Installing Fedora - boot loader

Installing Fedora - boot loader

[Kenneth Lee]

Hello all,  I've been trying all weekend to get Phedora installed.  This is
my first time to install any kind of Linux and well... It's not going well.

I've been reading the howto's I found on linux-speakup.org but the
description in the howto do not match with the screens I'm getting.

The howto says nothing about what to do for the "boot load manager" (do I
need the grub loader?) and at one point near the end, the howto says to
press Alt+F2 and you'll get a "#" prompt.  But I only get a /blahblah
something prompt and it will not accept any commands.

The last message from the install says it is safe to reboot, but when I did
I just get the message "no operating system found".  

FYI, I'm trying to put this on a Dell GX1 500Mhz PC with 128MB ram and 12GB
HD.  I downloaded the 4 images from the linux-speakup page and varified they
are good.  I did the automatic partition because linux will be the only os
on this system.  The synthesizer is a DecTalk express.  

Thanks for any help.

Ken
 

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Re: Installing Fedora - boot loader

[David Bruzos]

Hello Ken:
Yes, you need a boot loader!  If you don't install grub there will be no 
boot info in the master boot record of the hard disc and your BIOS will not 
see the operating system.  So, when you get to the boot loader screen, 
select grub and put it to the MBR (master boot record).
If you do that, you should be able to boot after you restart...
About your other problem I am not sure.  I have not installed Fedora in a 
while and I don't remember having any problems like yours.
Don't get discouraged however, Linux is a wonderful thing and the community 
around it is even more wonderful.  After a year you will be amazed of the 
things you can do with your Linux machine.  It was hard at first for me, but 
once I understood what was going on, everything got easier and easier...

David B.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenneth Lee" <klee15@cox.net>
To: <speakup@braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 6:25 PM
Subject: Installing Fedora - boot loader


Hello all,  I've been trying all weekend to get Phedora installed.  This is
my first time to install any kind of Linux and well... It's not going well.

I've been reading the howto's I found on linux-speakup.org but the
description in the howto do not match with the screens I'm getting.

The howto says nothing about what to do for the "boot load manager" (do I
need the grub loader?) and at one point near the end, the howto says to
press Alt+F2 and you'll get a "#" prompt.  But I only get a /blahblah
something prompt and it will not accept any commands.

The last message from the install says it is safe to reboot, but when I did
I just get the message "no operating system found".

FYI, I'm trying to put this on a Dell GX1 500Mhz PC with 128MB ram and 12GB
HD.  I downloaded the 4 images from the linux-speakup page and varified they
are good.  I did the automatic partition because linux will be the only os
on this system.  The synthesizer is a DecTalk express.

Thanks for any help.

Ken


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release Date: 11/19/2004



_______________________________________________
Speakup mailing list
Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup 

RE: Installing Fedora - boot loader

[Kenneth Lee]

Thanks for the encouragement.  I know I will eventually succeed, if I have
to install a hundred times!  I'm on my third time now.  I'm still not sure
how to do the "initrd", but I'll keep googling around and find the right
howto.

Regards, Ken


-----Original Message-----
From: speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca [mailto:speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca]
On Behalf Of David Bruzos
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 7:15 PM
To: Speakup is a screen review system for Linux.
Subject: Re: Installing Fedora - boot loader


Hello Ken:
Yes, you need a boot loader!  If you don't install grub there will be no 
boot info in the master boot record of the hard disc and your BIOS will not 
see the operating system.  So, when you get to the boot loader screen, 
select grub and put it to the MBR (master boot record).
If you do that, you should be able to boot after you restart...
About your other problem I am not sure.  I have not installed Fedora in a 
while and I don't remember having any problems like yours.
Don't get discouraged however, Linux is a wonderful thing and the community 
around it is even more wonderful.  After a year you will be amazed of the 
things you can do with your Linux machine.  It was hard at first for me, but

once I understood what was going on, everything got easier and easier...

David B.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenneth Lee" <klee15@cox.net>
To: <speakup@braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 6:25 PM
Subject: Installing Fedora - boot loader


Hello all,  I've been trying all weekend to get Phedora installed.  This is
my first time to install any kind of Linux and well... It's not going well.

I've been reading the howto's I found on linux-speakup.org but the
description in the howto do not match with the screens I'm getting.

The howto says nothing about what to do for the "boot load manager" (do I
need the grub loader?) and at one point near the end, the howto says to
press Alt+F2 and you'll get a "#" prompt.  But I only get a /blahblah
something prompt and it will not accept any commands.

The last message from the install says it is safe to reboot, but when I did
I just get the message "no operating system found".

FYI, I'm trying to put this on a Dell GX1 500Mhz PC with 128MB ram and 12GB
HD.  I downloaded the 4 images from the linux-speakup page and varified they
are good.  I did the automatic partition because linux will be the only os
on this system.  The synthesizer is a DecTalk express.

Thanks for any help.

Ken


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release Date: 11/19/2004



_______________________________________________
Speakup mailing list
Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup 


_______________________________________________
Speakup mailing list
Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release Date: 11/19/2004
 

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release Date: 11/19/2004
 

Re: Installing Fedora - boot loader

[David Bruzos]

Hello again:
If you can't get the initrd thing to work, drop me a message and I will 
try to help you as much as possible.  If you can get the system to boot, 
then don't worry, everything else is just a matter of a few commands...
Even if you can't get the initrd image installed and working you can 
still load your speakup module by hand by typing:
# modprobe speakup_xxxx
on the command line.  XXXX is the keyworkd for your synth.  For example, 
I have a Double talk and my keyword is ltlk.  So, I type, "modprobe 
speakup_ltlk and my system starts talking.  Remember to do this as root.

Oh, the syntax for mkinitrd is:
# /sbin/mkinitrd -f -v /boot/initrd-x.x.xx x.x.xx --with=speakup_xxx --with=pcspkr 

Where the /boot/init-x.x.xx is the name that you want for your image 
file.  The second x.x.xx is the kernel version you have installed (look 
in /lib/modules and you will see a directory with a name like: 
2.6.5.something-something).).  The --with=speakup_xxxx tells mkinitrd to 
put your speakup module in the image and the --with=pcspkr adds the PC 
speaker driver to the image, so that your console can beep.
The pcspkr module is not required though.  That only is something that 
can make your console more friendly when you don't have speech.

Take care!

David B.

On Sun, Nov 21, 2004 at 07:23:04PM -0500, Kenneth Lee wrote:
> Thanks for the encouragement.  I know I will eventually succeed, if I have
> to install a hundred times!  I'm on my third time now.  I'm still not sure
> how to do the "initrd", but I'll keep googling around and find the right
> howto.
> 
> Regards, Ken
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca [mailto:speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca]
> On Behalf Of David Bruzos
> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 7:15 PM
> To: Speakup is a screen review system for Linux.
> Subject: Re: Installing Fedora - boot loader
> 
> 
> Hello Ken:
> Yes, you need a boot loader!  If you don't install grub there will be no 
> boot info in the master boot record of the hard disc and your BIOS will not 
> see the operating system.  So, when you get to the boot loader screen, 
> select grub and put it to the MBR (master boot record).
> If you do that, you should be able to boot after you restart...
> About your other problem I am not sure.  I have not installed Fedora in a 
> while and I don't remember having any problems like yours.
> Don't get discouraged however, Linux is a wonderful thing and the community 
> around it is even more wonderful.  After a year you will be amazed of the 
> things you can do with your Linux machine.  It was hard at first for me, but
> 
> once I understood what was going on, everything got easier and easier...
> 
> David B.

RE: Installing Fedora - boot loader

[Kenneth Lee]

Yes!!! Success at last.   Thanks to David for his tips he sent me offline.
What I Had to do was this.

First I reburned the images because for some reason the first ones didn't
verify.  (hmmm, to much dog hair around here I think)

Then going on David's suggestion, I manually created my partitions using his
recommendations.  This was the hardest part of all because I never did
figure out how to use druid.  For example, I could not figure how to change
from ext3 to swap when setting up my swap partition.  I did finally manage
to get it set to "swap" but I haven't clue how I did it.

Note to anyone using the howto from linux-speakup.org,  where it says to
press control+alt+f2 to switch to another console.  You do not get a '#'
prompt (at least not with the version I have).  I have the version pointed
to from the linux-speakup page.  Version FC2.

Anyway I now have linux (fedora) install...now if I only knew what to do
with it! <G>  I still need to get my email client setup and a web browser.


Regards, Ken


-----Original Message-----
From: speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca [mailto:speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca]
On Behalf Of David Bruzos
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 8:23 PM
To: Speakup is a screen review system for Linux.
Subject: Re: Installing Fedora - boot loader


Hello again:
If you can't get the initrd thing to work, drop me a message and I will 
try to help you as much as possible.  If you can get the system to boot, 
then don't worry, everything else is just a matter of a few commands...
Even if you can't get the initrd image installed and working you can 
still load your speakup module by hand by typing:
# modprobe speakup_xxxx
on the command line.  XXXX is the keyworkd for your synth.  For example, 
I have a Double talk and my keyword is ltlk.  So, I type, "modprobe 
speakup_ltlk and my system starts talking.  Remember to do this as root.

Oh, the syntax for mkinitrd is:
# /sbin/mkinitrd -f -v /boot/initrd-x.x.xx x.x.xx --with=speakup_xxx
--with=pcspkr 

Where the /boot/init-x.x.xx is the name that you want for your image 
file.  The second x.x.xx is the kernel version you have installed (look 
in /lib/modules and you will see a directory with a name like: 
2.6.5.something-something).).  The --with=speakup_xxxx tells mkinitrd to 
put your speakup module in the image and the --with=pcspkr adds the PC 
speaker driver to the image, so that your console can beep.
The pcspkr module is not required though.  That only is something that 
can make your console more friendly when you don't have speech.

Take care!

David B.

On Sun, Nov 21, 2004 at 07:23:04PM -0500, Kenneth Lee wrote:
> Thanks for the encouragement.  I know I will eventually succeed, if I have
> to install a hundred times!  I'm on my third time now.  I'm still not sure
> how to do the "initrd", but I'll keep googling around and find the right
> howto.
> 
> Regards, Ken
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca
[mailto:speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca]
> On Behalf Of David Bruzos
> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 7:15 PM
> To: Speakup is a screen review system for Linux.
> Subject: Re: Installing Fedora - boot loader
> 
> 
> Hello Ken:
> Yes, you need a boot loader!  If you don't install grub there will be no 
> boot info in the master boot record of the hard disc and your BIOS will
not 
> see the operating system.  So, when you get to the boot loader screen, 
> select grub and put it to the MBR (master boot record).
> If you do that, you should be able to boot after you restart...
> About your other problem I am not sure.  I have not installed Fedora in a 
> while and I don't remember having any problems like yours.
> Don't get discouraged however, Linux is a wonderful thing and the
community 
> around it is even more wonderful.  After a year you will be amazed of the 
> things you can do with your Linux machine.  It was hard at first for me,
but
> 
> once I understood what was going on, everything got easier and easier...
> 
> David B.



_______________________________________________
Speakup mailing list
Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release Date: 11/19/2004
 

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release Date: 11/19/2004
 

Re: Installing Fedora - boot loader

[Janina Sajka]

Kenneth Lee writes:
> Thanks for the encouragement.  I know I will eventually succeed, if I have
> to install a hundred times!  I'm on my third time now.  I'm still not sure
> how to do the "initrd", but I'll keep googling around and find the right
> howto.

Are you using an old version of the installation HOWTO? The instructions
on creating an initrd image are painfully precise. Googling for
something else isn't going to help you.

You might also want to take the advice to telephone for assistance
that's at the front of the HOWTO. Have you done that?

> 
> Regards, Ken
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca [mailto:speakup-bounces@braille.uwo.ca]
> On Behalf Of David Bruzos
> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 7:15 PM
> To: Speakup is a screen review system for Linux.
> Subject: Re: Installing Fedora - boot loader
> 
> 
> Hello Ken:
> Yes, you need a boot loader!  If you don't install grub there will be no 
> boot info in the master boot record of the hard disc and your BIOS will not 
> see the operating system.  So, when you get to the boot loader screen, 
> select grub and put it to the MBR (master boot record).
> If you do that, you should be able to boot after you restart...
> About your other problem I am not sure.  I have not installed Fedora in a 
> while and I don't remember having any problems like yours.
> Don't get discouraged however, Linux is a wonderful thing and the community 
> around it is even more wonderful.  After a year you will be amazed of the 
> things you can do with your Linux machine.  It was hard at first for me, but
> 
> once I understood what was going on, everything got easier and easier...
> 
> David B.
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kenneth Lee" <klee15@cox.net>
> To: <speakup@braille.uwo.ca>
> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2004 6:25 PM
> Subject: Installing Fedora - boot loader
> 
> 
> Hello all,  I've been trying all weekend to get Phedora installed.  This is
> my first time to install any kind of Linux and well... It's not going well.
> 
> I've been reading the howto's I found on linux-speakup.org but the
> description in the howto do not match with the screens I'm getting.
> 
> The howto says nothing about what to do for the "boot load manager" (do I
> need the grub loader?) and at one point near the end, the howto says to
> press Alt+F2 and you'll get a "#" prompt.  But I only get a /blahblah
> something prompt and it will not accept any commands.
> 
> The last message from the install says it is safe to reboot, but when I did
> I just get the message "no operating system found".
> 
> FYI, I'm trying to put this on a Dell GX1 500Mhz PC with 128MB ram and 12GB
> HD.  I downloaded the 4 images from the linux-speakup page and varified they
> are good.  I did the automatic partition because linux will be the only os
> on this system.  The synthesizer is a DecTalk express.
> 
> Thanks for any help.
> 
> Ken
> 
> 
> -- 
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release Date: 11/19/2004
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> 
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> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release Date: 11/19/2004
>  
> 
> -- 
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release Date: 11/19/2004
>  
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> Speakup@braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

-- 
	
				Janina Sajka, Chair
				Accessibility Workgroup
				Free Standards Group (FSG)

janina@freestandards.org	Phone: +1 202.494.7040