- This topic has 11 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated May 23-8:19 pm by Brian Masinick.
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RomanWolia
Hello. I’ve attempted an antix-19.4 full insallation. Unfortunately to no avail. By now I’ve hit a wall and not getting anywhere.
Target Hardware:
Fujitsu-Siemens, Pentium 4, intel w/ integrated graphics (matter of fact it’s an all Intel machine, hardware wise).
32bit, 2.8 Ghz, ~1+GB RAM; DVD drive; ~75 GB hard disk.
(no option to boot from USB in BIOS)Attempted OS Installation:
1-st attempt:
Preparations
a) Repartitioned the disk ahead of time.
b) Kept the home Partition from previous Linux (outdated Ubuntu install).
c) dedicated same partition for antix as root in which Ubuntu was installed.Additional clarifications
Since I’m new to antiX I wasn’t aware that the core-ISO wouldn’t have a graphical user interface at all. I simply assumed it was just stripped down on some applications. I wished for a full installation, but didn’t have a writable DVD handy. Antix-full wouldn’t fit on a CD and my old PC wouldn’t allow for a USB boot. So I tried the following, after some research, reading the F1 manual pages on the live CD and multiple tryouts.Installation
antiX-19.4_386-core 4.9.0-264 kernel installation from a Live-CD + USB with antix-19.4_386-full ISO
from=usb (F4 option to bootstrap a full installation).
To root partition (~ 18GB) within an extended ext3 partion (~ 25 GB).Yelded no successfully bootable system, unfortunately.
After install, while gowing down as well as at reboot, it showed some red error lines, of which I didn’t catch the content.
While rebooting it showed the new GRUB menu, but booted into a black screen and stopped there.Rebooting with the core Live-CD was possible but didn’t get me any further, since I didn’t know what to do.
So after a couple of days I decided I’ll retry. By this time I was able to get some writable DVDs.2-nd attempt:
Live-DVD of antiX-19.4_386-full 4.9.0-264 kernel ISO
added md5checksum option from F4 menu for the DVD – > check passed on boot.
Prior to that also checked the md5 and SHA256 of downloaded ISO against the txt files provided alongside it – turned out allright.During installation:
1) boot from full Live-DVD
2) login as root
3) started cli-installer
4) followed the instructions; chose my prepared root partition; chose the preexisting /home partition as a separate home-part.
5) Chose to install GRUB to MBR
6) Setup locales, keymap, computername, username, password and so on.
7) Did the reboot as promptedWhile the system was going down got an error line:
stopping X display manager slim: failedAfter reboot:
Got a GRUB screen and boot option for antix-19.4.
While booting at first there was text showing on screen. Looking at it I noticed a message saying something abouthostname missing(or invalid; ← not sure about the correct term)“. Then some lines below another red marked error line was given. Didn’t catch it the first time but after reboots i wrote it down:
[Error] startpar: service(s) returned failure: hostname.sh … faiied
After that one, more lines of code follow, which appear to be normal. Shortly after, the screen goes to black – nothing happens (by the looks of it, at least).The machine just sits there, I can’t use it and to shut it off I have to do a forced power-off using the on/off button.
I’ve already spent days trying to get it to work, searching and reading on the net. So far no success and no hints concernign the error messages mentioned above.
This is the most fitting result I found describing the bug/error.
Don’t know if or how the errors are related, what caused them, nor how to fix this.
Getting frustrated by now, feeling too stupid for something like a new OS installation.
Please advise on how to proceed in order to get as smoothly as possible a working system with a desktop / window manager environment.
Sorry if any of the info provided is superflous or not enough to the point. If needed I can later provide some pictures of the sreen during error code lines I made with my camera.
Much apreciated,
Roman.- This topic was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by RomanWolia. Reason: formatting
- This topic was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by RomanWolia. Reason: formatting
punranger
I’m not an expert by any means, but I wonder: Is there a particular reason you want/need to hold on to the separate home partition? Especially for a relatively small drive like that, I think I would boot up the DVD, and erase all previous partitions, and do a “normal” install on the whole hard drive, which I think is the default option. Seems to me that since you were able to complete all the steps mentioned, there might be a problem with the pre-existing partitions. I’ve done several such default installs on hardware like that, and never had the problem you describe. Another option is to let the installer handle the partitioning of root and home, instead of the ones you prepared yourself. Just my two cents…
antiX linux: The best way to revive an old computer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCTaUAP6sSg
iznit
Does /etc/hostname somehow not exist? If not then “sudo echo “somename > /etc/hostname” and see if that removes the error problem
May not be cause of immediate problem, but carryover partition from ubuntu may have your user home files owned by UID=1001 whereas antix expects userid:groupid to be 1000:1000 ?
Thank you very much for the replies.
@punranger: that whole harddrive install suggestion is definetly worth a thought. Might be the easiest and/or quickest workaround.
@iznit: where do I run this from – the command line / terminal of the live CD? Is the “somename” part supposed to be the computername I designated to my machine during install (instead of antiX1 default)? Or somename literally?
I’ve added the pictures of the error messages. This is what it looks on screen.
hostname: the specified hostname is invalid
You’ll find this line at the very top of the shot containing the hostname error.
Hopefully this gives you a precise enough picture of the problem.- This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by RomanWolia.
Ok, for some reason its not letting me to upload the pictures. Don’t know why. Even though they’re in sum total well below the size limit.
But I hope you’ve got what the issue is regardless.Does /etc/hostname somehow not exist? If not then “sudo echo “somename > /etc/hostname” and see if that removes the error problem
So I’ve run this command you suggested, from the antix-full live DVD:
sudo echo somename > /etc/hostname
as demo user it responds with “Permission denied”,
as root, it just gives me an empty input line with a blinking cursor. Not sure how to interpet this.- This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by RomanWolia.
Another attmpt:
I’ve repartitioned the hard disk with gparted. Get rid of the old /home partition. Made new root, swap and home partitions. Went throu the whole installation process again, using the text prompts of cli-installer as root from live DVD. No success.The very same error messages as described above (i.e. hostname invalid and stopping slim failed) sill come up at shutdown and reboot. And again a black screen at reboot.
Meanwhile I’ve checked out a few videos and noticed another deviation in my boot process compared to the regular one. While booting from the DVD (antix full) I never get to the point of launching a fully functional live system with desktop environment and window managers.
The initial screen just stops after the message of starting X11. With the only two options of Alt+F1, Alt+F10 at the bottom line available.
Since my first try was with the core-CD as previosly described, I didn’t notice this difference right away. I just assumed it’s the way it’s supposed to be and continued with Alt+F1 and text installer from there.
Could this be the reason for the error
stopping X display manager slim: failed
and why it shows a black screen after reboot?
Sidenote: I was using xorg=intel and nomodeset bootparameters at startup screen because otherwise it just froze on “waiting for /dev to be fully populated”.I’m seriously considering to do the option punranger suggested
do a “normal” install on the whole hard drive, which I think is the default option. (…) I’ve done several such default installs on hardware like that, and never had the problem you describe. Another option is to let the installer handle the partitioning of root and home, instead of the ones you prepared yourself. Just my two cents…
Couple questions though:
Where do I find this default otpion? Which installer do I need for that – the GUI one or the cli-installer? If it’s the GUI one then I really have a problem (see above) – since I’m not getting a desktop environment and everything else one would expect launching a live OS.The cli-installer also warns about not supporting a separate boot partition. I’m not sure I understand this correctly: Does it mean I can’t use a partition designated /root and with a bootflag I prepared ahead of time, separate from a home one?
I’m getting really lost here.
Either I’m overlooking something and/or overthinking it,
or antiX’ installation is far too complicated for me,
or I’m too stupid for antix,
or there are multiple / too many errors (including perhaps faulty input by me) happening at once here, that I’m just unable to differenciate correctly to make it work.Need some help and pointers please.
- This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by RomanWolia.
christophe
What if you choose Safe Video Mode on the dvd. Does that boot up to a graphical UI?
If that does not work, try the next one, Failsafe Boot.There should be an icon on the desktop to install.
Regarding hostname. I don’t know what the issue is, but keep it simple. keep it to alphanumeric, no caps. Hyphens are ok. See if that works, when you get to that point.
But the safe video mode or failsafe boot – one of them – should get you to a GUI. That’s the first thing.
If you have further problems once you’re at the desktop, and can get online, give us your system information (inxi -Zv8).
But hopefully you will be fine at that point… 🙂confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019
anticapitalista
antix-19.5 is a the latest not 19.4. Why aren’t you installing that one?
Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.
antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.
iznit
sudo echo somename > /etc/hostnameuh-oh sorry I gave a wrong command suggestion. This command will work
echo ‘somename’ | sudo tee /etc/hostname
antix-19.5 is a the latest not 19.4. Why aren’t you installing that one?
I was using antix 19.4 because that’s the one I downloaded some time last fall when I was trying it out, for the first time. Now I remember I was having a similar problem with a black screen at startup, but was able to circumvent it using the xorg=intel code back then.
This time however, after the „udev done“ message „start X“ appears and after that the screen freezes completely.19.5 must have escaped my attention somehow.
Tried out failsafe bootmode – thanks for the hint @christophe – it works and launches the Live OS. Unfortunately the default resolution is way too low for the ~23“ monitor I’m using – and there is no option to change it in arandr. The desktop overall is also set off to the left beyond the display bounderies. Plus the fontsize is so small and blurry, it’s barely readable. Especially not ideal while using GUI installer and trying to understand what the instructions say.
Since I didn’t want to fly another install „blind“, I resorted to the last possible workaround I could think of …Downloaded and burned to DVD an antix 21 ISO and went from there. Despite low hopes on my part by now, it did boot a live OS with a desktop and everything on first try. So I’m using that for now.
Thank you all for your help.
Brian Masinick
IF antiX 21 works for you, that’s actually the best choice because it will have the longest support life of the versions discussed in this thread. Also, though all of the antiX distributions are very good, there was a great deal of work, and a lot of participation and cooperation in the community to develop antiX 21 and though the size of the distribution grows slightly, it’s still a very efficient and economical distribution in terms of using a very good balance between size, features, and functionality.
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Brian Masinick
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