Redhat 9 and Virtual PC

big_gie

big_gie

1
Hi,

I want to switch to Redhat from winxp, and tryed to install it as a virtual machine using virtual pc v5.2.

All the setup when fine until rebooted, all i see is a big (maybe 1900x600) black screen. I can barely see some icons, cause everything is black, but I can distinguish some icons, and the cursor. I think it is the login screen...

How can I correct this? I'm a linux newbie so I don't know what to do :)

tank you very much.
 
S

scarecrow

1
Run the installation again, this time as an upgrade, and set your screen resolution for the xserver to something low, eg 640X480 or 800X600- this will allow you to show the login screen properly at first boot.
I don't use Virtual Machine (VMWare fan), but isn't there any option to install extra system drivers post the OS install?
On VMware they are called "VMWare Tools" and make a huge difference regarding performance.
 
N.B.

N.B.

1
Staff member
hmmz, I would say, try VMWare mate, it is easier to use ...

btw the resolution you can either change with the setup program or you just look for the file XF86Config in your home directory and edit the resolution line for your screen :)
 
big_gie

big_gie

1
I'll try reinstallating again, as an upgrade to change the resolution.

The problem is, after booting up, I don't know how to configure X since the screen is black :)
On bootup I have options, but don't understand them... I think its called Grub

I can:
hit 'e' to edit the command before booting
'a' to modify kernel arguments before booting
or 'c' for command line

'e' gives me the choice between:

root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/
initrd /initrd-2.4.20-8.img

and 'a' gives me a command line witch start with "grub append>" and the following:
ro root=LABEL=/

Can I change the resolution from there? I don't know where to change it since all I see is black :p

tanx guys!
 
N.B.

N.B.

1
Staff member
Hello !

Yeah, that seems to be grub, the boot loader ...
try to use the c option, command line and type in linux init=/bin/bash
enter, this should bring your right into a root shell to your box, after boot up is done:
find / -name XF86Config
Once you located the file for your usersname, edit it with your text editor, vi, pico, emacs and change the resolution there ..
Once that is done, type in sync and press enter. ..
Now reboot the box ... hope this helps :)
 
big_gie

big_gie

1
tanks nb.

Is the command:
init=/bin/bash
?

Because I can't run it... it tells me:
Error 27: Unrecognized command

Heres a screenshot (The error 27 is at the top, and the rest is what "help" gives me...)

tanx guys
 

Attachments

big_gie

big_gie

1
Same thing with "linux init=/bin/bash"
Error 27: unknown command

I can't see nothing in the help that's close to "linux" or "init" (initrd?)

is it the "kernel" command?
 
big_gie

big_gie

1
I entered this command in the command line:
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/
and after I was able to execute "initrd":
initrd=/bin/bash
But I get "Error 15: file not found"
 
N.B.

N.B.

1
Staff member
good ... and please do not forget to run the sync command after you have edited your config file :)
Otherwise the changes might get lost ....
 
S

scarecrow

1
I see that initrd is loaded at startup... which may be a problem- or not.... depends on your Linux installation routine. The only reason I can imagine that initrd is loaded is that you chose to install an FTP server which explicitly NEEDS initrd (eg WU-FTPd), if the case is so plz reinstall leaving your FTP server or any other servers that can operate in secure mode-only out, and when booted properly you can install them afterwards... The redhat installler will spot the dependencis and tell you that initrd has to be installed, too.
Sorry for being too generic, but I don't use Redhat- just Mandrake 9.1 and Debian Sarge, and had no such problems with either of them.
 
N.B.

N.B.

1
Staff member
scarecrow, initrd is not a futile part of a linux system.
It is used on all kind of systems, for a SCSI system they are even a MUST have.
On all installations of RedHat I have seen it been using initrd to load the ext3 drivers, SuSE does basically the same ...
So this is just a necessary and not something you could turn of :)
 
S

scarecrow

1
N.B. said:
scarecrow, initrd is not a futile part of a linux system.
It is used on all kind of systems, for a SCSI system they are even a MUST have.
On all installations of RedHat I have seen it been using initrd to load the ext3 drivers, SuSE does basically the same ...
So this is just a necessary and not something you could turn of :)
Click to expand...
It's installed in my system too (Adaptec 2930 SCSI adapter) but NOT loaded at startup... this is fundamentally different.
 
N.B.

N.B.

1
Staff member
ehm, initrd, the initial ramdisc ...
Should be loaded right after the kernel got everything in place and just before it starts mounting all the mountpoints ....
so it should start at boot up as well ...
 
N.B.

N.B.

1
Staff member
Good :)

And as you see, if you use linux, google or similar is prolly your best friend ..
Enjoy :)
 
big_gie

big_gie

1
Long life google :)

By the way... Redhat is really nice! I've already tryed Mandrake some time ago... but I think redhat is better for now!
 
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