Linux Mandrake 9.1

[Dodge]

I installed Mandrake and everything went fine. But, when I try to boot to linux it will only take me to Local Host Login. When I login it just shows me the local host name. I'm guessing Command Prompt.

It will not boot to desktop. Am I missing something here or what?

Any Ideas are appreciated.

[janusz]

Hi, Dodge!

You want it to start up KDE windows, right?

When it is booting up you will see something like this on the screen during bootup:

Runlevel: 3

That boots you to the "command prompt" - but to get it to start KDE, you need to change that to Runlevel: 5.

You need to go to /etc/inittab file. Look in that file and see if you have a line that looks like id:3:initdefault. You need to change the 3 to 5. So, as root, change the runlevel number in this file to 5 and save the file. Restart your system to see if it boots into KDE now.

To become root, restart, type "root" at localhost LOGIN prompt and then enter the password at the prompt. (There's probably an easier way but this works.) You should see a prompt something like this: [root@localhost].

I believe Midnight Commander is automatically installed with Mandrake. So at the command prompt type "mc" - you should be able to navigate through the directories okay. Make sure you are logged in as "root" (superuser) to make the change; otherwise you can't.

Hope this helps!


Janusz
Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.

[Dodge]

Thank you. I'll give this a try in just a bit.

[ceh383]

Once you log on, you should be able to type "startx" (no quotes) to start the default GUI.
Or if you want it to boot directly to a GUI do as janusz said, log on as "root" then edit the /etc/inittab file.....

[Dodge]

Thanks you two. Neither suggestion worked though. Did find the problem.

When I tried the /et/inittab it said Permission denied.

So I tried the StartX and it put me into a constant loop of a blue screen with box's coming up then going off with a watch on the screen. Basically flashing.

So I put the Cd back in and rebooted and ran Expert Setup. I noticed that I had setup the Graphics card as a Sis 300. So I set it to just SIS with no model number. Now the desktop works great. No problems at all.

Can't understand that though since the OS show the card as a 300 now. What is the difference?

Anyways, the problem I have now is my modem is showing up as a USR 5610 under Unknown devices. The modem is a 2976 Hardware modem (Not WinModem).... I have the driver for it, but can't figure out how to get it to install.


Thanks again for the help.

[Dodge]

One other problem is using the floppy drive. When I try to access it, the light comes on and it doesn't do anything. When I close it, it brings up a message about crashing.

[ceh383]

The driver for your modem, what's the file name?

The floppy drive, how are you trying to access it? The drive may need to be mounted before you can access it.

[Dodge]

Take a look HERE (http://www.usr.com/support/product-template.asp?prod=oem) It is listed uder the 2976 model. Red Hat Package Manager - BETA test file - LNUX_3ComMdm-1.0-1.i386.rpm

That is the name of the file. It shows as it is installed. So I guess I need to know how to actually install the modem.


As for the floppy drive. It brought up an error saying that I didn't have a (I think this is right) linux formatted floppy or something like that. But it works under RedHat fine.

Will try this again in a few to see what happens.

[ceh383]

If you've already got the driver installed HERE (http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/3206/1/) is the modem howto.......

Not sure about the floppy issue, never been asked for a Linux formatted one before........

[Dodge]

Thanks Chuck.

I dont know what he error was about. The floppy drive is working now.

Now the modem issue. It is showing that the modem is installed. Using the USR 5610 serial (sub system is USR 2976)

When I try to connect it just says innitializing the modem. Wont go any further than that. If I query the modem, ATI doesn't show anything for it.

I'm thinking that it may be problem with my Rockwell modem that is still in the system because of the sound card. Tomorrow I will take it out and see if it helps anything.

Or it might be that in windows it installs on Com5. I can't seem to find where to install the modem for tty5. In the list in Setup in KPPP, it only goes up to tty3....

Thanks again for the help.

[Dodge]

Is there anyway to change this setting?

In modemconf it detects the modem as being on ttyS4 but in the list it only goes up to ttyS3 and it KPPP setup only goes to ttyS3 also. Is there any way to get everything to see ttyS4?

[ceh383]

These are the equivalents of the COM ports under DOS-Windows.

COM 1 - /dev/ttyS0
COM 2 - /dev/ttyS1
COM 3 - /dev/ttyS2
COM 4 - /dev/ttyS3

You can also use the /dev/modem device but this is only a link to the real device. To set this up you must create the link in the /dev directory with the following command at the prompt:

$ cd /dev ; ln -s ttyS2 modem

This will assign the modem device to COM 3.


You may be able to use this method to change it to ttyS2 or ttyS3. I would like to figure out how to make it install to either one of these with out having to go through this. I don't have a modem in my box, so I can't play around with it. :mad:

[janusz]

Dodge -

I thought that your modem looked familar . . . I have USR 2977 on my dual boot box (WinXP and M-L 8.2). It uses the same software (2976/2977 drivers) so should work. Oh, and Mandrake identifies it as 5610 also.

Have you tried configuring the modem using the Mandrake Control Center? Should be desktop icon for it. Go to Network & Internet and use the Wizard - or you can do it manually.

I don't think your difficulties have anything directly to do with the modem type, etc. -- it's just figuring out the configuration. I'm using KKKP. I remember having a bit of a problem getting mine configured due to lack of knowledge :) - a learning experience.

j

[Dodge]

Thanks you two. I'll work on this again this evening when I get up. To tired to mess with it right now....:D

I've seen alot of people asking about this type modem and linux and they all seem to be having the same problems. It shows it as being installed, shows up correctly in places. But just doesn't work....

I will get this figured out some how. I just bought the modema nd it works great, so i'm not ready to get another one....lol

Anyways, thank you all for the help. Let you know what happens later this evening...

[janusz]

That's a great modem. I have an earlier version in an older machine and it worked so well that I insisted on the same model for my dual-boot box.

Again, you might try manual or wizard setup in the Control Center.

[janusz]

I don't know where you are trying to set up an internet connection but you might find this useful:

How to hook up PPP in Linux
http://www.theory.physics.ubc.ca/ppp-linux.html


Instead of using the Control Center you might go through the manual process here. It is sure to get you online!!

[Dodge]

Finally got it going. I tried using the commands you all gave in earlier post but nothing was working. Kept getting bad command etc.... So I finally decided to format and install again. Everything worked great then. I setup the modem ( which I figured out I was letting linux Auto detect the modem which was coming up with a WinModem) So Selected Expert and was able to set it up fine.

With this install I have actual commands working, and more options. I chose the same Packages, but I used my Cdrw drive to install this time. I think I am having some Intermediate problems with my Cdrom drive. Could have been causing alot of the problems I have been having lately anyways.

So thank you all for all the help with getting this thing going. It is connecting every time from 33.6 to 36 which is excellant for these crappy phone lines around here.

[janusz]

Yup. I've reinstalled a few times myself when I screwed things up beyond my comprehension! ;)

Glad you're up and running!

j

[Dodge]

All I can figure is that nothing was working due to certain things being missing. Had the same problem in windows a few times. Reinstall usually helps. I figured things were missing cause you and CEH were listing commands and stuff that just wasn't working. Now they do.

Also, The Internet Wizard wasn't there. I had KPPP listed, but nothing you can do with it without extra help. Atleast it all seems to be installed correctly now.


Thanks again to both of you.

[janusz]

Like I said, it's an experience. For me it was like learning DOS and Win 3.x all over again! :)

Tips:
A. Do you have your internet connection automated - such that you just click on the icon and it connects or does the box pop up and then you select 'connect'??

You can set it up a new shortcut to dial auto after clicking on icon by:

1. Rt click desktop and select 'Create New...' then 'link to application'
2. General tab: Enter what you will call this shortcut: IP2 or whatever. Also note that if you click on icon button you can change it.
3. Execute tab, enter this: kppp -c yourIPname (note space after kppp and -c)
4. Ok

Now you can use either shortcut.

B. Suggestion. What I do is keep detailed notes (text file) on things that I change or modify. It has proven to be helpful more than once when I forgot what I the heck I did!!! It's an age thing. :)


Janusz
Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.

[Dodge]

Thanks, I was wondering how to do that. Will get it setup now.

I agree with you on the learning part. Even though I'm not much on Dos or Win/3.1... I started with 95 which I have a basic knowledge of Dos. But this is just like learning Windows. There isn't really any difference. Didn;'t know anything about Windows when I started with it. So this should prove to be the same.

[Dodge]

Directions are just a tad different in 9.1, but it worked correctly first time. Thanks. That is much easier than going through all the menus...