Re: I killed my box. + Corel Linux

[Damion Yates <nospam [at] rd.bbc.co.uk>]

On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, Barrie Bremner wrote:

> Yes, me again, with more problems: this time self-inflicted.
>
> I was messing with my XF86Config file and I`ve gone and changed the
> resolution to a setting my system really doesn`t like.

A problem windows has too. For a while they have had various get out
techniques though, like setup.exe worked in dos and windows as different
executables, and allowed you to pick another gfx setting (win31), or a safe
vga16 mode for win95 onwards. Corel Linux has just this option, so far I'm
extremely impressed.

> I`ve got the standard Redhat 6.1 rescue disk with the usual commands.
>
> I`ve got a backup copy of the XF86Config file in my home directory.
>
> How do I get it copied to /etc/X11 ?

You should be able to mount your main disk with a command like
mount -t ext2 /dev/hda2 /mnt

The values like hda2 and /mnt will vary depending on the correct values for
your setup (you might have scsi or the RH6 rescue disk might not have a /mnt
directory)

Once /mnt is a mount of your normal / you can use
cp /mnt/home/username/XF86Config /mnt/etc/X11/

> I don`t know how to mount my harddrive to access everything.

That's because RH6 and too many of the other dists, hold your hand too much
while not in a position to allow you to get out of a sticky situation. They
can't have it both ways. Either they compete with windows and not fall over
anywhere or explain everything (slackware) letting you learn so much you can
contract your skills out in the 100's of K!

> Or, how do I restart the system to init 3 (default is 5 on my box), so I
> can fix everything that way?

Even with the normal boot up you can probably use Ctrl-Alt-F1 or F2 to get a
login prompt to login as root and copy the new file over. Then Alt-F7 back
to the X display and Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to kill the current one causing a
respawn on the new config.

But you can change the runlevel easily anyway. When you see the lilo: prompt
simply stop it with shift, then enter the boot option name (like 'linux')
followed by the number for the runlevel you want, like 3. Pressing tab will
list options available in that menu, as the boot name might not be linux.
You probably also want to get the root device name right and the read/write
status, something like this might happen:

lilo (you press shift)
lilo: (you then press tab)
linux dos rescue
lilo: linux 3 root=/dev/hda2 ro (you type this then hit enter)
......... everything works

If you use loadlin.exe from Windows/DOS then you can change the parameters on
the invocation of that command to include the number 3.

Good luck.

Corel Linux beta version 1 is available on the cover of PCPlus this month.
So far I'm extremely impressed, I'm a slackware man and like to do everything
myself and it leaves me in complete control of a system. Windows doesn't
allow this and most faults are only fixable by a reinstall, even somebody
with considerable technical knowhow cannot find all problems as windows is
closed src and discorrages the use of the command line.

All recent linux dists have attempted to take on this challenge and come up
with a similarly easy to install and use system. The problem is that while
problems can be fixed properly under Linux, the easier solution is to just
reinstall. This is very bad practice in the unix world, but few dists seem
to care, they are also failing to note the obvious benifits linux gives.
Mainly that a cheap 486 can run for several years as a company DNS/ftp/web
server vastly out performing even pretty high spec pentiums running
WindowsNT, it's secure reliable and free. RH6 is expensive, riddled with
minor bugs (but doesn't leave the people who used the easy to install system
with a clue as to how to fix). It also needs a fairly high spec for normal
running.

I've tried to give Corel a good chance and not cheated at any point (ie
dropped to the command line and vi'ed a few config files) and so far it's
been almost completely on a par with the Win98 I've allowed to infest my
system (I've never had a copy of anything other than win31, which was used
for dlls for wine before on any computer I've used, this one has a DVD though
and LiViD isn't finished). Win98 was impossible to install until I helped it
with some partition types and fdisking of a quick caldera install (I bunged
on as I had the CD around and needed to telnet in to work for email). It
lost big points on that one. It's also crashed in a few apps so far. I've
installed SO5.1 on Corel and Windows and it was completely the same, only it
was /just/ a bit faster under Linux. So far Corel is marginally ahead, I
honestly think that my Gran/Mum would write up an honest review showing
similar. I'll let everyone else d/l and try it before writing more.

Damion

--
Damion Yates - Senior Internet Operations Engineer - Internet Services
email: Damion.Yates [at] bbc.co.uk - phone: +44 1737 839510

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