[SOLVED] Video fails on install

[roly]

My old box became unusable so am trying to get mageia 2 64 bit to install on another test box. The initial install screen comes up OK but when I hit install the screen goes blank but it seems to be at the next selection stage. When I hit enter the DVD flashes again. I have checked this forum and tried many of the suggestions but most seem to be for after the install. I also have tried putting "xdriver=nouvou, nvidia and vesa", I have tried all the resolutions on the bottom menu.

This test box installs all the other dis-trows I have and has Fedora on it now.

The box is a AMD 64 bit processor with a 500 G drive and 1 Gig ram.
The video card is a Nvidia Gforce 7100 with 128 mb ram.
Any help is appreciated.

[doktor5000]

Did you check the md5sum of the DVD image?

[roly]

Yes and the same DVD was installed on my wife's new PC which works fine. It also installed fine on the old PC of mine whitch has since failed.
I am your old pain with the erroneous ebook problem. ;>}

I am currently using my wife's PC which since I am a doomer is not good for our relationship. ;.}

[martinw]

At that stage of the install, I don't think it uses anything other than basic vesa functionality - which should work with pretty much any graphics card. I can't think of much to suggest, except under Kernel Options, try out the "Safe Settings", "No ACPI", and "No local APIC" options.

If you select "Hardware Detection Tool" instead of "Install", does that work?

[roly]

I have tried all those. I think it uses basic vesa on the boot when you select what you want to do such as install etc.. I can select install where I see the kernel being loaded then I beleive it switches to a x11 driver and that is where it fails.
I am somewhat disappointed in the unbreakable x11 but still wnat to stick with magia.
Appreciate the reply.

[doktor5000]

Is there some setting in your BIOS to change the mode of your IDE or SATA controller to/from AHCI?

[wintpe]

just for elimination, can you have a go at the text mode install.

(if it still exists in mga2)

when the CD presents the Boot: type in text and hit return

I know the text mode installer is painfull.

but if it completes, you can then boot safemode and use the text based drakconf to set up your graphics.

Not suggesting for one min people should use this as a workaround, as it should work, but it will help with identifying

what might be going wrong as a blank screen tells us nothing.

regards peter

[roly]

Well it's become a moot point as the test box I was trying to bring mageia up on now will not go through the bios start, so I will have to wait untill I can afford a bare box.
I want to thank all the responders with their suggestions. ;>}

[doktor5000]

Well it's become a moot point as the test box I was trying to bring mageia up on now will not go through the bios start, so I will have to wait untill I can afford a bare box.

Could you please explain what you mean, i didn't understand the latter part.

[roly]

Sorry I should have been more clear. All the hardware I have is "old", close to 10 years so I cannot get parts easily/cheaply. When my wife's system died we went on line and bought a bare bones system (new) which includes everything but the hard drive and you have to put it together which makes it cheaper. The original system was around 10 years and my test box which just failed was abought a year newer. One of the benifits of open source is PC longevity. ;>}

I have been thinking and problem with both boxes could be memory contact problems so I am going to try cleaning the memory sticks on both PC's and see what happens.

If that does not work I will save up and buy me a "bare bones" system. ;>}

[roly]

Just to let everyone know I pulled the memory sticks out of both PC's and cleaned the contacts. Both appear to be running so the wife is happy and so amI. ;>y

[isadora]

Great news roly!!!!

Now, would you please be so kind, marking the topic [SOLVED]?.

Thanks in advance.

[roly]

I did but technically it's not,mageia 2 still will not install on my test box. ;>}