Knoppix Documentation Wiki - User contributions [en]

Hardware FAQ

2005-09-16T12:29:25Z

Stuartyeates: /* Q: Is it possible to use another CD while running Knoppix? */

*German Version: [[Hardware FAQ Deutsch]]

*Versión española: [[Hardware FAQ Spanish]]

*Versi Bahasa Indonesia: [[Indonesian Hardware FAQ]]

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Return to [[Knoppix FAQ]]
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==== Q: How can I set up my printer?. ====

A: Click on "printer configuration" in the "Knoppix" menu, and use the wizard.

==== Q: How do I get support for my wheelmouse's mousewheel? ====

A: Type "knoppix wheelmouse" at the boot prompt. Unfortunately, wheelmice cannot be auto-detected, and the wheelmouse protocol is incompatible with the standard ps/2 protocol. Therefore, the "normal" ps/2 protocol (without mousewheel support) is the safe default.

==== Q: After finishing knx-hdinstall i am searching for a way to make a wheelmous work an a harddisk installation. What shall i do? Booting from CD with "knoppix wheelmouse" works fine. ====

A: there are two options ('''NOT TESTED'''):
* edit the following file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config-4" (make backup before)
**add the following lines to the section "Input Device" :
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "ZAxismapping" "4 5"
Option "Buttons" "5"
**If there is another line with an other protocol, you must delete it. BTW there are 3 sections for mice: serial, PS/2 and usb-Mice. You must find the correct Section.

* edit the "/etc/lilo.conf" file
**and add "wheelmouse" in the line with "append" (there is a huge line of parameters).
**Then run "lilo -v" in a root-shell an hope there's no error message.

==== Q: I use a Microsoft Wireless Intelli Mouse explorer (Optical, USB) and the mouspointer won't move. ====

A: Open a Root-Console (Control-Alt-F2) and enter the following:
modprobe -r usbmouse
modprobe hid

Pressing Control-Alt-F5 will bring you back to KDE.

==== Q: I'm trying to use dialup but I've got a winmodem ====

A: Sorry. Unfortunately some cheap modems have moved their functionality to almost completely software. Linux doesn't have support for nearly all of these ''thin'' modems and the best you can do is get another modem. You just discovered why it might have been worth purchasing a real modem. Infos about
GNU/Linux driver for Winmodems, see [http://www.linmodems.org linmodems.org]

==== Q: My graphics card doesn't work! ====

A: It may be that very new (or exotic) graphics cards are not in the hardware database yet. These will still usually work under Linux! You can type
knoppix xmodule=vesa
or
knoppix xmodule=fbdev
at the first boot screen, and the initial un-accelerated XFree86 modes will produce a usable screen. Version 31-01-2002 and later have a frame buffer boot option (especially for older notebooks) fb800x600 (instead of typing in knoppix), which uses a resolution of 800x600 pixels in frame buffer mode. Regardless of whether these workarounds are successful or not, support can be built into the next version of KNOPPIX more quickly if the PCI numbers of the graphics card along with a description can be sent to us via mail ("lspci ; lspci -n").

If you have an onboard chip like: Intel® 82865G some users related that shared memory size should be fixed to 8Mb (look at your mainboard Bios).

==== Q: Auto configuration doesn't work on my computer, or the computer hangs at boot. What should I do? ====

A: It might work if portions of the auto configuration are skipped. This can be specified with "knoppix noscsi" or "knoppix nopcmcia". If the problem can be identified -> please send the exact error message and when possible a proposed solution using the web form at http://www.knopper.net/kontakt/ ! Sometimes the output of "lspci ; lspci -n" is very helpful, especially if the problem involves incorrectly identified graphics cards.

==== Q: My PS/2 mouse doesn't work! ====

A: If the mouse pointer in the graphical user window is erratically moving around everywhere, the attached mouse is using an exotic protocol. Only booting into "expert" mode and setting the correct protocol for the XFree system will help in this case. However, if the pointer appears in the middle of the screen and doesn't respond to mouse movements at all, you probably have a board with a known BIOS bug (lately this problem has been appearing frequently with notebooks). Try to type in
knoppix pci=irqmask=0x0e98
at the boot screen and see if this helps. Alternatively, you can find a BIOS update for your computer (you may want to do this anyway?).

==== Q: My system memory is not fully detected, or the computer hangs shortly after starting with the message "Panic: cannot mount root file system"! ====

A: Some boards apparently report the usable memory size incorrectly to the Linux kernel. Solution: specify the system memory size as an additional "knoppix" boot option. For example, for 128 Megabytes use
knoppix mem=128M
(Note: make certain an upper-case M is typed after the memory size!)

==== Q: I am able to rotate my monitor. How do i set up Knoppix to use portrait-mode? ====

A: Edit the file /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 as root: In the section "Device" add the following line:
Option "Rotation" "CW"
CW means [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clockwise Clock Wise]. Also possible: CCW [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterclockwise Counter Clock Wise]).

==== Q: I'm looking for modules-floppies to load [[Emulex]] FC-drivers (just for demonstration purposes...) - which ones should I use, the actual [[Debian]] modules fl-images? ====

==== Q: I have a RAID controller that doesn't have /dev entries (/dev/cciss/c0d0,/dev/cciss/c0d1, etc.) Can they be added for the next release? ====

==== Q: How to update for new graphic card driver and reconfigure it (for hd-install or floppy-config...) ====

A: The easiest method would probably be to simply power down, install the card, boot the latest Knoppix cd then assuming everything is working as expected, copy your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file from the booted cd into your hard drive install. Rename your existing /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 to something like /etc/X11/XF86Config-4.bak so you'll still have it.

==== Q:What are the names of the mouse? ====

A:
*PS/2 is /dev/psaux
*Serial : /dev/ttys0 (similar to COM1 in Windows).
*USB: /dev/input/mice

==== Q: How do I know hardware I want to buy is Linux compatible: ====

A: The best way is seeing [[Tux]] in the box. You can read too -->> http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO/index.html and http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO/incompatible.html

==== Q: Is it possible to use another CD while running Knoppix? ====

A: ''(incomplete: if you know a more complete answer please contribute)''
This author only knows of a few vague leads on ways to do this. Namely:
<ol>
<li>have two CD drives
<li>have more than a gig of ram so that you can install knoppix onto a ram disk (apparently this is somehow possible). Use the boot cheat code of "knoppix toram". However, this needs about 1GB of ram.
<li>
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PXE Preboot eXecution Environment] The PXE obsoletes boot roms, for information on how to set this up read the [http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/PXE_FAQ Knoppix PXE FAQ].
<li>copy an CD image to disk and then boot using "knoppix bootfrom=/dev/hda1/....iso"
</ol>

''In case anyone is interested, for me this question comes up because my only dvd-capable machine's hard drive failed. So I wanted to know if knoppix could somehow bend that way. :]''
[[User:Jesset77|Jesset77]] 04:07, 11 Jun 2005 (GMT)

==== Q: No keyboard detected with Knoppix, what can i do ? ====

I have tried the knoppix live cd 3.84 on my Toshiba Satellite A70 laptop. I boot from the cd. At the command prompt, i can use the keyboard to type " knoppix", in order to run knoppix. I wait a while. Then, when the KDE interface is loaded, the keyboard doesn't respond anymore! i can use the mouse, but the keyboard don't work.

Someone know what to do ?
Thanks in advance.

Bugs/4.0.1DVD

2005-09-15T13:03:01Z

Stuartyeates: spelling

I just added this new buglist, since I found bugs in 4.0.1. ;-) -KK

1.) Reported by: KK

The knoppix-terminalserver script does not setup the initrd correctly because ld-linux.so.2 is skipped when parsing the ldd output. Therefore, neither pump nor ifconfig can start when booting the terminalserver client.

Solution: Prior to starting the terminalserver, do a

<code>wget -O - ftp://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppix-dvd/KNOPPIX_V4.0.1DVD-knoppix-terminalserver.patch | sudo patch -p0</code>

2.) Reported by: KK

The automatically generated desktop icons for harddisks are named "Festplatte" in all languages. Sorry, I screwed up here when shortening the hd icon label in order to display the real device name.

3.) Reported by: KK

/usr/bin/cdrecord, /usr/bin/cdrdao, /usr/bin/cdda2wav and /usr/bin/cdparanoia have wrong (missing) group execute permissions.

Solution: Before using any of these programs or running k3b, do a

<code>sudo chmod g+w /usr/bin/{cdrecord,cdrdao,cdda2wav,cdparanoia}</code>

4.) Reported by: pbs

OpenOffice does not open existing documents.

Solution: See workaround for bug #18 in http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Bugs/3.9-2005-05-27.

5.) Reported by: pbs

Mouse not activated when using KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) switch; KVM switch works transparently for V3.8.2,V3.9,V4.0DVDLinuxtag.

'''Update''' 20050912: "wheelmouse" cheatcode doesn't help; wiggling mouse during the startup sequence does help (particularly during early Xwindows grey startup screen?) .

6:) Reported by: guest

Boot option testcd don't work cause new version of md5sum change option -v to --status for verbose mode

7.) Reported by: KK

unionfs is broken again, but not as heavily as in 3.9. If you install certain packages with dpkg or apt-get, a kernel oops can happen, though it doesn't freeze the system. This is quite bad for people (like me) who like to test-install new software on the live system, so because of this (and the prior reported bugs) there will be a hotfix of the 4.0.2 DVD soon (probably even before I get a chance to finish the CD).

8.) Reported by: Witbear

Problems with networking. Having to use 'nodhcp' cheat code to boot. Trying to use Network to add adapters (namely RA2500 wireless and VIA Rhine II on my particular machine), the wizard works fine until 'Apply' when process hangs. Therefore can't use networking.

9.) Reported by: stuartyeates

The dhcp fails to renew leases. This typically results in a complete loss of networking exactly 24 hours after booting (most leases run for 24 hours).

Bugs/4.0.1DVD

2005-09-15T11:04:25Z

Stuartyeates: dhcp fails to renew lease

I just added this new buglist, since I found bugs in 4.0.1. ;-) -KK

1.) Reported by: KK

The knoppix-terminalserver script does not setup the initrd correctly because ld-linux.so.2 is skipped when parsing the ldd output. Therefore, neither pump nor ifconfig can start when booting the terminalserver client.

Solution: Prior to starting the terminalserver, do a

<code>wget -O - ftp://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppix-dvd/KNOPPIX_V4.0.1DVD-knoppix-terminalserver.patch | sudo patch -p0</code>

2.) Reported by: KK

The automatically generated desktop icons for harddisks are named "Festplatte" in all languages. Sorry, I screwed up here when shortening the hd icon label in order to display the real device name.

3.) Reported by: KK

/usr/bin/cdrecord, /usr/bin/cdrdao, /usr/bin/cdda2wav and /usr/bin/cdparanoia have wrong (missing) group execute permissions.

Solution: Before using any of these programs or running k3b, do a

<code>sudo chmod g+w /usr/bin/{cdrecord,cdrdao,cdda2wav,cdparanoia}</code>

4.) Reported by: pbs

OpenOffice does not open existing documents.

Solution: See workaround for bug #18 in http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Bugs/3.9-2005-05-27.

5.) Reported by: pbs

Mouse not activated when using KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) switch; KVM switch works transparently for V3.8.2,V3.9,V4.0DVDLinuxtag.

'''Update''' 20050912: "wheelmouse" cheatcode doesn't help; wiggling mouse during the startup sequence does help (particularly during early Xwindows grey startup screen?) .

6:) Reported by: guest

Boot option testcd don't work cause new version of md5sum change option -v to --status for verbose mode

7.) Reported by: KK

unionfs is broken again, but not as heavily as in 3.9. If you install certain packages with dpkg or apt-get, a kernel oops can happen, though it doesn't freeze the system. This is quite bad for people (like me) who like to test-install new software on the live system, so because of this (and the prior reported bugs) there will be a hotfix of the 4.0.2 DVD soon (probably even before I get a chance to finish the CD).

8.) Reported by: Witbear

Problems with networking. Having to use 'nodhcp' cheat code to boot. Trying to use Network to add adapters (namely RA2500 wireless and VIA Rhine II on my particular machine), the wizard works fine until 'Apply' when process hangs. Therefore can't use networking.

9.) Reported by: stuartyeates

The dhcp fails to renew lease. This typically results in a complete loss of networking exactly 24 hours after booting (most leases run for 24 hours).