Fedora 4 on Dimension 9100

Question

Hi, Anyone tried/succeded in installing/running Fedora 4 on Dimension 9100 Desktop.. I was trying since yesterday, but could not get the 'X' running. When I tried to run X, the display(System) hangs. Here is my config.   Pentium D Processor 24 Inch WideScreen Flat Panel, ATI Radeon x600 256MB Display Card,   I tried to install in Graphical Mode where it hangs, then installed in Text mode. Got the latest drivers from ATI and installed. But installed with errors. I googled but got no solution. I guess the problem with Display Card, but have no idea how to overcome. Now I can run only in Text mode.   Your help is much appreciated.   Thanks.

dsbInspiron · Answer

Ok first just a couple of quick try solutions: Have you lowered your screen resolution when installing the graphical mode?

When you start the system up in text mode, what happens when you type in startx and press enter? You will probably need KDE or GNOME installed for it to work. If you installed either you can try startx kde or startx gnome.

"Got the latest drivers from ATI and installed. But installed with errors"

What kind of errors did you get?

prasad_86 · Answer

Thanks 'dsbInspiron' for your reply. I got installed at last. I could not install in graphical mode. I was trying FC4. I also had same problems which many people complained, like kernel panic, screen blank... Here are the steps I tried and succeded. At the boot prompt, type either 'linux noacpi text' or 'linux mediacheck text'(I saw this in one of the user forum). Install all the software then modified the /etc/inittab to run in init 3 mode. Boot to text mode, installed the latest(Released on 20th Aug 2005) ATI Drivers. Ran 'fglrxconfig' and set the screen resolution & other stuff. Rebooted the system & ran startx, GNOME is up. Changed the inittab back to 5. Change the display settings to adjust to your system. But I could not get 1920x1280 screen resolution, but got the 1792x1344, but that too a good resolution......... That's it, the system is running....

bdelgado · Answer

I got gnome working on my Dimension 9100 w/ Fedora core 4 this evening. So far so good. I have the ATI x600se card.

After installing Fedora, I booted into single user mode (pass the 'single' parameter as a boto option in /etc/grub.conf)

I edited /etc/inittab and set the initdefault to '3' from '5'. (To boot into text mode.)

I downloaded and installed the latest ATI driver (at this writing it is: ati-driver-installer-8.16.20-i386.run)

I ran the fglrxconfig command and took the defaults. Then I started the gui and it didn't hang anymore.

sinnud · Answer

I copy the following text from /etc/X11/xorg.conf and hope will help you :-)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Section "Modes"
Identifier "custom_fp"
Modeline "1600x1200" 154.00 1600 1704 1880 2160 1200 1201 1204 1240
# Modeline "1920x1200" 154.00 1920 2024 2200 2480 1200 1201 1204 1240
Modeline "1920x1200" 154.00 1920 2032 2240 2560 1200 1201 1204 1234
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
Option "IgnoreEDID" "True"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1920x1200" "1600x1200" "1400x1050" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

bdelgado · Answer

Ah yes. I forgot to mention the modifications to xorg.conf. That's a very important part of the solution. ;}

coolby · Answer

Hello, Guys, I tried to install FC 4 in my 9100 machine according to your guys's methods, It is partially successful, no NIC and GUI. Also I tried to install new nic driver from Intell, but I don't know how to cp this driver from cd to machine in text mode? Anyone could you tell us how to do it?  Many thanks,

dsbInspiron · Answer

Do you want it in text mode, or would you rather have a gui?  Installing and compiling drivers is by far much easier to do with a GUI.  If you tried to install a gui and got errors post them.

coolby · Answer

Hello, there,

At first, I tried to install FC in GUI, but It hanged there forever. Some users in this forum said it is because of ati radeon x600 display card. I need to update ati drivers. So I install it in text mode. Unluckly, the NIC didn't work either. Therefore, I need to install intell nic patches first.

I founs somebody can install FC in GUI, someone not in the same Dell Dimension 9100, why?

Thanks

bdelgado · Answer

The person who installed FC4 in gui probably doesn't have an x600, I would think.

If you need to copy files to the system in text mode, put them on a USB flash disk (which is what I did) or burn them on CD. I think they appear under /media once Fedora detects them.

Linux General

Fedora 4 on Dimension 9100

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