[kelean]

I have downloaded Zen and it has been burned correctly. I have been able to start it on two different machines.
But when it comes to my dell optiplex gx 110. It is a no go. If I try to boot it with the default boot, videoSafeModeFBDev, or VideoSafeModeVesa the machine hangs at probing for scsi or sata devices. I cant remember sorry. I have to boot with the safeboot in order to boot.
The problem then is with the monitor. After everything seems to boot I get the monitor filled with stripped lines of various withs and colors. Then it hangs and I can not do anything else with it.
I downloaded the PCLinuxOS Gnome 2009-TR6version. I have to boot with the safeboot option but the video is set up correctly.

I would love to install zen on my dell as its a p-3 866 mhz with 256 megs of ram. It also has the i810 chipset. I was able to install the TR6version with no problem but it is a bit slow. I can live with that because it is still faster than ubuntu 8.10.

Thank for any help, Kelean.

[don_crissti]

Have you tried to add noscsi at the boot line (for ZEN) ? Use the default entry in Grub menu but add noscsi...

http://linuxgator.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=518

Also, if you don't have the video OK you could open a console with CTRL+ALT+F2 and login as root then:

Code: Select all

/etc/init.d/dm stop

login as root again, then

Code: Select all

/usr/sbin/do-vesa

Code: Select all

/etc/init.d/dm start

I remember someone had the same problem and solved it but I can't find that thread...

[Topken]

don it was proably me on my older dell optiplex gx115 and the gnome version doesnt work to well on it anyways i always geet the no montior can be found bit yet the kde version works just fine large or tiny versions

[don_crissti]

Oh, OK Topken... So you're saying that even ZEN-mini has troubles with video on your Optiplex GX115 ?

[Topken]

correct and heres the post im refering to http://linuxgator.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1265

[don_crissti]

OK, there seem to be no mention on ZEN-mini there...
Hmm... I think I have to find one of these famous GX11* and mess with it...

[Topken]

i remeber putting something about the zen version somwhere mabe in a different post? ill have to check all of mine and see if i cant find and if i can ill report back.

edit; ok try this link it may have the info ive posted Here it is

[don_crissti]

Right... now I remember. So this wasn't solved in any way...
If I find a similar piece of hardware I'll try to install ZEN on it and I'll post back.

Thanks Topken !

[Topken]

no problem don and if you can get it working that would be very appceited. mine came out of school after there where upgrading their computers so i got it for $80 at the local pawnshop

and heres a pic of the version i have sence the one dells website is no longer correct.
http://sklep.mdk.com.pl/oferty/oferta20060712/konmonitor.jpg

[kelean]

Thanks for all of the help slick50 and everyone else.

Booting with the noscsi option worked. The computer booted up okay except it did not set the video correctly and it froze hard. I could not switch to another tty to log in as root. I had to start with the safebootvesa and the noscsi option but the monitor resolution was 800x600. But I was able to install Zen and set the graphics card and monitor to the correct setting and now it is running very well. I the posts you gave me before I posted but missed the noscsi part.

I have four dell opti-plex machines. I have one like Topkin has posted. It is gx110 p3 500mhz. The second one looks like the one posted but it is taller. It is a p3 667mhz. Third one it a bit newer p3 866mhz small form factor. I have a pair of those.. The last one I just bought is a gx280 p4 3ghz.
I have had similar problems tiring to install different distros over the years. I have had trouble with mandiva, pclos, two virsions on ubuntu, and severail more not worth mentioning. All of the machines have intel graphic cards. The first three its the i810 and the last is i945.

I know the dell optiplex machines are built for office use but they plentiful, cheap, and are very dependable. I have bought all of these on ebay and paid from $35.00 to $100.00 I am not able to spend much money on computers so I try and spend it wisely.

If you have any more questions or need some information about the optiplex computers please let me know.

I really like the look and feel of Zen. It seems to run very well. I have not had mush time to work with it but will later today. All I need now is to install pidgin and java. I think that I will be all set then.

Once again thank you everyone for all of the help and info. Kelean

[don_crissti]

All I need now is to install pidgin and java. I think that I will be all set then.

Once again thank you everyone for all of the help and info. Kelean

Kelean,

You do know that now, after installing a fresh copy of ZEN you have to go through the big update:

http://linuxgator.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1558

before installing any package ?

[kelean]

I was not sure if I did or not. I was going to do some more reading on the forum before making any changes or installing. Thanks for the heads up.

Kelean.

[don_crissti]

The repos are being updated again these days... You'd better wait for about 24 hours before trying to update. People already posted about dependency problems. Just so you know...