Sager 8887 Redhat Linux 8.0 and Windows XP dual boot
This is what I did to install Redhat 8.0 (from CD) and Windows XP on a sager 8887 to dual boot.
Machine specs
8887
P4 2.4GHZ P4 533 FSB
1024MB
40GB 5400RPM
No internal 802.11 wireless
Install steps.
Insert RH 9 CD.
Power up
boot with options Linux noprobe nofirewire nopcmcia
get into fdisk
created 4 partitions
1> 100 MB boot partition - mark is fat32
2> 30 GB NTFS for windows XP
3> 2 GB fat32 to share between windows and Linux
4> Rest of the drive as ext3 for Linux
Go Back to partition screen, use Disk Druid, and mark where Linux should be installed.
Install Linux (but it needs to be reinstalled a few times) You may not be able to install the GRUB loader without installing XP first.
Install Windows XP. Make sure you install it in the 30 GB partition (D: drive).
Install Linux once more - Use the same options as above to at the boot prompt.
In Disk Druid you will see the partitions. make sure /dev/hda3 (last partition) is set to /. I did not add any swap as I have 1GB of RAM.
Boot Loader:
At some point it will ask you about the boot loader.
I selected /hev/hda0 as Windows XP and to be default boot.
Also, extra parameters to the Linux kernel. - leave the ones that appear, but add nofirewire noprobe (This is to avoid the hang when it to tries to load the firewire module)
NOTE: These options do not work all the time. I installed a few times and it worked once, but not the other times. So, when 'nofirewire' is not taken, the boot process will hang. See below to resolve that.
Select the packages you need.
Monitor and video card. It detects ATI 9000. I selected the monitor as generic 1600x1200 with the higher refresh frequency.
After the install completes, remove the CD and reboot.
You should see the GRUB loader. you can select the Linux one and type 'e' to see if the options you specified are there.
Redhat 8.0 should boot now.
NOTE: If it hangs -
Boot with CD. type "linux rescue nofirewire noprobe" at the boot prompt.
Make sure your Linux install disk is loaded, so you can edit some conf files.
edit /etc/rc.sysinit - look for ohci1394 and comment out those lines.
Also, disable probing for new hardware 'chkconfig --level 345 kudzu off'
[For some reason, nofirewire option
is not honored when some package is installed.]
reboot and you should be able to boot up.
I am guessing the kernel needs to be recompiled to get firewire working.
If things still hang, try to add "nopcmcia"
If it still hangs add "nousb" and give it a shot.
Not working:
Fire wire
simulate middle mouse button
PCMCIA does owrk.
This is what I did to install Redhat 8.0 (from CD) and Windows XP on a sager 8887 to dual boot.
Machine specs
8887
P4 2.4GHZ P4 533 FSB
1024MB
40GB 5400RPM
No internal 802.11 wireless
Install steps.
Insert RH 9 CD.
Power up
boot with options Linux noprobe nofirewire nopcmcia
get into fdisk
created 4 partitions
1> 100 MB boot partition - mark is fat32
2> 30 GB NTFS for windows XP
3> 2 GB fat32 to share between windows and Linux
4> Rest of the drive as ext3 for Linux
Go Back to partition screen, use Disk Druid, and mark where Linux should be installed.
Install Linux (but it needs to be reinstalled a few times) You may not be able to install the GRUB loader without installing XP first.
Install Windows XP. Make sure you install it in the 30 GB partition (D: drive).
Install Linux once more - Use the same options as above to at the boot prompt.
In Disk Druid you will see the partitions. make sure /dev/hda3 (last partition) is set to /. I did not add any swap as I have 1GB of RAM.
Boot Loader:
At some point it will ask you about the boot loader.
I selected /hev/hda0 as Windows XP and to be default boot.
Also, extra parameters to the Linux kernel. - leave the ones that appear, but add nofirewire noprobe (This is to avoid the hang when it to tries to load the firewire module)
NOTE: These options do not work all the time. I installed a few times and it worked once, but not the other times. So, when 'nofirewire' is not taken, the boot process will hang. See below to resolve that.
Select the packages you need.
Monitor and video card. It detects ATI 9000. I selected the monitor as generic 1600x1200 with the higher refresh frequency.
After the install completes, remove the CD and reboot.
You should see the GRUB loader. you can select the Linux one and type 'e' to see if the options you specified are there.
Redhat 8.0 should boot now.
NOTE: If it hangs -
Boot with CD. type "linux rescue nofirewire noprobe" at the boot prompt.
Make sure your Linux install disk is loaded, so you can edit some conf files.
edit /etc/rc.sysinit - look for ohci1394 and comment out those lines.
Also, disable probing for new hardware 'chkconfig --level 345 kudzu off'
[For some reason, nofirewire option
is not honored when some package is installed.]
reboot and you should be able to boot up.
I am guessing the kernel needs to be recompiled to get firewire working.
If things still hang, try to add "nopcmcia"
If it still hangs add "nousb" and give it a shot.
Not working:
Fire wire
simulate middle mouse button
PCMCIA does owrk.
