Linux install problems on WebPC

Question

From reading messages on this Forum, I see that others have been able to get a version of Linux installed on their WebPCs. But I have tried just about all of the Linux flavors without success. The stumbling block seems to be the WebPC's USB Keyboard and USB Mouse. The Linux install always seems to hang when it tries to access the USB devices. I have tried playing with the WebPC BIOS options without success.

This is what I happens on each version of Linux that I have tried:

SUSE: Hangs on "activating USB devices"

Mandrake: Hangs after the Language Selection screen

Slackware: Hangs after I select the keyboard map

Fedora: Hangs after /sbin/loader

Debian "Woody": I get the furthest and am able to install Linux in text mode. However, when I try to start X-Windows, I get messages that my hsync and vrefresh are out of range. I used the data from the Dell 1401FP spec to enter into the install.

I have spent several days trying to get Linux to work. Can somebody who has been able to install Linux successfully let me know what the magic receipe is.

thanks

MadThinker · Answer

Try PS2 keyboard and mouse for the installation then after you install drivers for the other keyboard and mouse you can use them.

wleejsl · Answer

There are no PS/2 ports for either the keyboard or the mouse on the WebPC.  The WebPC only has USB ports for attachment of keyboard and mouse.

apbech0 · Answer

I have been able to install Gentoo Linux. I don't have the original keyboard or mouse and usb devices were not a stumbling block for me. I did have trouble when I originally attempted to install Debian, it would finish the install proces but it would die during boot at the Real Time Clock Driver. I use it as server so I have never bothered installing X-Windows.

Sorry this message is not more informative. Maybe you should try booting the WebPC with the most recent version of Knoppix or the most recent Gentoo LiveCD and use the xconfig files they create?

Techman76 · Answer

wleejsl,

If you use the Dell Keyboard to install any distro of Linux than you will have problem because that keyboard is not fully supported under certain Linux distro (aka Mandrake Linux) the best thing to do is buy another keyboard. You can get you the Logitech Internet Navigator keyboard for your PC and you should be able to successfully install Linux distro of yor choice on your PC you can go to Mandrake Linux (www.mandrakelinux.com) and visit the Supported Hardware page that should be give you some ideas of which keyboards or other hardware will support the Mandrake Linux but only if you install the Mandrake Linux on your PC.

Message Edited by Techman76 on 01-03-2005 09:12 AM

worthog · Answer

I am having a similar problem. Recent Knoppix, Feora Core 2, Fedora Core 1, Linux BBC, all fail to install. I amtrying to set this up for my four-year-old daughter to play with and hopefully, it's just the type of keyboard! I will try it tonight!

worthog · Answer

Fedora hangs after /sbin/loader, as the parent post stated. I forget where Knoppix and BBC lost it. I guessed it had to do with the USB keyboard--and that suspicion is borne out by the other posters on this forum. Even a regular Win98SE install CD hangs during the device driver load. My wife just got a Logitech USB keyboard and I will try that on this thing tonight. What's weird is that the keyboard plays well enough to allow BIOS interaction and to enter choices at Fedora's install prompt.

apbech0 · Answer

worthog, At what point do various installs fail?

ke6ziu · Answer

I haven't been able to keep Fedora Core operational on my webpc. The install gets corrupted after awhile, and I don't like that. Fedora sees the keyboard and mouse (enable legacy usb support in the bios) no problem. It's just that the machine just refuses to run linux after 2-3 reboots...Why does this do that? I think that it just might be an o/s specific bios...any ideas?

ke6ziu · Answer

Oh, when I did install Debian, I got it to work from a command line, but the X server didn't want to recognise my usb devices. I ran the XF86config file to correct this, but it didn't like it. I even edited my initab file to enable the x server to start at boot up, but my usb devices didn't work under x...I think that it was just Debian...

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Linux install problems on WebPC

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