Great job, but a few problems

Forum: User Feedback
Topic: Great job, but a few problems
started by: littlepenguin

Posted by littlepenguin on Nov. 28 2004,18:06

First, I have to say that John Andrews did a great job on DSL. It really expands the mini-linux area. I have a Mac though, and I run DSL under Virtual PC.

I was thinking of using DSL for a 133 MHz (ancient) Compaq with a Cyrix MediaGX Processor with 48 MB of RAM. It would be perfect -- if it booted . If I just don't type anything at the boot prompt, it just shows the black screen with the penguin at the top. If I use 'failsafe', it stalls at 'Checking hlt instructions', or something about DMA. And finally, if I use the 'expert' option, it stalls at something like 'fd0 is a something something 1.44" floppy drive'. Any help please?

Posted by ico2 on Nov. 28 2004,18:34

hmmmmmmmmmmmm, you might have more luck with a version 0.7.* of dsl, it is better with some other machines. before you redownload though, try unplugging you floppy drive. also check the md5sum of the iso you used (although if it is the same as you use on the mac it should be ok).

welcome to the forums

Posted by littlepenguin on Nov. 29 2004,01:49

I don't think it's a problem w/ the floppy, though. I also tried SLAX and Luit Linux. Both of them croaked out on 'Checking HLT instruction'. But when I tried Deli Linux, it worked fine. Hmm, SLAX, DSL & Luit have 2.4 - 2.6 kernels, but Deli has 2.2 kernel. Maybe that's it. Did I mention it's ancient (7 yrs old)? It was made to run Win 95

(gasp!).

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Nov. 29 2004,02:42

sounds like its a goofy proc with no HLT instruction...

Posted by littlepenguin on Nov. 29 2004,03:23

About the processor, it's a Cyrix MediaGX with 16KB L1 Cache @ 133 MHz (i think). Also, what is 'HLT instruction' ??

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Nov. 29 2004,03:43

HLT is a set of processor instructions introduced in the 80386 (i386) family of processors.

Either that proc is not i386 compatible, or has gone bad.

Hate to say this, but, chunk that suckah.

-J.P.

Posted by ico2 on Nov. 29 2004,14:52

or install a distro with an old kernel, maybe an older version of dsl