Re: Suggestions for a Linux distro that might work

Andy Civil <[email protected]>
Newsgroups gmane.user-groups.linux.ottawa.general
Message-ID <[email protected]>
On 2012-09-26 10:33 PM, James wrote:
> On 09/15/12 22:41, Andy Civil wrote:
>> We bought a fast computer (quad core AMD with a SSD) and want Linux on it. So
>> far, it's not working out too well.
>>
>> Ubuntu 12: installed and worked OK, but increasingly wouldn't boot. Error given
>> was "Error: out of disk" and "grub rescue>". Internet search implied that the
>> disk was inaccessible, however the disk is working fine with boot-from-cd or CentOS.
>>
>> CentOS: Installed OK, and boots correctly, however it doesn't recognise our
>> eth0. Internet search reveals that the Atheros AR8151 is problematic, e.g.
>> http://unknownimous.blogspot.ca/2010/08/atheros-ar8151-driver-for-centos.html
>> I tried downloading the RPM suggested, but installing it bombed out for the need
>> of a string of other packages; the last thing I want is "dependency hell"
>> downloading on a second computer and transferring with a memory stick.
>>
>> Any ideas for a distro which would 'work out of the box' like Ubuntu should, but
>> isn't based on Ubuntu?
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>> --
>> Andy
>>
> I would google Ubuntu and the computer if is brand name or Ubuntu and the SSD model.
> Also update the SSD firmware and the BIOS.
> Does Ubuntu work correctly when you boot from the cdrom/USB (eg. Live distro)?

I'm really sorry, I should have updated the list.

In the end, I never really worked out what the problem was, but I found a 
workaround. Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS was working, but failed to recognise the on-board 
Ethernet; so to cut a long story short, I simply bought a generic Ethernet card 
and installed it. Ubuntu found it, used it, and now everyone is happy. The sad 
part is that I can't report it as a bug, ref:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2058943

Incidentally, to answer your question "Does Ubuntu work correctly when you boot 
from the cdrom/USB (eg. Live distro)?" the answer is "yes". And it even booted 
correctly PRIOR to installing the 398 security updates! It seemed to be at the 
point of rebooting after installing the updates, that it failed.

I had previously wanted to not open the case, but when I discovered how 
unhelpful the store was anyway, it made no difference.

--
Andy


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