(SOLVED) Keyboard AWOL on Salix64 Xfce 14.0.1 fresh install.

[globetrotterdk]

Hi all,

I just installed Salix64 Xfce 14.0.1 on my Acer Aspire One 725 netbook and was surprised to find that my keyboard was AWOL at the GUI login. None of the keys worked, and as there is also an issue with the Elantech touchpad on many Linux distros (including SalixOS), I am lacking any possibility of using input devices at all. The issue with the keyboard seems to be uncommon, so I am assuming there is a missing driver?

There are two caveats that should not, but may affect the above information. The first is that my partitions are formatted as XFS partitions. The second is that the above happened in connection with booting my installed system using the command

Code: Select all

huge.s root=/dev/partition rdinit= ro

from the install CD, as I want to install GRUB rather than LILO as my boot manager.

Any ideas?

[gapan]

The kernel in the installation CD is not the same as the kernel that is installed, so no modules are loaded. It's only normal that you don't get the keyboard to work.

How are you planning to install GRUB and why do you need to boot salix to do it?

[mimosa]

Do you have a multi-boot setup, with Grub already in place (but not yet including Salix)? In that case, boot into whatever other Linux is there, and add Salix to Grub.

If it is just Salix (or just Salix and Windows) then the best strategy would be to install Salix with Lilo, and then install and set up Grub from within Salix. However, the default Lilo is simple and reliable, so even if you are used to Grub, there is something to be said for leaving it be.

[globetrotterdk]

I have had another version of Linux (Peppermint OS) installed before I installed Salix OS, so GRUB is still on the MBR, but as my laptop no longer has a multi-boot system, I only have the GRUB command line from the old install at boot. Can that be used to boot into my Salix OS system?

With regards to the keyboard, I have used the method that I posted here and have never run into this problem before.

Cheers

[mimosa]

Since I presume you've not so far booted your pristine installation, I suggest you reinstall and use lilo - then work out how to replace it with grub if you want. That should take five minutes or so.

[gapan]

Or, you know, just use LILO.

[globetrotterdk]

Reinstalled and left LILO on for now. I was worried that LILO wouldn't install over GRUB2 properly on the MBR, but I didn't experience any problems.