Current Status:
- Linux machine is booting from floppy, although it’s not a custom kernel so some things don’t work, still having LILO issue.
- Windows machine boots perfectly with new motherboard, video card seems to be working, don’t know about DVI yet.
- Cube still sitting doing nothing. Haven’t really played with it yet.
- PowerBook felt left out, and decided to start going to sleep randomly.
I went to Fry’s, returned previous new motherboard without too much trouble, bought new motherboard and 120GB hard drive. First, I replaced the 3GB HD (old root) in the linux machine with the 120GB. Then, I started copying data from the 20GB drive (old data drive) to the 120, then realized that most of it was just my MP3s which are all on my laptop anyway, and more intelligently organized, so I didn’t bother copying those. Repartitioned the 20GB drive into a new root drive, swapped IDE channels so it was now primary, and did a clean install of Linux onto it.
I still got the same stupid L 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 02 error.
At this point, I’m sure it’s some stupid little hardware idiosyncrasy that I’m not going to be fix, so I’m going to try and get my computer working from a boot floppy. Unfortunately, I can’t fit the kernel that I need onto a floppy, there’s just too many things I need that have to be compiled in, so I’ll have to try and make it a boot floppy that just points at the kernel on the disk. It shouldn’t be a problem, there should be guides online, right?
So, I have everything I need from the Linux machine for external use working. SSH, fetchmail, IRC, WWW and turning off all unnecessary ports.
For internal stuff, it’s not working yet, as most need a new kernel (Appletalk, Samba, IP Forwarding and Printer sharing). Fortunately for me, I have my old hard drive right in the machine, so I can copy any config files right over, and not go through the headaches I did last time.
In theory.
PC is mostly working (after a little hiccup trying to get the new MB’s ethernet drivers), still don’t have the video drivers properly installed, the CD that came with the card is crashing when trying to install the drivers, I’ll have to use reference drivers or something. It’s nice finally having a Gig of memory that actually registers.
I’m going to start poking at the Cube tonight. Of course, I can jiggle the cables, and take it out of its case and stare at it intently, but other than that, I’m stumped. I might have to take it into an authorized repair shop or something.
PowerBook has disappointed me. Of course, contrary to the “computer gremlin” theory, this is a problem that started a couple of times last week, I just hoped it would go away. It didn’t, it got worse, but fortunately, I paid for Applecare when I bought the damn thing, so I have free repairs. I just feel nervous about shipping off the only usable computer… I suppose if I really needed to use the net to look up something I could use Luke’s or Leon’s PC.