topic title: antiX 13.1 booting to black screen before log in
Posts: 5
jbiddy
Joined: 15 Sep 2013
#1
I installed antiX 13.1 to an old IBM Thinkpad T20. P-III 700 Mhz with 384 MB of RAM. I had to use the F5 option to get it to boot to the live cd but it made it there sure enough. I was able to install and boot into antiX, everything seemed to be working fine but the next day when I tried to turn it on it gives me a black screen after boot up but before the log in screen. Sometimes after a few restarts it can get into the OS but most of the time I'm getting nothing but black, no blinking cursor or anything. Any ideas? Anymore information I should add?

Edit: Perhaps if I add some more information. When the screen goes black it's lit up and the keyboard appears to respond somewhat. The screen brightness controls on the keyboard work, that I can confirm. It has an S3/Savage video card. 8 MB I believe.
Posts: 2,238
dolphin_oracle
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
#2
which F5 option did you select at bootup?

can you still boot from the livecd?

Thanks.

d.o.
Posts: 5
jbiddy
Joined: 15 Sep 2013
#3
I used the very safe option from F5. If I use that option again I can get into the Live CD environment.
Posts: 4,164
rokytnji
Joined: 20 Feb 2009
#4
Having a a22m and t23 myself. I suggest a good cleaning as it sounds like yours is dirty. Can of Air and a good blow job is in order probably. Taking the unit apart for best results.

Hard drive might be failing also.

I have gone through mine with a fine tooth comb and both
now run as good as new. Batteries hold a good 1 1/2 hour charge. New ram (samsung low density).
New ide hardrive. DVDROM. Now if I could afford to get my Panasonic CF-48 in the same condition
but I need a lcd cable for it from inverter to screen first.

A inxi -F readout in a post of yours would help your thread also. Savage graphics are on my ibms also.

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: biker Kernel: 3.7.10-antix.3-486-smp i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.7.3) 
           Desktop: IceWM 1.3.7 Distro: antiX-13_386-full Luddite 01 June 2013
Machine:   Mobo: IBM model: 26474MU Bios: IBM version: 1AET64WW (1.20 ) date: 10/18/2006
CPU:       Single core Mobile Intel Pentium III CPU - M (-UP-) cache: 512 KB flags: (pae sse) bmips: 2397.9 clocked at 1200.00 MHz 
Graphics:  Card: S3 SuperSavage IX/C SDR bus-ID: 01:00.0 
           X.Org: 1.12.4 drivers: savage (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1024x768@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on softpipe GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 8.0.5 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card: Intel 82801CA/CAM AC'97 Audio Controller driver: snd_intel8x0 ports: 1c00 18c0 bus-ID: 00:1f.5 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.7.10-antix.3-486-smp
Network:   Card-1: Ralink RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI driver: rt61pci ver: 2.3.0 bus-ID: 07:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Intel 82801CAM (ICH3) PRO/100 VE (LOM) Ethernet Controller 
           driver: e100 ver: 3.5.24-k2-NAPI port: 6400 bus-ID: 02:08.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 80.0GB (9.5% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: ST980815A size: 80.0GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 73G used: 7.1G (11%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 1.12GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 55.0C mobo: 47.0C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 4903 
Info:      Processes: 97 Uptime: 3:35 Memory: 357.4/1007.8MB Runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 4.7.2 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.2.37) inxi: 1.9.7
Above is my IBM T23.
Posts: 1,308
BitJam
Joined: 31 Aug 2009
#5
jbiddy wrote:I installed antiX 13.1 to an old IBM Thinkpad T20. P-III 700 Mhz with 384 MB of RAM. I had to use the F5 option to get it to boot to the live cd but it made it there sure enough. I was able to install and boot into antiX, everything seemed to be working fine but the next day when I tried to turn it on it gives me a black screen after boot up but before the log in screen. Sometimes after a few restarts it can get into the OS but most of the time I'm getting nothing but black, no blinking cursor or anything. Any ideas? Anymore information I should add?
Using the"F5 Video Mode" -->"safe" and"very safe" options both add the"nomodeset" boot parameter. You can verify this by hitting the F12 key which will show you all the current boot parameters. This boot parameter should have been carried over automatically to the installed system. But I think this is a red herring.

A very similar problem was reported and solved recently in the Ubuntu forums:

========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2110182"
linktext was:"https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2110182"
====================================


========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1688211"
linktext was:"https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1688211"
====================================


It is related to a switch from the"s3" driver to the"savage" driver. The same switch was made in antiX.

An easy way to try this fix in antiX is to boot the LiveCD using the"xdrvr=vesa" boot parameter (you will have to type it in by hand. It will be added to the F5 menu in the next release). Leave F5 at the default. This will create a minimal xorg.conf that forces X to use the vesa driver instead of the savage driver. If this works, mount the root partition of your installed system while you are running the LiveCD and (as root) copy xorg.conf over to the installed system. On the command line it would look something like:

Code: Select all

sudo cp /@etc/X11/xorg.conf /media/sda1/@etc/X11
NOTE: remove the @sign between"/" and"etc". Twice. There is a bug in the forum software that doesn't let me post without it.

The"sda1"will have to be changed if you installed antiX on a different partition.

On the LiveCD you can use"F4 Options" -->"mount all" to have all your partitions automatically mounted at boot time.

I don't understand why you would need"F5 Video Mode" set to"safe" or"very safe" to boot with a Savage card. Maybe the booting is just erratic. It is conceivable that it would be more likely to boot via the LiveCD due to timing issues. There might be some cleanup that happens the first time you boot an installed system which would also slow it down a bit. I don't fully understand what caused your symptoms but I think the solution is to use the"vesa" driver as I outlined above.
Posts: 5
jbiddy
Joined: 15 Sep 2013
#6
rokytnji wrote:
A inxi -F readout in a post of yours would help your thread also. Savage graphics are on my ibms also.
Here's mine:

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: biddy-antiX1 Kernel: 3.7.10-antix.3-486-smp i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.7.3) 
           Desktop: IceWM 1.3.7 Distro: antiX-13.1_386-full Luddite 19 June 2013
Machine:   Mobo: IBM model: 264786U Bios: IBM version: IYET53WW (1.13 ) date: 12/21/1999
CPU:       Single core Pentium III (Coppermine) (-UP-) cache: 256 KB flags: (pae sse) bmips: 1394 clocked at 700.00 MHz 
Graphics:  Card: S3 86C270-294 Savage/IX-MV bus-ID: 01:00.0 
           X.Org: 1.12.4 drivers: savage (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1024x768@60.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on softpipe GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 8.0.5 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card: Cirrus Logic CS 4614/22/24/30 [CrystalClear SoundFusion Audio Accelerator] 
           driver: snd_cs46xx bus-ID: 00:05.0 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.7.10-antix.3-486-smp
Network:   Card-1: Intel 82557/8/9/0/1 Ethernet Pro 100 driver: e100 ver: 3.5.24-k2-NAPI port: 1800 bus-ID: 00:03.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Atheros AR5212/AR5213 Wireless Network Adapter driver: ath5k bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: wlan1 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 30.0GB (9.8% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_MK3018GA size: 30.0GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 27G used: 2.8G (11%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 1.07GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 66.0C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 0 
Info:      Processes: 88 Uptime: 5 min Memory: 219.5/373.7MB Runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 4.7.2 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.2.37) inxi: 1.9.9
I've been doing a lot of reading the last week about this laptop and one of the things I've seen is that the T20 has a large gap between the lug and heatsink and the thermal pad used for contact can degrade over time. I'm wondering if it needs a new thermal pad. 66.0C is pretty hot, and there are no rpms coming from the fan, and no temp from the mobo. Might some sensors also be broken?

I'll take it apart this weekend if I can find some time and give it some canned air.
Posts: 4,164
rokytnji
Joined: 20 Feb 2009
#7
Well yours is 10 degrees centigrade hotter than mine and when I posted that inxi readout (long ago in another thread),
well, I probably had that laptop running for hours before I posted that so 55C is probably tops for mine. Plus, it was probably
sitting in my lap also which blocks the vents and makes a poor heat sink.

So yeah, I think you are running hot if that is a short session readout on a good smooth surface like a table or desk.
I ran lm-sensors so FAN speeds may not be detected unitl you run a sensor detect.

Also, Antix has always gave me grub error messages about my old ibm bios and may be corrupted blah blah blah.

I just ignore the FUD and run it.
Posts: 5
jbiddy
Joined: 15 Sep 2013
#8
I've ran the inxi -F command a few times and I'm getting anywhere between 44C and the high of 66C I posted previously at any given time with just Iceweasel and ROXTerm open.
Posts: 4,164
rokytnji
Joined: 20 Feb 2009
#9
I'm getting anywhere between 44C and the high of 66C
Sounds like the fan is running then. If you compare your graphics in in xi -F to mine.
Slightly different Savage graphics chip between the 2 but same driver.
If still getting black screen. I'd pick the vesa option in the F keys that BitJam talked about.
Posts: 4,164
rokytnji
Joined: 20 Feb 2009
#10
Ok, I am mistaken. The A22M uses ATI chip instead.

Code: Select all

$ acpi -i
Battery 0: Discharging, 98%, 04:47:10 remaining
Battery 0: design capacity 6037 mAh, last full capacity 4924 mAh = 81%
harry@biker:~
$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: biker Kernel: 3.7.10-antix.3-486-smp i686 (32 bit, gcc: 4.7.3) 
           Desktop: IceWM 1.3.7 Distro: antiX-13_386-full Luddite 01 June 2013
Machine:   Mobo: IBM model: 2628TWU Bios: IBM version: KXET33WW (1.06 ) date: 09/05/2001
CPU:       Single core Pentium III (Coppermine) (-UP-) cache: 256 KB flags: (pae sse) bmips: 1720.57 clocked at 1000.00 MHz 
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Rage Mobility P/M AGP 2x bus-ID: 01:00.0 
           X.Org: 1.12.4 drivers: ati (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) FAILED: mach64 Resolution: 1024x768@87.0hz 
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on softpipe GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 8.0.5 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card: Cirrus Logic CS 4614/22/24/30 [CrystalClear SoundFusion Audio Accelerator] 
           driver: snd_cs46xx bus-ID: 00:05.0 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.7.10-antix.3-486-smp
Network:   Card-1: 3Com 3c556B CardBus [Tornado] driver: 3c59x port: 1800 bus-ID: 00:03.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Ralink RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI driver: rt61pci ver: 2.3.0 bus-ID: 06:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 20.0GB (73.9% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: IC25N020ATCS04 size: 20.0GB 
Partition: ID: / size: 18G used: 14G (84%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 1.12GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 31.0C mobo: 28.0C 
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 0 
Info:      Processes: 102 Uptime: 1 min Memory: 76.5/500.7MB Runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 4.7.2 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.2.37) inxi: 1.9.14
I had to check the battery first because I am not plugged into the A/C adapter right now and was not sure it still
held a charge.

Edit: my bad. This A22M is 2001. Your T20 is 1999. __{{emoticon}}__
Posts: 4,164
rokytnji
Joined: 20 Feb 2009
#11
For added info. I run pmcia firewire,usb 2.0, mini firewire combo card along with a Belkin F5D 7010 ver.6 pcmcia wireless g card also on this laptop.

Code: Select all

$ lspci -knn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge [8086:7190] (rev 03)
    Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
00:01.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX AGP bridge [8086:7191] (rev 03)
00:02.0 CardBus bridge [0607]: Texas Instruments PCI1450 [104c:ac1b] (rev 03)
    Subsystem: IBM ThinkPad 600X/A21m/T20/T22 [1014:0130]
    Kernel driver in use: yenta_cardbus
00:02.1 CardBus bridge [0607]: Texas Instruments PCI1450 [104c:ac1b] (rev 03)
    Subsystem: IBM ThinkPad 600X/A21m/T20/T22 [1014:0130]
    Kernel driver in use: yenta_cardbus
00:03.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: 3Com Corporation 3c556B CardBus [Tornado] [10b7:6056] (rev 20)
    Subsystem: 3Com Corporation Device [10b7:6356]
    Kernel driver in use: 3c59x
00:03.1 Communication controller [0780]: 3Com Corporation Mini PCI 56k Winmodem [10b7:1007] (rev 20)
    Subsystem: 3Com Corporation Device [10b7:6159]
00:05.0 Multimedia audio controller [0401]: Cirrus Logic CS 4614/22/24/30 [CrystalClear SoundFusion Audio Accelerator] [1013:6003] (rev 01)
    Subsystem: IBM ThinkPad 600X/A20m [1014:0153]
    Kernel driver in use: snd_cs46xx
00:07.0 Bridge [0680]: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA [8086:7110] (rev 02)
00:07.1 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE [8086:7111] (rev 01)
    Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
00:07.2 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB [8086:7112] (rev 01)
    Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:07.3 Bridge [0680]: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI [8086:7113] (rev 03)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Rage Mobility P/M AGP 2x [1002:4c4d] (rev 64)
    Subsystem: IBM ThinkPad A20m/A21m [1014:0154]
02:00.0 USB controller [0c03]: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller [1106:3038] (rev 62)
    Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller [1106:3038]
    Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
02:00.2 USB controller [0c03]: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 [1106:3104] (rev 65)
    Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 [1106:3104]
    Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd
02:00.3 FireWire (IEEE 1394) [0c00]: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6306/7/8 [Fire II(M)] IEEE 1394 OHCI Controller [1106:3044] (rev 80)
    Kernel driver in use: firewire_ohci
06:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Ralink corp. RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI [1814:0301]
    Subsystem: Belkin F5D7010 v6000 Wireless G Notebook Card [1799:701e]
    Kernel driver in use: rt61pci
Posts: 5
jbiddy
Joined: 15 Sep 2013
#12
I tried to run sensors-detect but it didn't detect any sensors, something about older boards and ACPI.