Wired Pig's World

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Linux Install Notes

I have installed two distro's of Linux on my Toshiba Satellite M45-S265 laptop. Both installations went smoothly. The 1st distro was openSuSE 10.1 and the 2nd was Ubuntu.

At this point I need to say that I have installed Linux before. I started with Mandrake and Red Hat about 5 years ago. At the time I wasn't thrilled with either. To me there was something missing and it just didn't feel quite right. And I would have most likely kept Ubuntu on my system the 1st time I installed it had I been able to get it working as quickly as I wanted.

With the laptop I installed both distros on I had a few sound and networking issues to try and iron out. That issue, both sound and networking, was cleared up with boot commands. I'm not sure if boot command is the correct term or not. Basically its the line where GRUB or what not loads the kernel and you can edit the line and add switches and commands to it.

When I booted from the SuSE 10.1 install DVD (I used the NON-OSS DVD) I added the option:
  • pci=noapic

When I booted from the live cd for Ubuntu (obtained from Linux Format Magazine 9/06) I added the option:

  • pci=noacpi
  • I tried the pci=noapic but Ubuntu doesn't recognize that option.

This is AFTER I hunted down the options listed above and used some that really caused the kernel to panic.

The only additional edits I made prior to booting was to set the VGA to 1024 by 768. I did this to keep the screen from freezing during the Ubuntu install. So I did it for all of my boots for the live cd's and install cd/dvd.

Without adding the option for Ubuntu you will still get a good install and everything will look like its running fine. However, under Ubuntu you will not get past the login screen - there it will freeze. Under Kubunto you can get all the way into the KDE Desktop, but sound and networking are intermittent, slow or just not there. I have not tried Xubuntu.

When installing from the Ubuntu Live CD, configure your network cards from the live CD and then install. Your settings will be carried over into the install and you will be able to get updates as you install.

The SuSE install was the same way. The only difference was the Gnome and KDE desktops loaded but networking and sound were bad. Adding the option at boot fixed the issues and it ran well.

I decided on Ubuntu for the HUGE community support. I like both distros and would happily use SuSE.

Summary: With the proper boot options, both distributions install easily and work great "Out of the Box". The way any OS install should be.

I should be Windows Free shortly. Well except my MCE machine. I know there is KnoppMyth and MythTV. But I have a $200.00 Media Center Extender I don't want to just throw away. If anyone knows how to hack the MCE to get it to work with Linux, let me know.

posted by Glenn H at 9/06/2006 12:40:00 AM
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A peek into the mind of a techno cop... What is a techno cop? Easy... a cop that uses technology to do his job better, uses technology at home, and uses technology all the stinkin' time!

Wired Pig is a divorced and remarried retired cop with 5 kids... all girls. He likes computers (desktop, pocket, anything technical) and photography.

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