install fails beacause x-server

[xfrank]

I'm trying to install a new version of Mint (whatever, but preferably LM18 Xfce or LMDE 2 Mate 32 bit) in an old Athlon 64 x2 PC (2GB RAM). This is to change the old LM13 Xfce 32 bit installation. The problem here are the integrated graphics: x-server won't work at the very beginning of the installation process, and just stops.

My inxi output is:

Code: Select all

xfrank@xfrank-OEM ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: xfrank-OEM Kernel: 3.2.0-110-generic i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.6.3) 
           Desktop: Xfce 4.10.2 (Gtk 2.24.10) Distro: Linux Mint 13 Maya
Machine:   System: Foxconn product: N/A
           Mobo: Foxconn model: K8M890-8237A Bios: Phoenix version: 6.00 PG date: 02/10/2007
CPU:       Dual core AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 svm) bmips: 8798.52 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 2200.00 MHz 2: 2200.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: VIA K8M890CE/K8N890CE [Chrome 9] bus-ID: 01:00.0 
           X.Org: 1.11.3 drivers: openchrome (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1440x900@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 0x300) GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 8.0.4 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card: VIA VT8237A/VT8251 HDA Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 80:01.0 Sound: ALSA ver: 1.0.24
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ driver: 8139too ver: 0.9.28 port: 9c00 bus-ID: 04:04.0
           IF: eth0 state: unknown speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 328.6GB (3.9% used) 1: /dev/sda WDC_WD3200AAJS 320.1GB 
           2: USB /dev/sdb MFC 8.5GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 20G used: 5.4G (29%) fs: ext4 ID: /home size: 13G used: 6.5G (53%) fs: ext4 
           ID: swap-1 size: 1.00GB used: 0.01GB (1%) fs: swap 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A 
Info:      Processes: 152 Uptime: 48 min Memory: 844.9/1885.8MB Runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.6.3 Client: Shell inxi: 1.7.33 

In short, there is indeed a working driver for Via Chrome 9 (Openchrome) but this is not working during the installation process.

[kukamuumuka]

Have you tried using xforcevesa option?

[xfrank]

I will try forcevesa and nomodeset. Thanks for the advice.

[xfrank]

Didn't work, but now I know why:

https://ubuntu-mate.community/t/via-chr ... ivers/2088

Openchrome (the driver for Chrome 9) is broken in the kernel, from 3.4. LM13 has kernel 3.2.
To use this computer with Linux, I have to find a distro that still use kernel 3.2, or find a way to install a modified/patched rom with that kernel.

[kukamuumuka]

Didn't work, but now I know why:

https://ubuntu-mate.community/t/via-chr ... ivers/2088

Openchrome (the driver for Chrome 9) is broken in the kernel, from 3.4. LM13 has kernel 3.2.
To use this computer with Linux, I have to find a distro that still use kernel 3.2, or find a way to install a modified/patched rom with that kernel.

One trick could be to make a custom iso, which uses older kernel and initrd. The easiest and fastest way to modify your iso is to use Isomaster. You can use some older LMDE-version kernel and initrd.

It works or not.