Epia M10000 issue

Forum: Hardware Talk
Topic: Epia M10000 issue
started by: wireframewolf

Posted by wireframewolf on Sep. 01 2005,16:29

Hey all. Recently, I bought an M10000 from the DSL store, with the idea that, since it supports USB booting, I'd be able to boot DSL off of a key, and I had planned on making it my main computer. However, this didn't turn out as planned.

DSL is installed to the key in USB-ZIP format. Works great on my other computer, running the same type of bios, so there is certainly nothing wrong with the image file. However, on the M10000, it starts the boot up process, and then gives a Kernel Panic error. After that, until I reset the CMOS by unplugging everything and removing the battery, USB devices are not recognized by the computer, inside or outside of the OS.

So basically, I've tried everything under the sun. Is it a faulty board? If so, I'm willing (though grudgingly) to buy another mini ITX so long as it will definitely boot DSL from a usb key and has a 1 gig processor. Can someone point me in the right direction, or at least give some suggestions on getting this old one to work?

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Sep. 01 2005,16:45

Have you tried a usb-hdd mode install?

This sounds very similar to what my Dell does when I forget and try to use a usb-zip pendrive on it. Even though the bios supposedly supports it, it goes haywire and I have to revert to the default settings before anyting will work again.

Try a usb-hdd pendrive, and see what happens.

-J.P.

Posted by wireframewolf on Sep. 01 2005,17:32

Actually, that's what I was trying the whole time at first, with the same problem. The reason I then tried USB-ZIP was that the USB compatibility list included the Epia 10000 c3, which is the processor on the M10000, with USB-ZIP. But I get the same problem from both.

Posted by John on Sep. 02 2005,07:39

I have never had an issue with the M10000 booting via USB-ZIP, maybe there is something odd happening with your board. I've left you a PM with contact info at Via, hopefully they can help you.

Posted by wireframewolf on Sep. 05 2005,22:11

Thanks man, I appreciate it. I haven't been able to get in touch with them yet, but when I do, hopefully I can at least figure out of the board is wierding out on me. I really don't have the money to buy another one though if it is a hardware thing, so I bought a CF adapter from the store too, so at the worst, I won't have to have a hard drive. In any case, things should turn out fine.

Posted by wireframewolf on Sep. 06 2005,15:18

On that note, are the adapters for type 1 or type 2 compact flash?

Posted by John on Sep. 07 2005,07:14

Their all Type 1.

Posted by Caspar_s on Sep. 24 2005,16:31

Just to add - I also have the M10000 and it boots DSL fine via USB.
It must be something weird with your board.

Posted by wireframewolf on Sep. 25 2005,15:59

Yeah. I'm not too worried about it though, because Via is shipping me a new motherboard, which is pretty nice of them. I have to say, both the DSL and VIA folk have been quite helpful.

Posted by wireframewolf on Sep. 29 2005,05:55

Well, after waiting about three weeks, I finally got the new motherboard and... well, same problem! It's so bizzare, and I'm not sure why they didn't test it out there, since I sent them a key with DSL on it. I just don't understand. Is there something wierd about sandisk keys that causes this problem on this particular motherboard. Is the batch I'm getting them from just problematic. Am I doing something wrong when I run the script. It's pretty frustrating, at this point.

Posted by Guest on Sep. 29 2005,20:48

Just to eliminate the easy things -- do you have USB keyboard support enabled in your BIOS settings on the M10000 board? A number of older BIOSes including several EPIA boards won't boot off USB in any way shape or form until legacy USB keyboard support is turned on.

If not, turn it on, then powercycle the machine and try again.

If it is, I'm sorry not to have any better ideas. I'll cross my fingers for you. :-)

Posted by wireframewolf on Sep. 29 2005,22:35

unfortunately, the USB keyboard support is indeed on. I think perhaps maybe the particular batch I've been drawing from has a problem with some line of code in the process of USB booting. Basically, somewhere in between reading the boot files and looking for the image file, it stops reading USB devices in general, until I reset the CMOS. The odd thing is, after it loads linux24 and... that other file, whose name I forget, the parameter screen is the same as the LiveCD parameter screen, where as when it worked on the other computer, the parameter screen was blue with white text. Is this any indication of what's going on?

Posted by wireframewolf on Oct. 01 2005,14:36

John and Caspar... what brand of USB keys are you using? And further more, which builds did you use with that board? I've tried using 1.4 and 1.5 now, same issue.

I don't mean to drag this on, but I got the board specifically for this purpose, and yet two of this model have had the same issue.

Posted by Caspar_s on Oct. 29 2005,17:07

Weird. Um, I'm using a compactflash card in a usb reader (sandisk in an acom reader)
0.8 onwards.