slow (s-l-o-w) install

[Bill Davidsen]

Frank Cox wrote:
> On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:43:37 +0000
> Alan Cox <alan at lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk> wrote:
> 
>>> Now I'm trying to install F8/x86_64 on it, and the installer is running
>>> amazingly slowly.  It took about ten minutes before the initial graphical
>> Probably wrong memory caching in the BIOS. That's a common cause of those
>> symptoms. If so boot with mem=2G or be patient and once you've got it
>> installed take a look at /proc/mtrr and that will show which memory the
>> system marked as cached. If its wrong then you can tweak the settings
>> and/or beat up the BIOS vendor
> 
> 
> You have definitely hit the nail on the head.
> 
> Booting with mem=2G makes this computer perform like it should.
> 
> This is an Intel DG33FB motherboard and I downloaded the latest bios, version
> 0372 dated January 29.  Unfortunately, that didn't solve the problem.  Booting
> "normally" runs at the snail's pace that I previously mentioned.
> 
> Booting with mem=2G works fine, as I said.
> 
> The contents of /proc/mtrr when this machine is booted with mem=2G are as
> follows:
> 
> reg00: base=0x00000000 (   0MB), size=2048MB: write-back, count=1
> reg01: base=0x80000000 (2048MB), size=1024MB: write-back, count=1
> reg02: base=0xc0000000 (3072MB), size= 256MB: write-back, count=1
> reg03: base=0xcf800000 (3320MB), size=   8MB: uncachable, count=1
> reg04: base=0xcf400000 (3316MB), size=   4MB: uncachable, count=1
> reg05: base=0x100000000 (4096MB), size= 512MB: write-back, count=1
> reg06: base=0x120000000 (4608MB), size= 128MB: write-back, count=1
> reg07: base=0xd0000000 (3328MB), size= 256MB: write-combining, count=1
> 
> I looked in the bios setup and didn't see anything that obviously appeared to
> be a method for telling the machine how to handle memory caching.  On the other
> hand, I have no idea what I'm looking for so that setting may be staring me
> right in the face and I'm not recognizing it.
> 
> So.... what should my next step be?
> 
Post use the /proc/mtrr again (so we have it in one message) and the 
output of "demsg | grep BIOS-e"

If you don't get output in 54 bit mode, just grep for BIOS and we'll 
ignore the cruft. I think your BIOS is lying to the kernel, this will tell.


-- 
Bill Davidsen <davidsen at tmr.com>
   "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot