Install issues -- Fedora Core 1 (Yarrow)

[ubatch]

I am having trouble installing this distro, every time I try to install this, it gets to a random place and gets all funky with different colors all over the screen OR 1/2 the screen red and some text. This is both in graphical and text install modes. I am being told by most people that this is a problem with my NVideo GForce FX 5200 card, true? If this is true, that's why I am here. Please let me know if there are any solutions that I can do to fix this and install the Linux dstro. Thanks!

[ubatch]

Here is some information on my system, let me know if this stuff helps, or if you need more...

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System Information
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Time of this report: 5/4/2004, 22:36:20
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.030422-1633)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
BIOS: PTLTD - 6040000
Processor: Intel Pentium III, ~803MHz
Memory: 254MB RAM
Page File: 200MB used, 424MB available
Primary File System: n/a
DirectX Version: DirectX 8.1 (4.08.01.0810)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.01.2600.1106 32bit Unicode

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Display Devices
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce FX 5200
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device ID: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0322&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.10.5672 (English)
DDI Version: 8 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 3/24/2004 11:04:00, 4274560 bytes
Driver Signed: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD:
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 3/24/2004 11:04:00, 1895648 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4062-11CF-9875-0A2000C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0322
SubSys ID: 0x00000000
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result:
D3D7 Test Result:
D3D8 Test Result:

[rednuht]

I can not get Fedora Core to work with some laptops, even noprobe, text etc.
Try another distro

[hppnq]

Hmm.. Let's see: Toshiba laptop, Dell laptop, Compaq desktop, Dell desktop, custom AMD based desktop -- all success stories, pretty boring actually. ;-)

@ubatch: Can you give me bit more details about your hardware? (What brand is it? Monitor?) I don't think the problem can be attributed to the video card per se, since Fedora is perfectly capable of finding a working driver for it.

[LordMorgul]

Try enabling the vesafb framebuffer for the text mode install. You can do this by using the command: linux text vga=789
This will put the card into a 'graphics' text mode that may be more stable during the install for a 5200. It will be in 800x600 resolution, you can use vga=786 for 640x480 if necessary.

[ubatch]

Ok, well. To answer a question above, Fedora DOES find the driver, it says something like GForce FX (generic) but does not find my monitor driver. When I install I set it to CRT (whatever the highest res is lol). Is that the problem maybe? I think I tried running it at 800 x 600 but it still didnt work.

If you need more info from the dxdiag.txt here it is...

[LordMorgul]

When you choose the video driver do NOT select the generic FX.. that may be loading the 'vesa' X driver which does not work well (that also happened with RH9). Instead try choosing 'geforce 2 generic' and see if that works out. When you get it installed you should be able to use the 'nv' driver fine. (don't confuse vesa X driver with the vesafb module for terminals).

If you cannot install after selecting the 'geforce 2 generic' and a generic monitor the right size... then you better just try another distro. In the end... you should use a distro that will work for you.. not against.

[ubatch]

Well, I will use whatever distro I want yes, but the reason I chose Fedora is because I read it was one of the better beginner Linux distros, and yes...It would be my VERY FIRST Linux experience. haha. But havnt been able to install yet, so working on that first =P