29 freezes up during Linux install

Hey Gents, long time to type -

Got a new one (for me that is)

- Got a CF29, 29c3kgzdm with new HD and stock ram at 512. Was able to without any issues install a fresh windows XP and no issues, other that the internal wifi card (new) will not show up in the hardware?
- I am doing a dual boot setup with XP and Ubuntu (I have done this many times with not a problem, issue is that it will locks up during the Ubuntu install, gives me the blinking caps lock and up/down arrow light and will not do anything.
- I have taken all added memory out and still does it.
- Locks up at random points, never the same place.
- install disc and CD rom are known good and working.

Any thoughts on the freeze up ?

Thanks as always guys -

Clint

 

The blinking lights are a sign of a kernel panic. If you're able to install Ubuntu, look at the contents of /var/log/kern.log, there may be useful info in there.
I'm not sure if you've started a thread on the Ubutu forums, but if you haven't I would reccomend doing so, as they would be able to assist you more than I can.

 

Thanks, will open a thread at Ubuntu but wanted to pick the brain trust here as well - thanks again

Clint

 

Check the integrity of your Unbuntu disk and the checksum, you may need to redownload and reburn if either of those don't check out. Also despite what the website says it really wants more than 512 MB of ram to install.

 

I had issues downloading to a DVD. With a CD no problem I think they mention this in their site.

 

Could it possibly be that Ubuntu isn't quite as well-versed on the Toughbook-specific hardware and firmware features as we'd like to think, and perhaps that might have caused a kernel lockup or some sort of process exception to have occured?

My preferred version of Linux is Gentoo (it's going onto my now-'retired' CF-28) though I like Debian since it has a very large (and therefore broader) system coverage that most other variants of Linux.

Craig.

 

Alright,
Got it - not sure what the real deal is but something is up with the wireless card I have, same one that I have used many times before and known Ubuntu friendly but not sure what is up with this one. I disable it in the BIOS and Bammo, installed not probs.

Appriciate the thoughts and for FYI Ubuntu behaves quite well on the Toughbooks, only thing you have to be mindful of is the 28's will not take anything after LTS 8.04, same for the CFM-34. The 29 is game on so far, I have mine running latest 9.10 and will soon find out how 10.04 behaves when it finally is released. surnk thanks for the info on Gentoo, I had played with a bunch of the other distro's but stuck with Ubuntu for all my Linux, I will have to check out Gentoo.

Thanks again guys, Clint

 

If you like ubuntu try linux Mint, it is based on the latestest Ubuntu but it has fantastic wireless hardware and system hardware detection. I am currently dual booting it with windows xp.