I'm wondering if it's getting stuck on "firstboot", or possibly having a hard time getting the proper video resolution, also on firstboot. Two things to try. 1st let it sit there at that black screen for 10-15 minutes, see if it sorts itself out. (This sounds silly, but has occasionally worked, the machine was really just trying to figure out the video and was taking a long time) 2nd Boot into single mode (see instructions below, but instead of putting "vga=ask" put "single". Once you are booted into single user mode tell firstboot not to run. There are a couple ways to do that /sbin/chkconfig --level 2345 firstboot off or echo "RUN_FIRSTBOOT=NO" > /etc/sysconfig/firstboot Then reboot, and see if you come up in a graphical mode this time. Troy Alex Kruchkoff wrote: > Roger, > > Please do not send your questions to me but to the list instead [cc:ed]. > I can give you a hint: instead of default resolution 80x25 use different > with more rows/columns per screen - it would be easier to troubleshoot. > > When you'll see a GRUB screen waiting a few seconds, press any key [for > example an arrow down] it will bring the GRUB menu. > If you have more than 1 kernel [OS] to boot -- navigate to SL50. [using > up and down arrow keys] > > Press "e" [for edit] key and you will see all parameters to boot up your > SL 5.0 > Navigate to kernel line and press "e" again. > > If you have such options as "quiet" [means suppress kernel messages] or > "rhgb" [red hat graphical boot] remove them with Backspace. > also type "vga=ask" and press enter. > > Try to boot the kernel by pressing "b". > > At the begining the kernel will show standard VGA resolutions in the > text mode. > Try "scan" to find extra modes implemented in your BIOS. > > Select mode with the highest resolution something like 144x64 or > whatever option you'll have. There are more chances that you spot some > error message. > > BTW my laptop is very strange -- it's impossible to boot up linux or > solaris if the USB mouse is attached. The laptop will freeze. So I can > insert usb mouse only after a few initial checks (with [OK] lines). > > Thanks, > Alex > > PS May be someone on the list has a hardware similar to yours and will > give another advise on how to troubleshoot your problem. This is why > posting to the list is much better than to an individual > > > > Roger Hunter wrote, On 05/30/2007 11:14 AM: >> Thanks Alex. >> >> No, no error messages. The install gives all sorts of messages, most >> too fast to read or record. >> >> Rger >> >> /-------Original Message-------/ >> >> /*From:*/ Alex Kruchkoff <mailto:[log in to unmask]> >> /*Date:*/ Tuesday, May 29, 2007 07:02:05 PM >> /*To:*/ Roger Hunter <mailto:[log in to unmask]> >> /*Cc:*/ [log in to unmask] >> <mailto:[log in to unmask]> >> /*Subject:*/ Re: Proprietary video drivers in SL5 (ati & nvidia) >> >> Roger, >> >> As you replied to my email I assumed, that you are subscribed to the >> list. >> >> Just post your question/s to [log in to unmask] >> <mailto:[log in to unmask]> >> <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [I cc:ed]. Someone will help. >> >> You probably need to post error messages that you see on the screen, >> while you computer is trying to boot. >> >> When you turn the computer on, do you see any messages from the BIOS >> POST? >> Did you see any GRUB [boot loader messages]? >> Did you see any kernel messages while the kernel is loaded? >> >> Thanks, >> Alex >> >> >> Roger Hunter wrote, On 05/30/2007 09:37 AM: >> > Alex; >> > >> > Pardon me for butting in but I have no idea how to use these mailing >> > lists. >> > >> > My problem with SL50 is that it will in no way boot up from my hard >> > disk. It goes thru the install, gets to the point where it should >> > bring up the login screen and freezes with a black screen. >> > >> > I have an 850MHz AMD Athlon with over 700Mb RAM and two drives; a >> > 200Gb and a 40Gb. The big drive has a dozen other flavors of Linux >> > installed so I'm totally in the darkabout this. >> > >> > Roger >> > >> >> . >> >> >> >> >> ____________________________________________________ >> <http://www.incredimail.com/redir.asp?ad_id=309&lang=9> /IncrediMail/ >> - *Email has finally evolved* - *_Click Here_* >> <http://www.incredimail.com/redir.asp?ad_id=309&lang=9> -- __________________________________________________ Troy Dawson [log in to unmask] (630)840-6468 Fermilab ComputingDivision/LCSI/CSI DSS Group __________________________________________________