There are still a few compatibility issues related to 64-bit Linux primarily because of various closed-source vendors' lag in providing 64-bit versions of their programs. Notable examples of programs include Skype and Java. Taking into consideration the small market share, it will take patience.
For the most part the 64 bit OS has very little poularity with desk top users. While I think that Windows Vista 64 bit operates some apps many distros do not.
Most Mobo's won't recognise over something like 17 GB anyway and I cant think of a 32 bit os that recogognises over like 4 GB RAM. In fact, many distro's wont read over 3.5 GB and windows 32 bit OS's I think only actually reads something like 3.2 GB in actual RAM.
Basically, Unless you plan on running a server room that rivals the NASA Space Centre or some other series of apps of rediculously outrageuos complexity, You wont necessarily need a bunch of RAM and a 64 bit OS is bordering on pointless.
64 bit OS's are far superior to their 32 bit counter parts in at least some aspects, and in my view, people should drop the 32 bit OS and stop MFG. it altogether. Then again, I've seen some people say that they think the 64 bit stuff is just a glossy ploy.....Take your pick.
In the end, I think that 512 bit OS's will likely come into play many decades from now and while that is probably a long way off, I for one think the point is that as systems and software become more demanding, the need for things such as CTX mobo's, 512 bit OS's, 32 core CPU's, and cordless HDD's will become the norm, rather than the exception.
Of course most of what I mentioned does not even exist yet. YET. But of course in ten years the 32 bit OS will likely be as rare as the 128 MB RAM.
In five years or so, most even basic home computers will become lightning fast. This will likely depend on the 64 bit archteture more and more.
Steve...Williams Wrote: Hi ! For the most part the 64 bit OS has very little poularity with desk top users. I go back far enough to remember the PDP-DEC 10 which was a 64 bit supercomputer housed in a large air conditioned room serviced by a highly trained staff of technicians. Must university students interacted with this monster by stuffing in punched cards and then waiting near their little cubblie hole for a print out. I find it pleasing that I now have the same computer power ( and thanks to Linux nearly the same system ) sitting on my bed in the form of a laptop!
As long as I'm pointing out odd things about my 1420n I also found out it has a seperate partition on the hard drive for a Windows install, when the only thing Mirocsoft has on this machine is the Windows logo button on the keyboard! I figure the partition is there for the same reason people have an appendix, a legacy of things past no longer needed.
"Most Mobo's won't recognise over something like 17 GB anyway and I cant think of a 32 bit os that recogognises over like 4 GB RAM. In fact, many distro's wont read over 3.5 GB and windows 32 bit OS's I think only actually reads something like 3.2 GB in actual RAM."
If you compile your own kernel, in the HIGHMEM options, you'll find that Linux supports PAE (Page Address Extensions) which support a 64GiB address space on 32bit.
Distro's like SuSE have shipped a "bigsmp" kernel for years, which was installed if you have multi-processor, but now thanks to SMP alternatives, is only needed if you want to acess 4GiB physical RAM or more. In practice this actually supports 8GiB RAM, before over issues interfere.
64bit OS, comes at a price, the doubling of pointer sizes, which increases the size of programs, thus memory bloat effects reduce the advantages of AMD 64's larger number of registers, and cleaned up architecture.
On my AMD 64 box with 4GiB, I generally run the 32bit Linux, which despite PAE is only very slightly slower than AMD 64 version, and PAE can be avoided by installing a default kernel, at cost of making some of the physical RAM unaddressable (due to hardware like graphics card mapping it's memory into the 4GiB address space).
As for the compatability issues, the distro's let you run 32bit binaries on AMD64, but there are problems with the 64bit wrappers for 32bit plugins, that would go away completely if Vendors recompiled for 64bit Linux.
All in all, for desktop use, even with a huge amount of RAM, the 32bit Linux is fine, but the enthusiast can do most things installing 64bit.
Furthermore if you run x86_64, you can install Virtual Box, and then install 32bit Linux for maximum compatability with dodgy websites.
Message Edited by RobRunsLinux on 12-13-2007 08:56 AM
Dell do a BIOS, it can screw up things like ACPI, by using M$'s compiler which accepts invalid code. But that normally isn't very important on desktop.
Linux, uses the hardware directly, that means it can re-tweak things to run well. So I'd be rather interested to see how they'd make the hardware "Windows" only.
I read your note with great interest, and I learned a great deal. I am facsinated by the fact I can put four 8 GB DDR 2's in this thing and never reach its full potential.
That's insane.
I see what you meant compiling for 64 bit and these issues will go awy completely, which I in favour of BTW, however I am in a pickle. Dell is obviously 'tweaking' their mobos to run on a specific OS {Windows P.O.S. in my case} and I am having a bad time gitting linux to run on my AMD Athlon 64 BTX mobo.
I just recieved an email stating I should consider selling it on EBay to get out from under a box that simply does not work.
Is there a way you can help me ?????
I really don't want to sell my Dell ! - But I will !!
Do you know of a way I can remove these 'tweaks' from the mobo ?
Dell customise BIOS but as Linux won't use it when running, it's only the ACPI code which should ought to cause any problems, and that is not a show stopper on desktop.
In years, I have never heard of someone having to change a MOBO because of "tweaking" for Windows. You should be more specific about the issues you have running Linux, in a thread, and then we'll see.
Both Windows XP/Vista & Linux are multi-tasking OS, optimisations for one are likely to be OK for the other. Linux does not use the BIOS code, once it has loaded, it may adjust timings and use it's own fixups.
Don't believe everything you hear. Boot up a LIVE CD and see what hardware is recognised, whether there's errors (in dmesg output), you should be able to copy logs into web email to save them, even if you can't figure out how to save the files to disk.
Dell do a BIOS, it can screw up things like ACPI, by using M$'s compiler which accepts invalid code. But that normally isn't very important on desktop.
Please clarify "Dell do a BIOS,..." I'm not able to make sense of this - Sorry.
I spoke to a Dell tech a few days ago and he aknowledged that Dell does do their "tweaks" to their BTX, but he prefers the word "Optimize" to run on Windows {in this case}....
I am being told by people that all OEM's tweak thier mobo's and I will have trouble running the Linux OS on it no matter what, unless I switch the mobo to something else.
I really need a resolution to this issue. Windows is junk and I really am in a situation where I need to switch to linux.....
DreamLinux recognises ALL my hard ware. {Except onboard sound} but I get horrible boot errors like fsck died with exit status 8. press control D to continue on MMGL.
MME works almost perfect {except now it won't reinstall on the HDD cuz of me dirtying the HDD.}
UBUNTU 7.04 freezes the entire computer up from the live CD and does nothing all
Windows vista crashed 22 times +...
I have been told that anytime you try to run linux on a computer that you did not build your self, your gonna have problems. Several folks have said this to me.
Linux is not simply installing and running, It is giving me all sorts of errors. I've lost six months of trying to fix it, But I am NOT a knowledgeable person when it comes to computers. I did not buy it to tinker with. I simply want to install it and be done with it...
I have written a 39 page book on all the errors I'm getting and I'm not any closer to a resolution. I've replaced nearly every piece of hardware in this thing except the mobo fan and power supply, and nothing.
I don't know the fisrt thing about computers, so I've spent like six hundred bucks on a part here and there cuz each peson I asked has said it must be this specificic part or another says it is that specific part till my mobo is now full. I've got a small server going here. Thats great, But my server does not work, at all.
Between windows and Linux I have nearly 100 installs.
Now DreamLinux MME does not install at all cuz a suggestion ruined my HDD, and I have no idea how to fix it.
As far as me not believing what I hear, Why am I being told that any time I buy a OEM computer , I am gonna have problems with running Linux on it ?
Also, do you wish for me to print all 39 pages of my book here ??
It should only take a few weeks or so...
Thank you !
Steve
Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit
Also, the information must go THROUGH something. Like a path. This is where the issue seems to be, in that path.
Thank you !
Steve
Message Edited by Steve...Williams on 12-14-2007 06:21 PM
"I have been told that anytime you try to run linux on a computer that you did not build your self, your gonna have problems. Several folks have said this to me."
Those ppl don't know what they're talking about. You really think, business would use Linux so much if that were true?
What I think is that you've got some dodgy hardware. You should be running RAM tester and burning it in.
Also asking yourself if those ppl informating you have a motive for suggesting that "the hardware is good for Windows but not Linux (or Vista) for some vague mystical reason".
Don't know what MME is. But find the "linux stability guide", try out memtest86+ and see if it's bad RAM. Ubuntu 7.04 is well out of date, having boot problems off install CD's is not that uncommon, turning off ACPI or trying "nodma" to get through install often works.
If Vista is crashing, that's probably because it's using more of your RAM, just like Linux will.
Rather than wasting your time installing stuff and hoping it works, actually find and run some good diagnostic hardware. Do it quick before your warranty runs out.
It is amazing that you hit the nail on the head. You are correct in ways that, given my particular situation, you don't fully understand. So allow me to clarify.
I know that the people under me {My users}, are not telling me these things for a reason beyond the fact that these are the experiences they've ecountered. You can contact Eric at www.itcamefromtheinternet.com/ and talk to him a little about this. On the other hand, Dell has stated point blank that the mother board won't support Linux and a few days ago Dell told me that they do "Optimize" their mobos {for a specific OS}. Yes there is some motive on Dells part. Dell refuses to sell me a mobo that is made for a UBUNTU OS BTW. Dells motive here is for me to stay with what the unit was built with. To them, I am a slave to their will. They've got my money, so why am I being such a sore loser ? After all, I got punked. Now I just need to go away. Thing is Rob, I ain't going away. I won't ever go away. I hate to lose. Dell simply doesn't have my best interests at heart - I keep getting told "We don't support that." Also, Dell uses the lame excuse that I bought my Dell at a store. It does not matter to them that Dell built it. Dell got one half of the money, and the store got the other half of the money I paid for this computer, and Dell is NOT about to give up a single dollar out of Dells half to fix something they built in the first place. So I'm in limbo. There is in effect, ABSOLUTELY NO DELL WARRENTY. Express or implied. I spent 8000 minutes on the phone with them asking them to fix it. 66 phone calls. Nope.
As far as the few mom and pop op's and big name stores that have said these things about my box, they are computer monkeys. they get paid big money to pop a cd in the tray. These fellas don't know a command line from a hole in the ground. I refuse to pay them my money.
I have no idea where to get or how to use a ram tester. but I can tell you that I went to Comp USA and bought a 320 GB Western digital HDD to put DreamLinux MME on. after some guy at LUG told me to repartition my HDD to have /home on it and do a reinstall {which I did so, Stupid me} It stopped working all together. BTW: In case it helps, ALL these issues occur with NO add on hardware other than the add on HDD. With Windows, it crashes with or without the add on HDD. {2 seperate HDD's here VISTA AND MME}...
I absolutely feel you on your point about Linux at businesses. You are totally correct. Guys like Dell and HP sell machines that run on Linux all the time, Did so long before Windows Junk ever existed. But Dell is NOT about to stand behing what they veiw as a 500 USD box {Dell specifically said this to me, and said that if I bought an XPS that would be different} and therefore I am stuck with what it has. In some ways, I am like a Pella window, I am veiwed to be a bum.
Dell makes great computers, and I am thrilled with my Dell computer, But M$ is junkware and Dells treatment of me is Slavery on a good day. Once again, I am trapped. I can totally understand your defensive position of Dell and Linux. With out a doubt. And in no way do I mean to insight a riot. But the facts are the facts. And the fact is Rob, I need a solution.
You are also correct that Windows is a memory hog. I believe that it is trying to compete with the memory intensive apps I run. Will this cause it to crash ? Possibly so. But I no longer trust the Windows Operating System, so I am not about to find out.
A note to Rob, Admins, and Mods:
Before yo kick me off the forum, please consider this--->
I simply stated the facts.
Not all facts are stated here cuz they are quite grusome {it makes Dell look very very bad here}
I only stated what was absolutely necessary to get the help I need. Nothing more.
Once this recieves a few replies, You are free to edit it as you wish. Ony rob andI need to know whats on it. - Right ?
Thank you.
Steve
Message Edited by Steve...Williams on 12-15-2007 01:10 PM
"DreamLinux recognises ALL my hard ware. {Except onboard sound} but I get horrible boot errors like fsck died with exit status 8. press control D to continue on MMGL."
Never tried out "Dream Linux" but ...
According to fsck(8), Status 8- Operational error
I'd suspect something like that your device names had changed, so the file system that was meant to be checked is not present in system.
Most onboard sound AC97 is based on the Intel spec and works fully. There's likely a configuration step required post-install.
Why don't you try and find a local LUG (Linux User Group)? There'll probably be someone who could take a look and trouble shoot.
Message Edited by RobRunsLinux on 12-15-2007 06:25 PM
memtest86+ is a FOSS program that tests memory, it gets included in Live CDs made for sysadmins who check out hardware. It's Free.
Dell Diagnostics may be on the harddisk, in a DOS partition.
I'm running a Dell box with Linux, it's made for "Vista" but it's even got certified - http://developer.novell.com/yes/91887.htm
I had no problem with Dell support, when their BIOS 1.0.8 caused me problems with ACPI (including 2nd Core recognition). Obviously showing an impressive looking "certificate" on a web page, which reeks of partner and strategic deals, lessons the chance you'll get told "we don't support that".
Fact is, if you look at Distrowatch.com; you'll find Live CD's like Knoppix, that ppl use to convert "any PC" into a useful Linux box, by simply booting it. Also there's lots of articles about booting from USB memory key's into Linux, and carrying your own Linux box around with you.
So it just ain't true that Linux won't run on normal hardware. I've taken a look at the "Linux Incompatability" base today, and none of the things yo u mentioned before were in it. So I really think you have a machine which just seems to work with XP or whatever, but Linux & Vista soon expose the flaws.
If it is bad RAM, and you don't get any joy, there's even a patch available for Linux kernel, to stop it using that page, bit like a bad block list on a hard drive.
On the Dell Linux PCs I noted they weren't offering the 19 in 1 card readers, on Linux; perhaps it's not "supported". Well actually in practice, I've found the flash memory device handling operates better in Linux, Vista doesn't always "safely remove" the device, risking the data held on it.
The big distro's like Red Hat have huge hardware compatability lists, containing devices which are supported. That does not mean you can't be unlucky and find that a PCI disk controller you own, has bugs in a current kernel driver version or some such. It does mean there's usually a version that does work, or a kernel hacker is able to fix it, once the problem is clearly reported.
The problem areas today, are mostly in certain Wireless cards, which suffer from similar issues that the "Winmodems" had years ago.
Um I'm not sure how to do every thing you've mentioned, but I will run them down one by one.
I will order Knoppix ASAP.
Please be aware that due to Warrenty issues {that Dell says I don't have BTW}, I am putting Linux on a seperate HDD from the Windows Vista HDD that came installed.....
Is Knoppis an OS ?
If yes, can I install DreamLinux or other OS without it reverting back to it's bad behaviour ?
The LUG guy is the one who told me to repartition my HDD, When I did, the box stopped working. I won't give up though.
Also, My BTX has an amd CPU. You mentioned something about Intel in yoiur last post. Will this make the difference ??
I went to the novell site ans saw that the Insperon 531 is certified to run on Linux {10.3 to be exact}, is there such a thing for the Dimension E 521 with th amd CPU too ?
Thank you
Steve
Message Edited by Steve...Williams on 12-15-2007 01:42 PM
Message Edited by Steve...Williams on 12-15-2007 01:55 PM
dasunst3r
80 Posts
0
December 7th, 2007 22:00
Steve...William
20 Posts
0
December 12th, 2007 04:00
For the most part the 64 bit OS has very little poularity with desk top users. While I think that Windows Vista 64 bit operates some apps many distros do not.
Most Mobo's won't recognise over something like 17 GB anyway and I cant think of a 32 bit os that recogognises over like 4 GB RAM. In fact, many distro's wont read over 3.5 GB and windows 32 bit OS's I think only actually reads something like 3.2 GB in actual RAM.
Basically, Unless you plan on running a server room that rivals the NASA Space Centre or some other series of apps of rediculously outrageuos complexity, You wont necessarily need a bunch of RAM and a 64 bit OS is bordering on pointless.
64 bit OS's are far superior to their 32 bit counter parts in at least some aspects, and in my view, people should drop the 32 bit OS and stop MFG. it altogether. Then again, I've seen some people say that they think the 64 bit stuff is just a glossy ploy.....Take your pick.
In the end, I think that 512 bit OS's will likely come into play many decades from now and while that is probably a long way off, I for one think the point is that as systems and software become more demanding, the need for things such as CTX mobo's, 512 bit OS's, 32 core CPU's, and cordless HDD's will become the norm, rather than the exception.
Of course most of what I mentioned does not even exist yet. YET. But of course in ten years the 32 bit OS will likely be as rare as the 128 MB RAM.
In five years or so, most even basic home computers will become lightning fast. This will likely depend on the 64 bit archteture more and more.
Steve
Steve...William
20 Posts
0
December 13th, 2007 02:00
A legacy of things past that are no longer needed
That's why I switched to Linux !! ;-}
natehall
6 Posts
0
December 13th, 2007 02:00
RobRunsLinux
63 Posts
0
December 13th, 2007 06:00
"Most Mobo's won't recognise over something like 17 GB anyway and I cant think of a 32 bit os that recogognises over like 4 GB RAM. In fact, many distro's wont read over 3.5 GB and windows 32 bit OS's I think only actually reads something like 3.2 GB in actual RAM."
If you compile your own kernel, in the HIGHMEM options, you'll find that Linux supports PAE (Page Address Extensions) which support a 64GiB address space on 32bit.
Distro's like SuSE have shipped a "bigsmp" kernel for years, which was installed if you have multi-processor, but now thanks to SMP alternatives, is only needed if you want to acess 4GiB physical RAM or more. In practice this actually supports 8GiB RAM, before over issues interfere.
64bit OS, comes at a price, the doubling of pointer sizes, which increases the size of programs, thus memory bloat effects reduce the advantages of AMD 64's larger number of registers, and cleaned up architecture.
On my AMD 64 box with 4GiB, I generally run the 32bit Linux, which despite PAE is only very slightly slower than AMD 64 version, and PAE can be avoided by installing a default kernel, at cost of making some of the physical RAM unaddressable (due to hardware like graphics card mapping it's memory into the 4GiB address space).
As for the compatability issues, the distro's let you run 32bit binaries on AMD64, but there are problems with the 64bit wrappers for 32bit plugins, that would go away completely if Vendors recompiled for 64bit Linux.
All in all, for desktop use, even with a huge amount of RAM, the 32bit Linux is fine, but the enthusiast can do most things installing 64bit.
Furthermore if you run x86_64, you can install Virtual Box, and then install 32bit Linux for maximum compatability with dodgy websites.
Message Edited by RobRunsLinux on 12-13-2007 08:56 AM
RobRunsLinux
63 Posts
0
December 13th, 2007 16:00
Linux, uses the hardware directly, that means it can re-tweak things to run well. So I'd be rather interested to see how they'd make the hardware "Windows" only.
Steve...William
20 Posts
0
December 13th, 2007 16:00
I read your note with great interest, and I learned a great deal. I am facsinated by the fact I can put four 8 GB DDR 2's in this thing and never reach its full potential.
That's insane.
I see what you meant compiling for 64 bit and these issues will go awy completely, which I in favour of BTW, however I am in a pickle. Dell is obviously 'tweaking' their mobos to run on a specific OS {Windows P.O.S. in my case} and I am having a bad time gitting linux to run on my AMD Athlon 64 BTX mobo.
I just recieved an email stating I should consider selling it on EBay to get out from under a box that simply does not work.
Is there a way you can help me ?????
I really don't want to sell my Dell ! - But I will !!
Do you know of a way I can remove these 'tweaks' from the mobo ?
Thanks !
Steve
RobRunsLinux
63 Posts
0
December 14th, 2007 13:00
In years, I have never heard of someone having to change a MOBO because of "tweaking" for Windows. You should be more specific about the issues you have running Linux, in a thread, and then we'll see.
Both Windows XP/Vista & Linux are multi-tasking OS, optimisations for one are likely to be OK for the other. Linux does not use the BIOS code, once it has loaded, it may adjust timings and use it's own fixups.
Don't believe everything you hear. Boot up a LIVE CD and see what hardware is recognised, whether there's errors (in dmesg output), you should be able to copy logs into web email to save them, even if you can't figure out how to save the files to disk.
Steve...William
20 Posts
0
December 14th, 2007 13:00
quote:
Dell do a BIOS, it can screw up things like ACPI, by using M$'s compiler which accepts invalid code. But that normally isn't very important on desktop.
Please clarify "Dell do a BIOS,..." I'm not able to make sense of this - Sorry.
I spoke to a Dell tech a few days ago and he aknowledged that Dell does do their "tweaks" to their BTX, but he prefers the word "Optimize" to run on Windows {in this case}....
I am being told by people that all OEM's tweak thier mobo's and I will have trouble running the Linux OS on it no matter what, unless I switch the mobo to something else.
I really need a resolution to this issue. Windows is junk and I really am in a situation where I need to switch to linux.....
Thanx !
Steve
Steve...William
20 Posts
0
December 14th, 2007 15:00
DreamLinux recognises ALL my hard ware. {Except onboard sound} but I get horrible boot errors like fsck died with exit status 8. press control D to continue on MMGL.
MME works almost perfect {except now it won't reinstall on the HDD cuz of me dirtying the HDD.}
UBUNTU 7.04 freezes the entire computer up from the live CD and does nothing all
Windows vista crashed 22 times +...
I have been told that anytime you try to run linux on a computer that you did not build your self, your gonna have problems. Several folks have said this to me.
Linux is not simply installing and running, It is giving me all sorts of errors. I've lost six months of trying to fix it, But I am NOT a knowledgeable person when it comes to computers. I did not buy it to tinker with. I simply want to install it and be done with it...
I have written a 39 page book on all the errors I'm getting and I'm not any closer to a resolution. I've replaced nearly every piece of hardware in this thing except the mobo fan and power supply, and nothing.
I don't know the fisrt thing about computers, so I've spent like six hundred bucks on a part here and there cuz each peson I asked has said it must be this specificic part or another says it is that specific part till my mobo is now full. I've got a small server going here. Thats great, But my server does not work, at all.
Between windows and Linux I have nearly 100 installs.
Now DreamLinux MME does not install at all cuz a suggestion ruined my HDD, and I have no idea how to fix it.
As far as me not believing what I hear, Why am I being told that any time I buy a OEM computer , I am gonna have problems with running Linux on it ?
Also, do you wish for me to print all 39 pages of my book here ??
It should only take a few weeks or so...
Thank you !
Steve
Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit
Also, the information must go THROUGH something. Like a path. This is where the issue seems to be, in that path.
Thank you !
Steve
Message Edited by Steve...Williams on 12-14-2007 06:21 PM
RobRunsLinux
63 Posts
0
December 15th, 2007 07:00
Those ppl don't know what they're talking about. You really think, business would use Linux so much if that were true?
What I think is that you've got some dodgy hardware. You should be running RAM tester and burning it in.
Also asking yourself if those ppl informating you have a motive for suggesting that "the hardware is good for Windows but not Linux (or Vista) for some vague mystical reason".
Don't know what MME is. But find the "linux stability guide", try out memtest86+ and see if it's bad RAM. Ubuntu 7.04 is well out of date, having boot problems off install CD's is not that uncommon, turning off ACPI or trying "nodma" to get through install often works.
If Vista is crashing, that's probably because it's using more of your RAM, just like Linux will.
Rather than wasting your time installing stuff and hoping it works, actually find and run some good diagnostic hardware. Do it quick before your warranty runs out.
Steve...William
20 Posts
0
December 15th, 2007 13:00
It is amazing that you hit the nail on the head. You are correct in ways that, given my particular situation, you don't fully understand. So allow me to clarify.
I know that the people under me {My users}, are not telling me these things for a reason beyond the fact that these are the experiences they've ecountered. You can contact Eric at www.itcamefromtheinternet.com/ and talk to him a little about this. On the other hand, Dell has stated point blank that the mother board won't support Linux and a few days ago Dell told me that they do "Optimize" their mobos {for a specific OS}. Yes there is some motive on Dells part. Dell refuses to sell me a mobo that is made for a UBUNTU OS BTW. Dells motive here is for me to stay with what the unit was built with. To them, I am a slave to their will. They've got my money, so why am I being such a sore loser ? After all, I got punked. Now I just need to go away. Thing is Rob, I ain't going away. I won't ever go away. I hate to lose. Dell simply doesn't have my best interests at heart - I keep getting told "We don't support that." Also, Dell uses the lame excuse that I bought my Dell at a store. It does not matter to them that Dell built it. Dell got one half of the money, and the store got the other half of the money I paid for this computer, and Dell is NOT about to give up a single dollar out of Dells half to fix something they built in the first place. So I'm in limbo. There is in effect, ABSOLUTELY NO DELL WARRENTY. Express or implied. I spent 8000 minutes on the phone with them asking them to fix it. 66 phone calls. Nope.
As far as the few mom and pop op's and big name stores that have said these things about my box, they are computer monkeys. they get paid big money to pop a cd in the tray. These fellas don't know a command line from a hole in the ground. I refuse to pay them my money.
I have no idea where to get or how to use a ram tester. but I can tell you that I went to Comp USA and bought a 320 GB Western digital HDD to put DreamLinux MME on. after some guy at LUG told me to repartition my HDD to have /home on it and do a reinstall {which I did so, Stupid me} It stopped working all together. BTW: In case it helps, ALL these issues occur with NO add on hardware other than the add on HDD. With Windows, it crashes with or without the add on HDD. {2 seperate HDD's here VISTA AND MME}...
I absolutely feel you on your point about Linux at businesses. You are totally correct. Guys like Dell and HP sell machines that run on Linux all the time, Did so long before Windows Junk ever existed. But Dell is NOT about to stand behing what they veiw as a 500 USD box {Dell specifically said this to me, and said that if I bought an XPS that would be different} and therefore I am stuck with what it has. In some ways, I am like a Pella window, I am veiwed to be a bum.
Dell makes great computers, and I am thrilled with my Dell computer, But M$ is junkware and Dells treatment of me is Slavery on a good day. Once again, I am trapped. I can totally understand your defensive position of Dell and Linux. With out a doubt. And in no way do I mean to insight a riot. But the facts are the facts. And the fact is Rob, I need a solution.
You are also correct that Windows is a memory hog. I believe that it is trying to compete with the memory intensive apps I run. Will this cause it to crash ? Possibly so. But I no longer trust the Windows Operating System, so I am not about to find out.
A note to Rob, Admins, and Mods:
Before yo kick me off the forum, please consider this--->
I simply stated the facts.
Not all facts are stated here cuz they are quite grusome {it makes Dell look very very bad here}
I only stated what was absolutely necessary to get the help I need. Nothing more.
Once this recieves a few replies, You are free to edit it as you wish. Ony rob andI need to know whats on it. - Right ?
Thank you.
Steve
Message Edited by Steve...Williams on 12-15-2007 01:10 PM
RobRunsLinux
63 Posts
0
December 15th, 2007 16:00
Never tried out "Dream Linux" but ...
According to fsck(8), Status 8- Operational error
I'd suspect something like that your device names had changed, so the file system that was meant to be checked is not present in system.
Most onboard sound AC97 is based on the Intel spec and works fully. There's likely a configuration step required post-install.
Why don't you try and find a local LUG (Linux User Group)? There'll probably be someone who could take a look and trouble shoot.
Message Edited by RobRunsLinux on 12-15-2007 06:25 PM
RobRunsLinux
63 Posts
0
December 15th, 2007 16:00
Dell Diagnostics may be on the harddisk, in a DOS partition.
I'm running a Dell box with Linux, it's made for "Vista" but it's even got certified - http://developer.novell.com/yes/91887.htm
I had no problem with Dell support, when their BIOS 1.0.8 caused me problems with ACPI (including 2nd Core recognition). Obviously showing an impressive looking "certificate" on a web page, which reeks of partner and strategic deals, lessons the chance you'll get told "we don't support that".
Fact is, if you look at Distrowatch.com; you'll find Live CD's like Knoppix, that ppl use to convert "any PC" into a useful Linux box, by simply booting it. Also there's lots of articles about booting from USB memory key's into Linux, and carrying your own Linux box around with you.
So it just ain't true that Linux won't run on normal hardware. I've taken a look at the "Linux Incompatability" base today, and none of the things yo u mentioned before were in it. So I really think you have a machine which just seems to work with XP or whatever, but Linux & Vista soon expose the flaws.
If it is bad RAM, and you don't get any joy, there's even a patch available for Linux kernel, to stop it using that page, bit like a bad block list on a hard drive.
On the Dell Linux PCs I noted they weren't offering the 19 in 1 card readers, on Linux; perhaps it's not "supported". Well actually in practice, I've found the flash memory device handling operates better in Linux, Vista doesn't always "safely remove" the device, risking the data held on it.
The big distro's like Red Hat have huge hardware compatability lists, containing devices which are supported. That does not mean you can't be unlucky and find that a PCI disk controller you own, has bugs in a current kernel driver version or some such. It does mean there's usually a version that does work, or a kernel hacker is able to fix it, once the problem is clearly reported.
The problem areas today, are mostly in certain Wireless cards, which suffer from similar issues that the "Winmodems" had years ago.
Steve...William
20 Posts
0
December 15th, 2007 17:00
The next LUG meeting is on the 5th {SAt. ?}...
Um I'm not sure how to do every thing you've mentioned, but I will run them down one by one.
I will order Knoppix ASAP.
Please be aware that due to Warrenty issues {that Dell says I don't have BTW}, I am putting Linux on a seperate HDD from the Windows Vista HDD that came installed.....
Is Knoppis an OS ?
If yes, can I install DreamLinux or other OS without it reverting back to it's bad behaviour ?
The LUG guy is the one who told me to repartition my HDD, When I did, the box stopped working. I won't give up though.
Also, My BTX has an amd CPU. You mentioned something about Intel in yoiur last post. Will this make the difference ??
I went to the novell site ans saw that the Insperon 531 is certified to run on Linux {10.3 to be exact}, is there such a thing for the Dimension E 521 with th amd CPU too ?
Thank you
Steve
Message Edited by Steve...Williams on 12-15-2007 01:42 PM
Message Edited by Steve...Williams on 12-15-2007 01:55 PM