 USB2 (read someone got it working. would rather had the 2250 PCIe card, but read that driver development halted. Seemed like external USB tuner with hardware compression simplifies the driver support. HDHR does not have analog and consumes LAN bandwidth)
7. Currently connected to VGA and analog audio for installation purposes.
8. Running latest 180 NVIDIA drivers.
QUESTIONS
I have tried a few times to run the "latest" 810 install scripts from the LMCE 810a2 wiki, which instructs me to use the REPOsitories. While I understand the LMCE may have a lot of specific dependencies, what I do not understand is that if I have a working system, why do the install scripts basically download ALL the DEB packages as if it was a new Kubuntu install? It takes hours! I understand that LMCE has some special front ends and packages to pull all the separate GNU and non-free packages all together and wizards to help a user set it all up, but why doesnt the install scripts only download only the necessary additional packages from a base Kubuntu install and configure the system and interface. Am I missing something here? Can the install scripts skip downloading the huge videos? Can the scripts prompt for what type of setup you are creating (core, front end, HA, etc.) and only download the necessary packages for that configuration? Similar to a package manager?
I must be missing something, because from some of the posts and wiki pages, it reads like it is simple.
Thanks,
Elvis
-
I'm completely not cool enough to figure out how to quote, but the user above who mentioned faulty memory as a problem? I read one of the next posts where I figured, "bah! memory, there's no way!" But on a whim I pulled the last two sticks of memory from my machine, and it loaded right up. Dead on. I swear to God. No all_generic_ide required. I've spent a week of evenings fiddling with this. The good news is I really know 'all_generic_ide irapoll pci=nomsi' and all that now... probably going to be handy some day. But not today. Bad memory. I had exactly the symptoms to bring me to this post, btw. Cheers.