Can only install Fedora not SuSE, Ubuntu, etc

[Pandelta]

I am rather new to Linux and am getting quite frustrated with it. I can install Fedora without a hitch, but can't install SuSE, Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, CentOS or PC Linux (all are latest versions). SUSE locks up when it trys to load the "installation program" screen, has a cat like creature that appears on a green screen but the progress bar below never shows up. All other distros lock up near the beginning usually after you select the install option. Can't run memory or cd check on that computer but can on others so its not any of the disks. Trying different boot options: the default core, screen size, safe mode, etc doesn't help. I have also changed more than a dozen bios settings (ACPI, USB, AGP Fast Writes, disabled overclocking, increased voltages) all to no avail. I even removed all but video card, changed from Nvidia to ATI cards, changed DVD and HDD drives, nothing works.

I have a Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe mobo with an Athlon XP, 1GB ram, Geforce 7600gs (also tried Radeon 128 Ultra).

Please help!
Jeff

[whych]

Try booting opensuse in safe mode with the variable 'nomodeset'
Type this in the boot menu options.

Also look at:
openSUSE Graphic Card Practical Theory Guide for Users
For help on getting your system to work with the correct video drivers.

[mikesd]

I am rather new to Linux and am getting quite frustrated with it. I can install Fedora without a hitch, but can't install SuSE, Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, CentOS or PC Linux (all are latest versions). SUSE locks up when it trys to load the "installation program" screen, has a cat like creature that appears on a green screen but the progress bar below never shows up. All other distros lock up near the beginning usually after you select the install option. Can't run memory or cd check on that computer but can on others so its not any of the disks. Trying different boot options: the default core, screen size, safe mode, etc doesn't help. I have also changed more than a dozen bios settings (ACPI, USB, AGP Fast Writes, disabled overclocking, increased voltages) all to no avail. I even removed all but video card, changed from Nvidia to ATI cards, changed DVD and HDD drives, nothing works.

I have a Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe mobo with an Athlon XP, 1GB ram, Geforce 7600gs (also tried Radeon 128 Ultra).

Please help!
Jeff

There should be an option to run memtest. Maybe you have a bad stick of RAM or one that is sending something messed up.

[Pandelta]

I ran memtest most of the day, no errors.

[gogalthorp]

Did you read the video card card guide referenced above? Did you try typing nomodeset in the options box at boot?

[Pandelta]

Did you read the video card card guide referenced above? Did you try typing nomodeset in the options box at boot?

I read through a good bit of the nvidia section but I haven't been able to read all of it yet. The nomodeset didn't work. I have a PCI ATI graphics card coming in a couple of days. I am going to try that, if it works than I know its something to do with the geforce card or agp slot, if not then its probably related to graphics or AGP port. I think it is though, because in Ubuntu I can't even get to an install screen option, I only get a black screen and never see any text or graphics, SuSE at least displays the install screen and runs Memtest.

[gogalthorp]

Well good luck with the ATI card. I have found that NVIDIA card do much better in Linux then ATI. There are more serious problems reported for them. It happens that the kernel that ships with 11.3 just does not seem to like any brand and all Linux flavors using it are having more or less the same problems. If you install the NVIDIA proprietary driver the problems should go away.

[Pandelta]

I got the card (9650 256mb) and it didn't work either. So I tried that same card in another machine and it worked by setting it to 1024x768 but that trick didn't work in the A7N8X-E board. I also tried using the Text Mode option under video card and it locked up on "Starting udev...." Does that still mean its a video problem? Also how do I load Nvidia drivers when I can't install Suse to the machine? I see F6 driver option but I haven't been able to get it to work. I am using the DVD edition if that matters.

[gogalthorp]

Maybe a BIOS problem then check for BIOS updates.

[Wifi-Fanatux]

Try adding the kernel arguments (boot parameters) "noapic nolapic" and change "acpi=" to "off", that is on distros you can get a boot screen for.

If that works, most installs will include those parameters when you install the distro.

Also, you might want to try Knoppix for that motherboard.