where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

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crow1908
Posts: 12
Joined: 7. May 2022, 19:45

where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by crow1908 »

Hi!

I decided to install Salix into an ancient PC with VIA C3 proccesor last week. It took several hours, but the whole thing was right. The main problem was that when I rebooted the login didn't appear.

The disk has two partitions, one has Windows XP and the second has Salix. I chose LILO with the option "master block" or someting like that (I'm sure I didn't select the MBR option, may be I did a mistake at that moment). Now, when I start I see the option "Windows XP / Plop Boot Manager". Yes, I've installed Salix with the help of Plop, because the PC doesn't have the USB boot option.

So...where is my Salix? :P I need help to change MBR, right? Could you help me, please? Thanks a lot!
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gapan
Salix Wizard
Posts: 6238
Joined: 6. Jun 2009, 17:40

Re: where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by gapan »

I guess that if you want to have LILO as your bootloader, then you should install it on your MBR. Otherwise, you could chainload LILO, which I guess is installed to your salix partition's superblock, to your existing bootloader. I don't know if your existing bootloader supports chainloading though. LILO should detect your WinXP partition and offer it as an option during boot, if LILO is installed at your MBR.

Can you tell plop to boot from the partition you installed salix?
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crow1908
Posts: 12
Joined: 7. May 2022, 19:45

Re: where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by crow1908 »

gapan wrote: 12. May 2022, 21:28 I guess that if you want to have LILO as your bootloader, then you should install it on your MBR. Otherwise, you could chainload LILO, which I guess is installed to your salix partition's superblock, to your existing bootloader. I don't know if your existing bootloader supports chainloading though. LILO should detect your WinXP partition and offer it as an option during boot, if LILO is installed at your MBR.

Can you tell plop to boot from the partition you installed salix?
mmm It's a good question...I'll study that. Thanks!
crow1908
Posts: 12
Joined: 7. May 2022, 19:45

Re: where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by crow1908 »

I couldn't. I did a mistake when I tried to use Plop to boot Salix and lost the MBR. I installed Salix again...After 8 hours or something like that It finished BUT....

This message "Failed to start the X server" has appeared.

This is an ancient PC with a VIA C3 Samuel 2 (RAM 1GB disk 80Gb) . It doesn't have any video card. Is it possible to install Salix xfce 14.2 i586? I've checked that the processor is i586.

The X server output is:
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: ....
(==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(WW) SIS: More than one matching device section found: Autoconfigured Vi
The XKEYBOARD keymap compiler (xkbcomp) reports:
>Warning: Type "ONE_LEVEL" has 1 levels, but <RALT> has 2 symb
Ignoring extra symbols
Errors from xkbcomp are not fatal to the X server
(II) Server terminated successfully (0). Closing log file.

The next screen:

(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/local" does not exist
(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/OTF" does not exist
(WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/CID" does not exist
(EE) Failed to load module "fdev" (module does not exist,

(WW) Falling back to old probe method for sis
(WW) SIS: More than one matching Device section found: Auto
(WW) Falling back to old probe method for modesetting
(WW) Falling back to old probe method for vesa
(WW) Could not find/ read video BIOS

and this is repetead five times
(WW)Option "xkb variant" requires a string value
(WW)Option "xkb_options" requires a string value

I need a wake up juice...if it exists for this ancient PC
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gapan
Salix Wizard
Posts: 6238
Joined: 6. Jun 2009, 17:40

Re: where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by gapan »

So it looks like you have a SiS graphics card?

When your system boots, at the lilo screen you can press the tab key on your keyboard. You'll get a prompt. Enter:

Code: Select all

Salix 3
That will boot you in console mode. Then you can try the configuration settings listed here:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/SiS

After you change the configuration, try starting X with:

Code: Select all

startx
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crow1908
Posts: 12
Joined: 7. May 2022, 19:45

Re: where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by crow1908 »

Thanks gapan! I really appreciate your answer and help....but...(it never ends :( )

I boot as salix 3 and I got a login and pass. I don't remember it!

I passed more than 8 hours installing...please...Is there a way to erase or change the login


Image

(I don't know why but...I can't post the image of the screen boot)
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gapan
Salix Wizard
Posts: 6238
Joined: 6. Jun 2009, 17:40

Re: where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by gapan »

Well, if you can boot the installer, or any other linux, you can chroot into your existing installation and change the password. If your installation is in /dev/sda1 for example, then:

Code: Select all

mkdir /hd
mount /dev/sda1 /hd
chroot /hd
passwd crow1908
change the username to your actual one in the last command.
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crow1908
Posts: 12
Joined: 7. May 2022, 19:45

Re: where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by crow1908 »

Sorry, but I'm a bit lost...where can I do that?

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I'm at this screen: https://i.postimg.cc/VkVXQbXX/salixboot.jpg
How can I pass from this screen to write your commands?
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gapan
Salix Wizard
Posts: 6238
Joined: 6. Jun 2009, 17:40

Re: where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by gapan »

You can't. You need to boot your system with some other way. That could either be the salix installer, or another linux.

Or you could take out the hard drive from that PC, connect it to another PC running linux and proceed as I described in my previous post.

Or you could remember your password.

I'm afraid there are no other options.
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crow1908
Posts: 12
Joined: 7. May 2022, 19:45

Re: where is my Salix? Install/Boot problem

Post by crow1908 »

Thank you gapan!

I'll try with the installer option. The following days I'm going to work on this again.
I hope to come back here and post "I found my Salix" BUT perhaps after some new problems xD

Thanks a lot!
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