[ltp] Linux not stable

[Tod Harter]

Its true that 8.1 was a pretty useable version of MDK, and I still run it=
 on=20
some of my web servers, and I ran it on an A20p for a year, but if you=20
upgraded to 9.0 you would be MUCH happier! If you have a decent broadband=
=20
connection just download them. The trick is to use the mirrors in the=20
Netherlands, they are WAY faster than any of the crappy US mirrors. The o=
ther=20
trick is to download the non-iso stuff (ie, the actual archive that is st=
ored=20
on the ftp server, usually the directory tree from like=20
/pub/linux/Mandrake/i386/9.0/ (but of course each mirror is slightly=20
different). I just replicate that entire tree to an FTP server at home, t=
hen=20
do an FTP based install (you just have to dd the network.img boot floppy=20
image to a floppy disk). Of course this all requires having 2 machines, b=
ut=20
when you're done its nice because you don't have to find the missing CDRO=
M a=20
week later to install the RPM you forgot when you did the install...

Or you can always buy the disks from Cheaper Bytes for 3 or 4 bucks...

Your problems could be from several causes:

1) the mem=3D problem, bios stomps on kernel memory unless you boot with =
mem=3D=20
something. I don't know the details since it doesn't seem to be a problem=
=20
with my system.

2) Is your bios up to date? Flash the bios on your machine up to the late=
st=20
patch level. Many problems go away once you do that.

3) Maybe your kernel is not really correctly set up for your system. I se=
em to=20
remember having to tinker with 8.1, and in fact I think I ditched Mandrak=
e's=20
kernel and used a stock 2.4.19 or something around that. You can easily=20
install stock kernels and it should not cause a problem. Pay special=20
attention to certain options in the kernel that are designed to allow you=
 to=20
fix APM and shutdown problems, esp with IBM bios.

4) Hardware bad? Even if Windoze runs on a system it can sometimes be tha=
t=20
some hardware in the machine is marginal and peculiarities of the OS can =
lead=20
to one OS running and another one being unstable on a given platform.


On Sunday 27 October 2002 12:40 am, surferjeff@excite.com wrote:
> I have been experiencing a lot of instability using Linux.  I am trying=
 to
> use Linux to specifically get away from MS's unstable products.
>
> For example, when I shutdown machine, I think my machine actually compl=
etes
> the shutdown process only about 30% of the time.  Usually it hangs on
> PCMCIA (even though there are no PCMCIA cards installed) or it hangs on=
 the
> stopping logging part.
>
> Also, yesterday, I was browsing the internet (actually, MSDN) and the
> system just totally hosed itself.  It started reading and writing to th=
e
> hard disk like crazy, and the whole system slowed to a crawl.  I did a
> "shutdown now", and it never really made it into the shutdown process.
>
> Why am I experiencing all these problems?  Is anyone else experiencing
> them?  I'm using Mandrake Linux 8.1, which is a little old, but I don't
> remember Linux being famously unstable a year ago. Linux Version
> 2.4.8-26mdk, Compiled #1 Sun Sep 23 17:06:39 CEST 2001
>
> I'm really doing ordinary things with my computer.  I haven't touched t=
he
> kernel or installed anything sketchy or anything like that.  I just add=
ed
> the mwave modem driver, and actually, Linux wasn't shutting down correc=
tly
> even before I added that driver.
>
> Please help!
>
> Sincerely,
> Jeffrey Glen Rennie
>
>  --- On Sat 10/26,   wrote:
> From:  [mailto: brianweber4@attbi.com]
> To: linux-thinkpad@linux-thinkpad.org
> Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2002 23:20:00 +0000
> Subject: [ltp] Region Free DVD works in Mandrake 9.0!
>
> > Today, I was also able to get Region Free DVD working on
> > an IBM Thinkpad 380Z usitg OGLE DVD Player in Mandrake
> > linux 9.0!
> >
> > OGLE download:
> >
> > http://www.dtek.chalmers.se/groups/dvd/
> >
> > This Thinkpad does not ever come with a DVD drive from
> > IBM, but it accepted a Toshiba 4X SD-C-2202.
> >
> > IBM does not list a 380Z DVD drive option, but it works
> > none the less.
> >
> > I also upgrade the Pentium II 233 processor to a PII 333.
> > Processor. This upgrade is also not an option with the
> > Thinkpad 380Z per IBM, but also works fine!
> >
> > I was able to flash the SD-C-2202 DVD drive with Region
> > Free firmware and with OGLE can watch all DVDs from all
> > world regions!!
> >
> > Region Free Firmware:
> >
> > http://forum.firmware-flash.com/dl_firmware.php?category=3D2&manufact=
or=3D31
> >
> > I used firmware version 1021. !!BE SURE TO CHECK THE
> > STICKER ON YOUR DVD DRIVE  OR WINDOWS DEVICE MANAGER FOR
> > THE CORRECT ROM VERSION!!
> >
> > The CS4237B sound chip works well also using the setup below:
> >
> > 1) Disable Plug N Play function in Thinkpad BIOS by
> >
> > > shutting off quick boot option.
> > >
> > > 2) Run sndconfig in superuser terminal using these
> >
> > CS423X values:
> > > io=3D530, irq=3D 5, dma=3D1, dma2=3D3, mpu io=3D330, mpu irq=3D9.
> > >
> > > 3) Log on as root, in file:/etc/pcmcia/config.opts edit
> >
> > as a comment by placing # in frount of line:
> > > include port 0x100-0x4ff, port 0xc00-0xcff
> > >
> > > 4) In KDE control panel, set sound server to start at
> > > boot, using autodetect settings.
> > >
> > > 5) use Kmix to set & save volumes.
> >
> > So there you have it, sound & Region Free DVD in Mandrake
> > 9.0 on an IBM PII 333 Thinkpad 380Z!!
> >
> > > *
> >
> > --
> > The linux-thinkpad mailing list home page is at:
> > http://mailman.linux-thinkpad.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-thinkpad
>
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--=20
Tod G. Harter
Giant Electronic Brain