Can't install
Posts: 74
All right, I could very well be posting in the wrong forum, but if I am, forgive me, or move it - whichever suits you best. I have a Dell Optiplex GX150 [PIII] and for the life of me I can't install the latest "stable" distribution of MEPIS. [Currently running a barely functional copy of WINXP, downloaded the DVD version of MEPIS]
Now, I've burned the "extracted" ISO data, and the ISO image itself [though the integrity of said disc may be suspect; CopyToDVD isn't the greatest...] and I cannot get it to boot to the DVD for the life of me. I'm not going to mess with the floppies if I can't get my machine to detect the disc itself. Detailed advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
-Chris
Yeah, it's set to CD/DVD.
Posts: 74
Yeah, it's set to CD/DVD. And I do have DSL. And no, I didn't just burn the ISO to DVD. And aren't there about six CDs?
Just One
Posts: 110
Just one CD gives you the whole thing.
Just one more question, did
Posts: 1175
Just one more question, did you burn at a speed of 8X or slower to avoid burn errors?
Wayne
Yeah, I burnt at 4x,
Posts: 74
Yeah, I burnt at 4x, Wayne... I'm a bit paranoid, myself... and also... could you give me a link to a CD image, then maybe give me any other directions that may help? Thanks.
ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/lin
Posts: 1175
ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/mepis/released/
Choose this one - SimplyMEPIS_6.0_i386.iso
Wayne
All right... I burned it
Posts: 74
All right... I burned it after extracting w/ISOBuster, and no luck... I'm starting to get mildly annoyed with my generally uncooperative computer. Is it at all possible to install from Windows?
Not sure what's going on,
Posts: 4077
Not sure what's going on, does it boot at all? Do you get any messaged on screen? Errors?
You can find here info about installing including pictures and video:
www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php/Getting_and_Installing_MEPIS
--
Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs
The CD itself won't boot at
Posts: 74
The CD itself won't boot at all. I get the usual "Press F1 to retry boot, press F2 to enter boot menu." error message every time... This reminds me of trying to install my video card...
I'll see if I'm making any major mistakes and get back to you, thanks.
I think it's a problem with
Posts: 4077
I think it's a problem with the CD, read info in Wiki about checking the CD and of that doesn't check out read info about buring the CD.
--
Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs
ugh. I pray it's not a CD
Posts: 74
ugh. I pray it's not a CD problem... I've burned about six of the DVD version using different programs/techniques, and several more of the CD image... I'll download their program and try it. *sigh* I hate technology. 
Edit: Upon reading the "detailed install directions," I'm terrified of asking but ..... will I be able to use my secondary HDD using FAT32 [I backed up all of my crap on it] or do I have even more DVDs to burn?
I'm not sure what you ask,
Posts: 4077
I'm not sure what you ask, do you mean to install Linux on FAT32 (the answer is "no") if you ask about being able to read/write to that partition than it's "yes".
--
Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs
A Possible Repeat Question
Posts: 5513
PCG342, this may be a repeat question. If it is, I apologize.
When you are burning the CD, are you burning an IMAGE directly from the iso or are you COPYING the iso to the CD? You CANNOT mount or open the iso and then copy it, you MUST "Burn CD from Image File" or some such. The iso is a self-contained, bootable file. So it must be copied, bit-for-bit to the CD.
What burning software are you using on Windows? If you tell us the specific tools you are using, then someone can help you to be sure you're doing the right thing 
When you reboot your computer, and you tell it to boot from CD (that message is coming from your BIOS by the way) then what do you see?
Also, if you have checked the md5sum of the downloaded iso, and it's ok, you can do the same thing to the CD once it's burned. To do that you have to put the CD into the drive BUT DO NOT MOUNT IT. Then, you can do the same md5sum /dev/hdc or whatever drive designation is used for your CD. Now the only thing about this technique is that you must be in Linux to do it. Windows does not allow you to do this.
Jon
Microsoft Windows Vista now on sale!
Buy now, Really Pay Later
Adrian, you answered my
Posts: 74
Adrian, you answered my question - I knew I couldn't install on FAT32, but to read/write that partition [my secondary HDD]was my concern. And I use CopyToDVD, so when it asks me to copy DATA, I should say "no?"
Okay, so I used Cheetah
Posts: 74
Okay, so I used Cheetah Burner to copy it, got it booted but can't install [no desktop, only the command line crap] in fact, after I login [root//root] I get a brief line of red text; using ctrl+alt+F7/ctrl+alt+f8 merely clears the screen and I have to press alt+f4 to get the login prompt again...
SO what now?
Assuming that the CD is OK
Posts: 4077
Assuming that the CD is OK (you checked it right?) the problem is probably the video card (which one do you have?) there are also options when you boot it try other options.
Did you try "Boot VESA"?
--
Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs
Try This
Posts: 5513
From your text login enter the command "startx" without the quotation marks, and let us know what error messages are shown.
The ctrl+alt+f7 should take you to the session in which X Window should be running. You might also try simply hitting the Enter key after you went to session 7 and see what the response is.
Jon
Microsoft Windows Vista now on sale!
Buy now, Really Pay Later
I've got a Visiontek ATI
Posts: 74
I've got a Visiontek ATI Radeon 9200 128mb PCI card. This could explain the PCI error message I receive before boot [it starts, so I didn't mention it... whoops...]
I suppose "Boot VESA" would be worth a try first, and if that doesn't work, I could do what you [Jon] suggested. Have to try it this afternoon; in school now. Thanks.
Edit: Okay, since I've got not idea what you're saying half the time, Jon [not a Linux vet,] I'll just tell you what I get. This is what was happening LAST NIGHT, mind you - I haven't tried Boot VESA and/or startx yet.
All I get is a blinking white cursor at the top-left. Hitting ctrl+alt+f7/f8 or really anything gets no results, save for pressing alt+f4, which brings up the login text.
WOOHOO! VESA mode worked!
Posts: 74
WOOHOO!
VESA mode worked! Thanks to all of you!
I'm usually fairly technologically adept [I build PCs] but this was just too new and different for me. Thanks again!
Your bios is set to boot off
Posts: 1175
Your bios is set to boot off of the CD/DVD first right. And of course you didn't just burn a copy of the ISO to a DVD right. Why did you download the DVD if you have a fast internet connection? The real purpose of the DVD is to be mailed to people with a dial up connection so that they have the same opportunity as the rest of use to access more packages. Otherwise the CD is great.
Wayne