Installing Fedora on Dell Optiplex

[Jim Cornette]

dballester at kernpharma.com wrote:
> Check BIOS
> 
>       In some cases default video RAM is set to 1Mb, take a look to this
> value in your BIOS 'Integrated Devices' -> 'On board Video Buffer' if set
> to 1 Mb Change it to 8Mb using arrow keys
> 
> HTH
> 
> 
> David Ballester Montolio
> Responsable de Sistemas y Comunicaciones
> Kern Pharma, S.L.
> www.kernpharma.com
> 
> Personalmente, mis problemas de suministro de software legal se limitan a
> averiguar qué debo poner detrás de "apt-get install ..." omni en barrapunto
> 
> Que parte de /sbin/ifconfig eth0|grep 'inet'|awk -F' ' '{print $2}'|sed -e
> s/addr:// no entiendes?
> :)
> GNU!
> 
> 
> |---------+------------------------------>
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>   |     Para:     <fedora-list at redhat.com>                                                                                     |
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>   |     Asunto:   Installing Fedora on Dell Optiplex                                                                           |
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> 
> 
> 
> Hello all,
>     I'm new to this list and hope somebody can help. I am trying to
> set up a classroom network using K12LTSP, which is based on Fedora
> Core (version1, I think). The host machine is a Dell Optiplex GX1 with
> a 600 mhz P3, 256 meg RAM, 11 gig drive space, and a builtin video
> controller with 8meg RAM. The monitor is a HP SVGA  capable of
> 1024x768.
>     During installation, graphical mode would freeze up with a blank
> screen. I did a text based install, but after installation the system
> defaulted to graphic mode and froze up every time it booted. I booted
> linux single and changed /etc/inittab to runlevel 3 so it boots to
> text mode OK. I can't figure how to configure X so it will work in
> graphics mode. Has anybody had a similar problem? Any suggestions are
> appreciated.
> Thanks,


I had luck with upgrading the BIOS for a Dell Optiplex GX270 Series to 
version A04. The video was stuck at 640 x 480. The BIOS video for legacy 
hardware was set to 1 meg as stated. Also the AGP was set to 128 MB.

With the original BIOS version A03, changing the settings from 1 MB to 8 
MB had no positive effect.

You might check the Dell website for the latest version of BIOS for your 
particular model.

I was helped by people's advice on this list and another list to resolve 
the problem. Hopefully, the solution for you will work also.

Jim