Can't re-install - totally befuddled!?!?!

[drmbb]

First my system:
Gateway PIII 450 Mhz
3 drives:
8.5Gb and 10Gb UDMA33 - both win98
20Gb - Linux (has been for over a year)
Promise UDMA drive controller
384Mb RAM
16Mb NVidia TNT video card
Gateway VX700 monitor
US Robotics external 56K FAX/Modem
USB HP 952 Printer
USB Canon scanner (never worked under Linux, s'kay, I know it won't).

Recent changes:
Went from 224Mb RAM to 384Mb (removed a 32Mb and a 64Mb card, and replaced them with 2X128Mb cards).
My freebee optical mouse died, so replaced with my old LogiTech marble trackball (has worked under Linux before).

Win98 and BIOS see the new RAM fine, and the Logitech works fine under win98.

Problem:

I wanted to replace my Mandrake Freq with Freq #3. Since everything is backed up, and I want to change things (swap partition, etc), I went with a fresh install. BUT, as soon as I boot into the install, everything locks up - no keyboard input, no mouse, NOTHING to be done but shut down. ALSO, this happens with any install CD I try (Mandrake 8, 7.1, 6.0, RedHat 7 and 7.1, Slack 8, Debian 2.2).

What Gives :confused:

All my hardware is fine under win98, and the old LogiTech I used for nearly 1.5 years with Mandrake (it's a standard PS2 plug type). Why are all these installs booting, then promptly, as soon as it gets to the point of requiring some input, locking up??

I've never had anything like this happen. I ran fdisk from a floppy and wiped out all of hdg (the 20Gb I normally run Linux on), so it is totally unallocated and unformatted now.

HELP, please, and ideas appreciated.

Michael

P.S. just to be clear, this system has run Linux (mainly Mandrake) for nearly 3 years, even with the Logitech marble - but I add some RAM, change the mouse back, and WHAM, I can't even get into an install script?

[s1nn]

try disconnecting all the device cept for the mandatory stuff (ie keyboard mouse monitor) and then try the install---good luck

[drmbb]

Thanks, but I tirid that, no joy. I am going to try taking the LogiTech off and plugging in my original Gateway (ie Microsoft) wheel mouse and see if that makes a difference. Means, if it works, a royal pain changing mice in windows, but the recognition of the mouse seems to be the problem, so here goes (why?, I don't know, as this trackball was my standard mouse in Mandrake 6 through 7.1).

[drmbb]

DAG GUM IT! Nothing I try works. This machine will boot to win98 fine (so friggin' what? I'll give up my games for a usable linux install, well no, there are also programs I use under WINE that I need - SIGH).

Mandrake and Redhat (and Slack and Debian - every install CD I have), as soon as the initial boot finishes and I'm asked to choose a language, BAM, everything is locked up - version number doesn't matter, boot/insatll CD's that have worked up to these changes, are useless. This is actually WORSE than windows - I just don't get it. This should be a simple exercise.

Anyone, any ideas?

[drmbb]

FSCK THIS! I have not spoken against Linux in years, but this sucks.

I am late to meet some friends for drinks before a movie, so I am out of here, and my desktop is shut down, for the first time in a year (although I should likely re-boot it so it can at least run its current Cancer search).

I change some RAM and a mouse, and NOT even try to update my system, just reinstall it, and every friggin install CD I own (many VERY old, and WAY out of date, others current or even "cutting edge"), and they all lock up immediately after the initial install boot.

At least my iBook and MacOS 9 does what it's supposed to - but i WANT MY LINUX BACK.

Tomorrow is another day, I'll deal with it then.

[Linuxcool]

You've tried the mouse so why don't you try the memory. Put your old memory back.

[Denise]

Did you try to put your RAM back to the way it was before this problem? I know it sounds silly, but sometimes slightest change can cause havoc on your system. Try it just to see if the RAM Change caused your problems. Here is a site that is very helpful www.Linuxdocs.com. (http://www.Linuxdocs.com.) Good luck. I use mandrake and I've had some problems with it. Don't give up, sometimes problems are fun.

Take Care and Good luck

Denise
MCSE Win2K, Future CCNP

[bdg1983]

My votes on the memory. Put it back to the original configuration and try again.

[drmbb]

Thanks, and clearly good suggestions. I can't put the old memory back as I gave it away to someone to lease some extra life out of their old PII. But, I can at least remove the new cards and just leave the older 128Mb that was part of the original 224Mb.

What's weird to me is that after I had made the changes, I had booted into my old ManDrake Freq #2 install and all seemed fine. The problems only ocurred when I re-booted to a (or any) install CD.

Must be my bad karma time or something - oh well back to figuring this out. Thanks for the replies.