SDB:SUSE Installation on Dell OptiPlex G1

Versions tested: 10.0 - 10.1

Installation of SUSE Linux on Dell OptiPlex G1 Desktop Computer

Situation

CD does not boot, the computer does not want to read the floppy. Everything seems to be hopeless. Don't worry! Try again following this article.

Procedure

Problems, which may occur:

Installation CD does not boot and I cannot enter BIOS

Make sure, that your boot sequence is set up correctly - CD-ROM should be booting first.

a) Reboot the computer and enter the BIOS by pressing ALT+CTRL+ENTER

b) Make sure, that your CDROM drive is recognized at the boot-time. Both primary and secondary drives should be set on AUTO (sometimes SECONDARY MASTER is set for NONE!!!)

c) Press Alt+B and change the boot sequence, so that the CDROM is the first drive

d) Press Alt+P in order to save the changes and reboot the system

Your CD-ROM should boot now.

Computer hangs while trying to boot the installation

Last message seen: Searching for info file...

Starting HAL deamon...

We can see the boot menu now. Choose "safe settings" in order switch off all of the problematic options like ACPI support or APM, at least for the installation time.

I can go through the first part of installation, but when it comes to installing software computer hangs

Boot from the installation CD1 but don't press enter yet. Press F3 and add manual=1 to the command line. You can press enter now.

Enter the manual installation. Select language, keyboard layout and press OK. What we have to do now is to load the appropriate driver for our CD-ROM drive. Although piix seems to work properly - it does not! Choose the section

Load Kernel modules -> IDE/RAID/SCSI 

Choose one of the modules. The right one shoud be loaded correctly into the memory and should make your CD Drive work, what you are going to hear once the driver is loaded

dtc2250 worked with me.

Go back now and start the installation.

NOTE: You will probably have to load the same module once again during the installation, if the same problem occures with CD2.

OK, the installation from the 1CD is over, but when I try to install from the 2CD it hangs

After the first CD is completed - there will be a reboot. Don't replace the CD1 yet! Let the system boot for the second time from the bootable installation CD numero 1. Now you have to follow the procedure of point 2.3 again BUT instead of choosing "Start the installation", take "Boot installed system". Continue the installation from other CDs, configure the system and enjoy it!

Links, summary and additional notes

Note, that not every problem listed above must occur during your installation on OptiPlex. If you have some more, please let me know by sending an e-mail on: oozie@poczta.fm

Special thanks for Jakub Friedl for his useful suggestions!

Let me know if you made use of this article aswell :)

Greetings,

OOZIE

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