<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 12"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01CA7AB9.46EB61D0">  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Hate to say it but you gave us PLENTY of general information. What commands did you run? What kind of ‘fancy’ graphix did you try to create and how (aka using what program)? Will L G<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <div> <div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'> From: axp-list-bounces@redhat.com [mailto:axp-list-bounces@redhat.com] On Behalf Of William E Bohrer Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 10:30 To: axp-list@redhat.com Subject: RedHat 7.2 on ES40 AlphaServer - Boot Problem - Help Solving<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Hello!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Problem Description: a previously stable installation of RedHat 7.2 on an ES40 AlphaServer supporting the application Mathematica 5.0 (which runs under Linux). This computer has been in routine weekly use by me for the purpose of solving various math problems of interest to me as a hobby and also sometimes to support consulting work performed by me (business has been poor of late). This system has been operating successfully for at least three years.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> About 6 weeks ago I attempted the generation of some fancy graphics displays to the screen, something I had not attempted previously. Strange things, with minor impact seemed to happen after that, slower booting is one symptom and some commands that worked before did not seem to work as they had in the past, but nothing of a work stopping nature.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Then, one day the system simply would not boot.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> As a starting point I removed all the disks; installed spare disks and reinstalled RedHat 7.2. The system runs well with the reinstalled operating system. By “runs well” I mean that you can play games on it with flawless and quick performance. I have not attempted to reinstall the Mathematica application yet. Clearly not a hardware problem. Somehow, I have damaged the software while attempting the fancy plotting (color plots, lots of curves, etc.) or at least so it appears.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The problem: reinstalling Mathematica requires a payment to Wolfram Research (not excessive, but I would just as soon avoid it if possible) and I will lose electronic copies of the Notebooks developed on this system. <o:p></o:p> There are paper copies of the work performed to date, however, it would be nice to skip retyping those .nb files if possible.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The question is how to troubleshoot the damaged installation? Philosophical guidance at this point, please. Please keep in mind that while I had sufficient competence to follow directions and successfully install RedHat 7.2 on the ES40; that is not particularly a strong point with my computer expertise.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Any and all suggestion gratefully accepted!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Thanks,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Bill<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>