Multiple problems installing Maya 32bit LTS

[arclite]

My problem is that I downloaded Mint Maya 32bit LTS because it has a 486 kernel and it is compatible with non-PAE CPUs. Having downloaded it and in trying to install it I discovered the B43 Broadcom wireless chipset issue was also present causing a Kernel PANIC!

I followed the guide, held the shift key at reboot and edited the Grub run-time boot to include the b43.blacklist at the correct point in the Linux line...

But this then failed! The X server is incorrectly set up:

Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the x server output to diagnose the problem?

<Yes>

The X.org X server 1.11.3
Release Date: 2011-12-16
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-29-server i686 Ubuntu

...and this is the bit that has me both confused and worried:

Current Operating System: Linux <server name>3.2.0-23-generic #36-Ubuntu SMP Tue Apr 10 20:41:14 UTC 2012 i686
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic
root=UUID=dc09c594-8d0c-4237-9991-c02c75937111 ro quiet splash b43.blacklist=yes vt.handoff=7
Build Date: 04 April 2012 11:58:38pm
xorg-server 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu10 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
Current version of pixman: 0.24.4
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure you have the latest version.
<Ok>

I am confused because I had selected a kernel that was non-PAE CPU friendly and now this X server error report seems to state the current kernel is in fact an i686 kernel and I have read this "i686" designation means multi-processor or multi-core processor support and this implies PAE CPUs. Can anybody put me straight because I now have this X server error report and I cannot be sure this is the root of the problem if the wrong kernel has somehow been installed? The live version failed to start until [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del] was pressed. An interesting work around but not very informative.

If 486 support is maintained by Mint for all versions? Should I upgrade to Mint 17 instead of staying with Mint 13 LTS?

Yes I am desperate to fix all the above, it started last week with a promise to upgrade this old laptop with a simple Linux replacement for XP. The owner is becoming uncomfortable without their email. I have an Armada M700 with only 512MB + 64MB of memory, a DVD writer and a 100Mbs ethernet network connection and a Cisco 54Mbs WiFi PCMCIA card. This works with Maya 32bit and all pre-installed software very happily by comparison.

[PatH57]

Hi,

you give the details of your hardware, that's nice but what about the laptop you are trying to install Mint 13 on?
Also avoid using red most of the time, it just hurts. Only really highlight the relevant point.

[Mute Ant]

''I have an Armada M700 with only 512MB + 64MB of memory, a DVD writer and a 100Mbs ethernet network connection and a Cisco 54Mbs WiFi PCMCIA card. This works with Maya 32bit and all pre-installed software very happily by comparison.''

By comparison with what? Please tell us about the machine that doesn't work.

Will you please confirm the following...
o The Live-DVD startup menu item Memory Test runs to 100% pass.
o The Live-DVD startup menu item Check Integrity runs to 100% pass.
o The Live-DVD startup menu item Compatibility Mode gives you a working session.

These are rather sharp reminders from the Debian Forum...
Ever wonder why your post isn't getting answered? http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php? ... 29#p281948
What we expect you have already Done. http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=47078/
...if you make us guess, you will get guesswork.

[PatH57]

and on Sunday my crystal ball has it's day off
no really help us to help you.

[arclite]

Thank you for your reply. I realised the report was more important than my comment, I am a little red faced. The laptop the problems are occurring with is a Compaq nc6000.

Pentium M 1.7 GHz, 2MB L2 cache
14-inch XGA (1024×768) TFT Display
64 MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9600
2048 MB RAM
80 GB, 5400 RPM hard drive
CD-RW/DVD-ROM
Intel PRO Wireless 2200BG; replaced with a broadcom based compatible card
Bluetooth

The system memory test Memtest86+ v1.78 also with Gparted ran 100% pass on all tests last night.
The integrety check passed: no errors found
Compatibility test: Black screen with Linux Mint 13 ....( session 1)131.106349/Session 2)129.459751 Unknown parameter b43.blacklist
Splash screen was scrambled
Log in screen (non functional due to no live session account)
XFCE desktop appears complete as expected for live session.

With thanks.

[PatH57]

makes a bit more sense.
also you probably did use magic parted (gparted is only a partition tool for debian/ubuntu) based on a pae kernel 3.14 (see it does work)
So the b43 is not to blame for(remove it from your grub entry and the unit should be able to run a pae kernel
It's just a decision made by Ubuntu not to support this kind of in "between" cpu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour ... ug/1072311
try a normal Mint 13 64 bit. (Xfce is recommende as the graphic card is a bit limit)

[arclite]

Apology, my fault it is because I interrogated the system with the following terminal command line identified here http://askubuntu.com/questions/128396/h ... ne-has-pae
:
grep --color=always -i PAE /proc/cpuinfo
:
With the following returned from my Armada M700
:
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 sep mtrr pge mca cmov pse36 mmx fxsr sse
:
But from the Compaq nc6300 there was no returned statement at all to this command line.

Based on the given explanation, the CPU in the nc6300 is not a CPU with PAE.

This brings me to the point of asking for any suggestions because the compatibility mode should not in this case affect the PAE situation, it is the kernel, chosen for its non-PAE support that is responsible for Linux Mint 13 running successfully on this machine. It is a matter of finding out what other issues are likely. As the screen is dark, my first thought was the graphics driver. The X server has pointed this out but if the b43 causes instability here? I cannot find a way of adding a b43 blacklist statement to the Grub boot from the DVD session or where in what file this statement must be placed for it to be recognised?

At least if this is completed it will remove a large question about the cause of the boot failure.

With thanks for your help so far.

[PatH57]

the fisrt thing I would try is the

nomodeset

http://askubuntu.com/questions/207175/w ... modeset-do

[arclite]

Thank you PatH57!

I have focussed on the temporary Grub boot configuration with your help. The location of the nomodeset is apparently before the "quiet splash" statement. There appears to be some variation in the statement order described by different authors. I am happy with putting both the graphics "nomodeset" statement and the Broadcom chipset bug statement "b43.blacklist=yes" before that of "quiet splash". It appeared to work without fail in this order. Any confirmation?

I read carefully and located an instruction to edit /etc/default/grub with either gedit or nano

Here the instructions at, http://askubuntu.com/questions/38780/ho ... 8782#38782, to add the nomodeset statement (and in my case the b43 chipset statement) differed from other instructions as described above but also included is a precise guide to manually edit the correct Grub file to avoid the need to manually edit the Grub boot options every time the machine is started so the following line:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=<etc> + "quiet splash" + <etc>
became
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=<etc> + " nomodeset b43.blacklist=yes quiet splash " + <etc>
where for different systems there may be <etc> other arguments included; but this is not always the case.

The laptop does now boot extremely quickly and reliably. All I have to do now is to find the correct references for the firmware and the driver for my particular Broadcom wireless chipset to enable WiFi .

I am grateful for your attention to my trouble in getting these problems sorted. Your support has been much appreciated and you have kept my focus where it needed to be. I wish you all the very best in your own interests. I have learned a great deal today and my confidence in working with Linux has improved despite what appeared to be at the beginning of the day a Himalayan mole hill.

[PatH57]

welcome to the Mint community.
Don't forget to add [solved] to the subject of your first post, it could help others.

[arclite]

Footnote: after completing all the steps above the WiFi would not engage. Various tools were provided on the B43 pages and install guides but the hardware was still not accessible. Finally I read it was possible to read install the windows hardware driver for the particular chipset. This I did and the WiFi system was recognised immediately. The system now works perfectly and Maya non-pae kernel is the perfect replacement for Windows XP. As an LTS version it will be happily supported until April 2017 by which time the laptop can be gracefully retired to perform such tasks as a firewall, an intrusion detector and or a honey jar device. It could be successful as a cloud print server so that all my mobile documents are printed remotely and are ready for when I return to my office.

Down to earth, I have installed the latest LibreOffice, not the bundled version. I have set up the software sources and I have a working version of Google Chrome which for technical reasons is a big milestone for me.

The freedom open access to technical information that is both accurate and is presented in a step by step way has made it posssible for me to learn and to gain confidence. The genuine helpfulness freely given by forum users has demonstrated what is possible because of community spirit. UBUNTU! This is a MINT experience. I see Microsoft has finally given up on Software vending and are now trying desperately to commercialise the internet with 'free' access to Office programs. I wish them success. I have learned to appreciate the meaning of giving freely for the benefit of community. A community that has blossomed. There is no 'I' in community, just a result far better than anybody bothered to guess possible. This last few days I have been made to feel part of the community. Maybe that's how it works.

[arclite]

Exactly so!