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Resolved Question

Hello All

Jul 22, 2013 6:40AM PDT

I really want to try this distro and have downloaded it 5 times and burned it to 5 dvd's and when I try to install on my hdd it , my screen goes blank. When I go to check out different mirrors and download them ... same thing. Now there's this part about downloading the correct MDS checksum that I don't understand, and obviously need some coaching. Here's what I want to try-> http://www.sabayon.org/release/press-release-sabayon-1304 . I want the Kda but having a hard time with this one for some reason. Throw The Dog A Bone...Thanks...Digger

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Best Answer

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Just a WAG
Jul 23, 2013 3:10AM PDT

I remember trying to load Linux on a Shuttle (mini PC) and experienced something similar to what you've described in your OP. It turned out to be with how my display was connected. I was using the DVI port and, for some reason, the installation wanted to use the VGA port. I swapped cables and the installation worked. I was able to use the DVI cable afterward.

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well James I'll give that a try
Jul 23, 2013 3:21AM PDT

I tried everything we discussed including enabling systemd and pressed "E" and "e" , couldn't find "safe boot" . I'm using HDMI so I'll swap cables and see what happens. Thank for the WAG

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Changing the cable didn't work
Jul 23, 2013 4:09AM PDT

I'm gonna try the Mate version and see if I have any luck. Maybe I'm too much of a newbie still for Gentoo. I'll let ya know how it turns out...Digger

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That was Steve
Jul 23, 2013 4:59AM PDT

He's right. I didn't realize you weren't using VGA. You need to use CVT command and then XRANDR most likely to define the HDMI display settings, but before that need to be able to access video. No VGA capability between the computer and the monitor?

Try hitting any key BEFORE the splash screen and see if you get boot options.

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Yes , The splash screen comes up
Jul 23, 2013 5:17AM PDT

and shows a menu , thats how I initiated systemd and the screen just went blank with both DVI and HDMI cables, but whats interesting here is that both 32 bit KDE and Mate versions work just fine on my 64 bit Toshiba laptop. So this has to be a stupid newbie thing. So what you and Steve are telling me to do is boot up the disc and look for XRANDER and try to reboot?

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OK Guys
Jul 23, 2013 6:26AM PDT

I hooked up the VGA cable again and I still can't get it to work for me. This distro just a lot more complicated than any other I've installed. Ya know I'd almost think that what they're calling 32 bit it's really 64 bit because it loads right up on my 64 bit laptop. I just can't believe this would be so complicated but there it is.I have about 36 hrs. invested in this and now I'm hangin' it up. I guess I have to go back to school for awhile and stick with easier distro's. This one's just a little too "cutting edge" for this newbie. I want to Thank you James and Steve for your help. It was a valiant effort....Digger

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when the boot options come up
Jul 23, 2013 6:58AM PDT

go to the "linuz" line and enter before the "quiet splash"

vga=791

And maybe you can get into the system and then set the monitor to the default resolution you want. Sounds like it's going "out of range".

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OK , I'll try 1 more time today
Jul 23, 2013 7:04AM PDT

I did that once but don't remember if I had VGA or HDMI now .

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Thats it for today on this
Jul 23, 2013 7:32AM PDT

what I'll do is borrow a regular 17in. Dell monitor from a friend and see what happens. We're beating a dead horse here James. Thanks again....Digger

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No,
Jul 23, 2013 7:03AM PDT

once you are able to get into the system is when you run the CVT and the XRANDR commands with the proper inputs to set it up for HDMI. CVT will give you the info needed to use with the XRANDR command.

You need to get into a fully booted system first. To do that you need to take the least problematic default VGA setting you can. If you ever find the boot options, typically with F# keys available to choose option changes, you can enter vga=791 and get into the system with a safe resolution and then immediately try the GUI version for setting your monitor. AFTER THAT you can setup the HDMI if the system's not picked up on it.

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nice
Oct 9, 2013 7:30PM PDT

i hope you can do that

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Sorry Steve
Jul 23, 2013 5:04AM PDT

It's been rather confusing here , thank you

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Answer
what are you loading it on?
Jul 22, 2013 6:10PM PDT

If something that has or had windows and motherboard is EFI or UEFI, then you will need to adjust BIOS settings if Linux alone, or do some workarounds if dual boot.

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loading it on my
Jul 22, 2013 6:18PM PDT

dell 530s to duel boot with Win 7. this isn't a bios problem James it's something to do with downloading the "correct MDS checksum" and I can't figure it out, In my op I gave a site that explains this but like I said, I'm just not getting something.

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do you understand how MD5 checksum works?
Jul 22, 2013 6:24PM PDT

It has nothing to do with the ISO working or not. It's only a means of checking if you got the ISO completely intact, or it was hit up while downloading. Since you've done it at 5 different places I sort of doubt you got them all as corrupted.

How it works is you download the ISO, then run the MD5 checking program on it which will give you a value. You then compare that value to what is the correct one to see if it matches. If so, then you most likely got a good download. That's all it's about.

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no I don't understand checksum
Jul 22, 2013 6:31PM PDT

when I download the iso I also download the checksum?

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what exactly is happening?
Jul 22, 2013 6:31PM PDT

Here's a MD5 for one of those ISO files.

738632580a48a356f8a34ca74731dee1

Sabayon_Linux_13.04_amd64_CoreCDX.iso

http://mirror.clarkson.edu/sabayon/iso/main.html

When you run the install after burning the ISO file to the disc, is it requesting the MD5 during that process? You can download any file ending in MD5 and open it in a text editor and get the MD5 "hash" for it.

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well James it's weird
Jul 22, 2013 6:37PM PDT

with all 5 disc's I've tries, the splash screen comes up and than the screen goes blank and nothing happens after that. It'll just stay blank forever if I didn't manually hit the power button to shut down. I have however loaded several other distro's like the one I'm on now without a hitch. which by the way is PCLinuxOS

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I'm beginning to feel like a DIMWIT
Jul 22, 2013 6:44PM PDT

and I know it has to be something simple I'm missing Confused

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Turn off "secure boot" in the BIOS
Jul 22, 2013 6:53PM PDT

if you have that as an option, then try it.

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I'll look at the Bios
Jul 22, 2013 7:01PM PDT

and see if Secure Boot is an option

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did you read and use that info
Jul 22, 2013 6:49PM PDT

about "systemd" and doing the boot process and which type of install? Are you trying to load a 64 bit Linux onto a mobo with only 32 bit capable processor? How long are you waiting on the install before you stop it manually? Can you reach choices where you can choose "something else" or whatever they use to allow manual partitioning and installation?

"it's something to do with downloading the "correct MDS checksum" "

All that does is allow you to check the MD5 sum they obtained when checking their ISO to see if you get the same MD5 sum after downloading it. If so, then good to go. It's not necessary item for installing the distro though. Here's a wiki on it. It's no longer considered "secure" but it's still good enough for checking downloaded ISO files for the most part, especially those from a trusted source if only to insure the ISO downloaded gives the same sum which means it came intact across the internet. That's ALL it does, and isn't necessary for burning the ISO and using it beyond verifying you got a good download of the ISO.

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No I made sure
Jul 22, 2013 6:57PM PDT

I downloaded 32 bit (x84) each time and I waited over an hour one time just to make sure it wasn't gonna fire up so I assumed I was doing something wrong . I tried the downloads that I was directed to by the Distro makers and they all had that MD5 right with them, I'll give it another go after I study up on the info you supplied. I thank you James...Digger

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Hit ESC key
Jul 22, 2013 6:52PM PDT

when the splash screen comes up and see if you get a screen with options to change during the boot process or not.

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Tried ESC
Jul 22, 2013 6:58PM PDT

didn't do anything

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Here's common boot options
Jul 22, 2013 7:03PM PDT

If ESC key didn't work, maybe you hit it at the wrong time, or need to hit a Function key. Perhaps that site will tell you. Here's the options in Ubuntu which are pretty common for all Linux distros during the boot process since they all use GRUB or GRUB2. You just have to figure how to get to them. I remember years back using Knoppix on various computers and some were a pain to get it booted on, just trial and error of what would and wouldn't work for a particular motherboard.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

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I'll give it another shot in a day or so
Jul 22, 2013 7:10PM PDT

I've never had any problems with any distro before but this ones had me up on it for a day and a half and put the whoopin' on me lol. I just thought maybe because I've never tried a Gentoo distro I was screwing it up. I Will Get This Right! Thanks again for your time James.....Digger

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I'm going back to bed now
Jul 22, 2013 7:12PM PDT

too much to think on at this hour, lol.

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hit the "e" key
Jul 22, 2013 7:14PM PDT

that seems to be the latest thing for GRUB2 boot.

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HAHA, ok
Jul 22, 2013 7:19PM PDT

Go to sleep dude ! We'll get on it later. I'm sure if I get it you'll here me jumpin' and hootin' all the way where you live from here in Chicago