latest LM Mint and Ubuntu live .iso fail to load.

[jolphil]

Hello,

Yet another mystery with linux I am un-able to understand.Heres some background information.I tried to install a newer Linux Mint distro(18.1 64 bit cinnamon)on my daughters older Acer FH computer.(specs to follow). The live DVD started to load then showed a grub error17.Numerous tries failed.One time it did start to load but after trying to install it cinnamon crashed.At this point, I thought I had some hardware problem. Then I tried an older version of Mint (17.3 64 bit cinnamon) and it loaded and installed without a hitch. Everything was fine, then I decided to install all the latest updates. No problem after the install until I tried to shut down.It stalled and I had to do a hard reset. I needed to hold the shift key down and select the first kernel to start.

It then started normally. I guess my question after all the above is, what happened to Mint from around 17 to 18 that that caused this and do I now have an un-stable system as result? Did Debian,Ubuntu,Mint drop support for this chipset?

Following is a description of my computer which is where I am now posting from.

 

System: Host: jjp-AcerPower-FH Kernel: 3.19.0-32-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 4.8.2)

Desktop: Cinnamon 2.8.8 (Gtk 3.10.8~8+qiana)

Distro: Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa

Machine: System: Acer product: AcerPower FH v: R01-C0

Mobo: Acer model: E946GZ Bios: Phoenix v: R01-C0 date: 04/16/2007

CPU: Single core Intel Pentium 4 (-HT-) cache: 2048 KB

flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3) bmips: 6400

clock speeds: max: 3200 MHz 1: 2400 MHz 2: 2400 MHz

Graphics: Card: Intel 82946GZ/GL Integrated Graphics Controller

bus-ID: 00:02.0

Display Server: X.Org 1.17.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)

Resolution: 1280x1024@60.0hz

GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 946GZ

GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 10.5.9 Direct Rendering: Yes

Audio: Card Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller

driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0

Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k3.19.0-32-generic

Network: Card: Marvell 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller

driver: sky2 v: 1.30 port: ce00 bus-ID: 03:00.0

IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>

Drives: HDD Total Size: 100.0GB (7.7% used)

ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST3100011A size: 100.0GB

Partition: ID-1: / size: 90G used: 5.3G (7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1

ID-2: swap-1 size: 2.14GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5

RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present

Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 16.0C mobo: N/A

Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A

Info: Processes: 157 Uptime: 12 min Memory: 645.4/1991.8MB

Init: Upstart runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.4

Client: Shell (bash 4.3.111) inxi: 2.2.28

jjp@jjp-AcerPower-FH ~ $

 

As you can see,it is not a modern or powerful computer but should be able to browse the web or do Facebook.

BTW I even changed the HDD from SATA to IDE thinking that the SATA driver chip was somehow damaged.

Can anyone shed some light on this? Thank you all.

jolphil

[securitybreach]

Did it run fine via the livecd before you tried to install it?

 

Oh wait, this is a Pentium 4 chipset. They may have dropped support for hardware that old.

[securitybreach]

This is what LInuxMint asys:

 

To boot Linux Mint 18 on CPU which do not officially support PAE (Pentium M processors for instance), please use the "Start Linux Mint with PAE forced" option from the boot menu.

 

https://www.linuxmin..._sarah_xfce.php

 

BTW quite a few distros are dropping 32bit support.

 

You may just have to keep older versions of distros to get functionality of that machine.

[jolphil]

Hi Securitybreach,

 

1 Actually I did not try to do much while in live cd .Just went to install.

 

2 I looked up the cpu it is Pentium D and the PAE was OK and it took 64 bit instructions.

I did notice the MB had no acpi support though.

[securitybreach]

Oh ok, so it's not a Pentium 4 as noted above?

CPU: Single core Intel Pentium 4 (-HT-) cache: 2048 KB

[jolphil]

Hummm, I think you may be on to something .. I will check into this..

Thank you much..

jolphil

[jolphil]

SB, I wonder where I got the Pentium D info.? I checked back and Memtest showed Pentium D 3.2 GHZ.. Also I am amazed the 64 bit version loaded on this computer because the HT shows 32 bit instruction set.

I guess the only real way to find out is to remove the Heat sink and examine the CPU.

Edit: I stand corrected ,thePrescott HT data sheet does show a 64 bit instruction set

Edited May 22, 2017 by jolphil

[securitybreach]

Or simply check

cat /proc/meminfo

[mhbell]

I covered this problem in a earlier post. do not choose updates when installing or it will stall out with grub looking for a key press.

Mel

[raymac46]

Looks to me like it's a Pentium D 64 bit capable machine. It should run LM 18.1 OK. I am running 18.1 on an Athlon 64 X2 that is about the same age.

 

What does cat /proc/cpuinfo say?

[jolphil]

Yes, others have mentioned running cat so i did run it .Heres the results:

 

jjp@jjp-AcerPower-FH ~ $ cat /proc/cpuinfo

processor : 0

vendor_id : GenuineIntel

cpu family : 15

model : 6

model name : Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 3.20GHz

stepping : 5

microcode : 0x9

cpu MHz : 2400.000

cache size : 2048 KB

physical id : 0

siblings : 2

core id : 0

cpu cores : 1

apicid : 0

initial apicid : 0

fpu : yes

fpu_exception : yes

cpuid level : 6

wp : yes

flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx lm constant_tsc pebs bts nopl pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 cid cx16 xtpr pdcm lahf_lm

bugs :

bogomips : 6400.61

clflush size : 64

cache_alignment : 128

address sizes : 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual

power management:

 

processor : 1

vendor_id : GenuineIntel

cpu family : 15

model : 6

model name : Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 3.20GHz

stepping : 5

microcode : 0x9

cpu MHz : 2400.000

cache size : 2048 KB

physical id : 0

siblings : 2

core id : 0

cpu cores : 1

apicid : 1

initial apicid : 1

fpu : yes

fpu_exception : yes

cpuid level : 6

wp : yes

flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx lm constant_tsc pebs bts nopl pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 cid cx16 xtpr pdcm lahf_lm

bugs :

bogomips : 6400.61

clflush size : 64

cache_alignment : 128

address sizes : 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual

power management:

 

jjp@jjp-AcerPower-FH ~ $

 

Thats the problem with a commercial vendor,you are not quite sure whats inside.I looked at the FH spec sheet and it just shows a range of CPU's.

The Acer FH Manual states: Prescott 775/Cedar Mill/Presler/Conroe FSB533/800 for the system.

I wonder which test of the CPU is correct? The Prescott P4 HT 3.2 GHZ shows a 64 bit instruction set, so I guess thats why the 64 bit Mint software loaded.

jolphil

[raymac46]

Yes for sure dual core (actually single core with hyperthreading) and 64 bit capable. You should in theory have no hardware problems. Model 6 is Cedar Mill.

https://ark.intel.co...GHz-800-MHz-FSB

 

If you can make a flash drive image and install from USB that might be preferable. I have given up on DVDs for installation.

I would just run your system and see if you continue to have hangups when shutting down. You could try sudo update-grub. If all else fails reinstall from a fresh DVD or USB. Maybe reseat your memory.

Edited May 22, 2017 by raymac46

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Run the Mint from the CD before installing. If it runs live session, it should install and run fine.

 

NOTE: grub error 17 is usually something to do with an incorrectly formatted partition (wrong/incompatible file system). If you're doing a real hdd install (non-virtual), I would check to make sure your partitions are set up and assigned correctly with the bootloader being installed on the MBR of the first hdd (normally where the root partition is located). Also check that you're formatting in ext4 or some compatible file system.

[jolphil]

Thanks Guys for all the good suggestions. For now 17.3 is installed and seems to be running well. I think I will later toy around to see If I still can run a live DVD of 18.1.

I will also to try the suggestion to see if a Flash drive install will be better or not.. I have used Flash drive before to do a install..All good stuff to try..

Thanks,

jolphil

[raymac46]

I ran 17.3 for quite a while and then upgraded to 18 and eventually 18.1 without incident on one of my machines. This was in-place and I did not do a fresh install.

As far as I can see not a big difference between the two. 18.1 looks a bit cooler, you get a newer kernel, and if you have an AMD video card you can't use the Catalyst driver any longer in 18.1.

This won't be a problem in your case since it looks like you have Intel graphics. If you do decide to put in a discrete graphics card I would strongly suggest Nvidia.

[jolphil]

Late information FWIW. I tried again with a fresh downloaded Linux Mint DVD 18.1 64 bit .iso to load as a live DVD.The Asus FH seems to start to load the DVD but soon switched into the previously installed 17.3 Mint that was on the Hard drive.There was no error or warning. Thus it failed just as it did before without a grub warning this time.

 

The second try was to install the same downloaded .iso on to my 32 GB Flash drive using the Mint USB ISO program. This loaded on the FH without a hitch and while I did not install it, seemed to operate properly as a Live system. The only problem was it stalled during shutdown and I had to power shutdown.This may due to my motherboard bios not supporting ACPI.

 

@raymac46, Yes I have a Nvidia NV-N240D3 -1DI card that I removed from this system thinking it may have been a problem.B4 this is returned to my daughter,I will reinstall the NV card.

jolphil

[raymac46]

If the hangup at shutdown persists you could try editing /etc/default/grub and where you see GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="" add acpi=off between the quotes. Do sudo update-grub after the edit. That should disable acpi if your mobo won't support it. I remember having to do something similar in the past with old hardware.

Boot hangups from DVDs can occur if you have the DVD on the same IDE channel as the hard drive. Of course with SATA around now it's not as much of a problem today.

[jolphil]

Thanks for the tip raymac46. Usually after the hard shutdown it shuts off properly afterward.BTW this Motherboard has only one IDE channel..I suppose most later MoBo's may exclude IDE altogether.

So much for progress.

Thanks again,

jolphil

[raymac46]

Thanks for the tip raymac46. Usually after the hard shutdown it shuts off properly afterward.BTW this Motherboard has only one IDE channel..I suppose most later MoBo's may exclude IDE altogether.

So much for progress.

Thanks again,

jolphil

Well if you must use one IDE channel make sure the hard drive is set as master and DVD as slave then. Some mobos from the 2007 era have both IDE (for optical) and SATA (for HDD.)

Edited May 23, 2017 by raymac46

[securitybreach]

Thanks for the tip raymac46. Usually after the hard shutdown it shuts off properly afterward.BTW this Motherboard has only one IDE channel..I suppose most later MoBo's may exclude IDE altogether.

So much for progress.

Thanks again,

jolphil

Well if you must use one IDE channel make sure the hard drive is set as master and DVD as slave then.

 

Ah the good ole jumpers.... >_