dell inspiron mini 1012 restarts after install but any further boots hang

[iminfargo]

I have an obviously ancient Dell Mini 1012, I know it's a single core Atom processor and there is 2gb of memory. I downloaded the lubuntu 19 (?) iso and burned it to a dvd on my normal laptop. I connected an external dvd drive to the Dell Mini and was able to boot and install lubuntu.

At the end of the install I selected restart. It restarted fine and went to the desktop. I hooked up a hard wire connection to my router so I could install the wireless drivers.

I shutdown that session and then later went to reboot. I spins the little swirl on the lubuntu screen a few times and just hangs.

I did the best I could at research on the net and it was mentioned in might be the vga= boot option that would help. I tried vga=771 and still had the same problem. I then tried vga=788 and still had the same problem.

I don't know much about any of this so I'm just looking for some help.

I know the mini is VERY old but I'm trying to get it running to install a BINGO calling program I wrote and then giving it to the bingo playing group here in our seniors apartments

Thank you.

[mörgæs]

Hi, welcome to the fora.

Let's see more of the hardware. Please copy
sudo lshw -sanitize > lshw.txt and paste it onto the command line, run it and post lshw.txt in CODE tags. Can be done from a live boot.

[iminfargo]

The output follows below. I did notice a couple of things: after install if I turn off the PC instead of restart it doesn't boot. It's only on a restart request when the installation finishes. All things considered, are the things that only happen on first boot but not subsequent boots?

after watching linux boot on my Chromebook it appears to be right about the time it is setting up the video or starting x, but that's only a very naive shot in the wind.


me@ubuntu:~$ sudo lshw -sanitize > lshw.txt
[sudo] password for me:
me@ubuntu:~$ cat lshw.txt
computer
description: Portable Computer
product: Inspiron 1012
vendor: Dell Inc.
version: A12
width: 32 bits
capabilities: smbios-2.5 dmi-2.5 smp-1.4 smp
configuration: administrator_password=disabled boot=oem-specific chassis=portable cpus=1 frontpanel_password=unknown keyboard_password=unknown power-on_password=disabled
*-core
description: Motherboard
physical id: 0
*-firmware
description: BIOS
vendor: Dell Inc.
physical id: 1
version: A12
date: 03/22/2011
size: 103KiB
capacity: 1984KiB
capabilities: pci pnp upgrade shadowing escd cdboot bootselect edd int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer int10video acpi usb smartbattery biosbootspecification netboot
*-board UNCLAIMED
description: Motherboard
vendor: Dell Inc.
physical id: 3
version: A12
serial: [REMOVED]
slot: Not Applicable
*-cpu
description: CPU
product: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N450 @ 1.66GHz
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 5
bus info: cpu@0
version: 6.12.10
serial: [REMOVED]
slot: CPU 1
size: 1562MHz
capacity: 1667MHz
width: 64 bits
clock: 667MHz
capabilities: x86-64 boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts cpuid aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm movbe lahf_lm dtherm cpufreq
configuration: cores=1 enabledcores=1 id=0 threads=2
*-cache:0
description: L1 cache
physical id: 6
slot: L1 Cache
size: 16KiB
capacity: 16KiB
capabilities: asynchronous internal write-back
configuration: level=1
*-cache:1
description: L2 cache
physical id: 7
slot: L2 Cache
size: 512KiB
capacity: 512KiB
capabilities: internal write-back
configuration: level=2
*-logicalcpu:0
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 0.1
width: 64 bits
capabilities: logical
*-logicalcpu:1
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 0.2
width: 64 bits
capabilities: logical
*-memory
description: System Memory
physical id: 12
slot: System board or motherboard
size: 2GiB
*-bank
description: SODIMM DDR2 Synchronous 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
product: HYMP125S64CP8-Y5
vendor: Hynix Semiconductor (Hyundai Electronics)
physical id: 0
serial: [REMOVED]
slot: J6G1
size: 2GiB
width: 64 bits
clock: 667MHz (1.5ns)
*-pci
description: Host bridge
product: Atom Processor D4xx/D5xx/N4xx/N5xx DMI Bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 100
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-display:0
description: VGA compatible controller
product: Atom Processor D4xx/D5xx/N4xx/N5xx Integrated Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
resources: irq:16 memory:f0200000-f027ffff ioport:18d0(size=8) memory:d0000000-dfffffff memory:f0000000-f00fffff memory:c0000-dffff
*-display:1 UNCLAIMED
description: Display controller
product: Atom Processor D4xx/D5xx/N4xx/N5xx Integrated Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: memory:f0280000-f02fffff
*-multimedia
description: Audio device
product: NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1b
bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
version: 02
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=0
resources: irq:26 memory:f0500000-f0503fff
*-pci:0
description: PCI bridge
product: NM10/ICH7 Family PCI Express Port 1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport
resources: irq:16 ioport:2000(size=4096) memory:80000000-804fffff ioport:f0f00000(size=1048576)
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:05:00.0
logical name: enp5s0
version: 02
serial: [REMOVED]
size: 100Mbit/s
capacity: 100Mbit/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list rom ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.3LK-NAPI duplex=full ip=[REMOVED] latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes port=MII speed=100Mbit/s
resources: irq:24 ioport:2000(size=256) memory:f0f20000-f0f20fff memory:f0f10000-f0f1ffff memory:80000000-8001ffff
*-pci:1
description: PCI bridge
product: NM10/ICH7 Family PCI Express Port 2
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.1
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport
resources: irq:17 ioport:3000(size=4096) memory:f0100000-f01fffff ioport:80500000(size=2097152)
*-network
description: Network controller
product: BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY
vendor: Broadcom Limited
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:07:00.0
version: 01
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=b43-pci-bridge latency=0
resources: irq:17 memory:f0100000-f0103fff
*-usb:0
description: USB controller
product: NM10/ICH7 Family USB UHCI Controller #1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
resources: irq:23 ioport:1820(size=32)
*-usbhost
product: UHCI Host Controller
vendor: Linux 4.15.0-20-generic uhci_hcd
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@2
logical name: usb2
version: 4.15
capabilities: usb-1.10
configuration: driver=hub slots=2 speed=12Mbit/s
*-usb
description: Mouse
product: USB Receiver
vendor: Logitech
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@2:1
version: 22.00
capabilities: usb-2.00
configuration: driver=usbhid maxpower=98mA speed=12Mbit/s
*-usb:1
description: USB controller
product: NM10/ICH7 Family USB UHCI Controller #2
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
resources: irq:19 ioport:1840(size=32)
*-usbhost
product: UHCI Host Controller
vendor: Linux 4.15.0-20-generic uhci_hcd
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@3
logical name: usb3
version: 4.15
capabilities: usb-1.10
configuration: driver=hub slots=2 speed=12Mbit/s
*-usb:2
description: USB controller
product: NM10/ICH7 Family USB UHCI Controller #3
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
resources: irq:18 ioport:1860(size=32)
*-usbhost
product: UHCI Host Controller
vendor: Linux 4.15.0-20-generic uhci_hcd
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@4
logical name: usb4
version: 4.15
capabilities: usb-1.10
configuration: driver=hub slots=2 speed=12Mbit/s
*-usb:3
description: USB controller
product: NM10/ICH7 Family USB UHCI Controller #4
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.3
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
resources: irq:16 ioport:1880(size=32)
*-usbhost
product: UHCI Host Controller
vendor: Linux 4.15.0-20-generic uhci_hcd
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@5
logical name: usb5
version: 4.15
capabilities: usb-1.10
configuration: driver=hub slots=2 speed=12Mbit/s
*-usb:4
description: USB controller
product: NM10/ICH7 Family USB2 EHCI Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.7
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ehci-pci latency=0
resources: irq:23 memory:f0504000-f05043ff
*-usbhost
product: EHCI Host Controller
vendor: Linux 4.15.0-20-generic ehci_hcd
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@1
logical name: usb1
version: 4.15
capabilities: usb-2.00
configuration: driver=hub slots=8 speed=480Mbit/s
*-usb:0
description: Mass storage device
product: Portable Super Multi Drive
vendor: Hitachi-LG Data Storage Inc
physical id: 3
bus info: usb@1:3
logical name: scsi4
version: 0.00
serial: [REMOVED]
capabilities: usb-2.00 atapi emulated scsi-host
configuration: driver=usb-storage maxpower=500mA speed=480Mbit/s
*-cdrom
description: DVD-RAM writer
product: DVDRAM GP55EX70
vendor: HL-DT-ST
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@4:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/cdrom
logical name: /dev/cdrw
logical name: /dev/dvd
logical name: /dev/dvdrw
logical name: /dev/sr0
version: PF00
capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
configuration: status=open
*-usb:1
description: Video
product: Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_1.3M
vendor: SuYin
physical id: 4
bus info: usb@1:4
version: 9a.14
capabilities: usb-2.00
configuration: driver=uvcvideo maxpower=500mA speed=480Mbit/s
*-pci:2
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1e
bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0
version: e2
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci subtractive_decode bus_master cap_list
*-isa
description: ISA bridge
product: NM10 Family LPC Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=lpc_ich latency=0
resources: irq:0
*-storage
description: SATA controller
product: NM10/ICH7 Family SATA Controller [AHCI mode]
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: storage msi pm ahci_1.0 bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ahci latency=0
resources: irq:25 ioport:18e8(size=8) ioport:18dc(size=4) ioport:18e0(size=8) ioport:18d8(size=4) ioport:18c0(size=16) memory:f0504400-f05047ff
*-serial UNCLAIMED
description: SMBus
product: NM10/ICH7 Family SMBus Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: latency=0
resources: ioport:18a0(size=32)
*-scsi
physical id: 0
logical name: scsi0
capabilities: emulated
*-disk
description: ATA Disk
product: SAMSUNG HM160HI
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sda
version: 0-15
serial: [REMOVED]
size: 149GiB (160GB)
capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
configuration: ansiversion=5 logicalsectorsize=512 sectorsize=512 signature=7845965b
*-volume
description: EXT4 volume
vendor: Linux
physical id: 1
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1
logical name: /dev/sda1
logical name: /
version: 1.0
serial: [REMOVED]
size: 149GiB
capacity: 149GiB
capabilities: primary bootable journaled extended_attributes large_files huge_files dir_nlink 64bit extents ext4 ext2 initialized
configuration: created=2020-01-08 03:11:30 filesystem=ext4 lastmountpoint=/target modified=2020-01-08 04:08:48 mount.fstype=ext4 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered mounted=2020-01-08 03:11:49 state=mounted
*-remoteaccess UNCLAIMED
vendor: Intel
physical id: 1
capabilities: inbound
me@ubuntu:~$

[iminfargo]

Also please note that the lubuntu dvd i downloaded doesn't have a live session option - I have to install lubuntu all over again each time I need to get information or try something.

I also noticed that in lspci it shows the driver in use as i915. I seem to remember reading somewhere about i915.modeset=0 so I tried to reboot and enter that in as a boot option. However it only goes so far before it stops the boot with messages about my BCM wireless. So I assume I'm going to have to go through the entire installation process again so that I can actually boot on that first restart and figure out how to install the wireless drivers, I should be able to find that information somewhere. The thing is, with this slow single core processor it takes FOREVER to do the install, so I'd prefer to not keeping doing so without thinking I might actually be accomplishing something.

So, I'll go through it again, install the wireless drivers and try a boot with i915.modeset and see what happens but that will all have to wait - I have got to get to bed.

Thank you.

[ajgreeny]

I am a bit surprised that the Lubuntu iso file you downloaded did not have a live option when you booted so tell us exactly what that iso is named.

Did you download an Alternate ISO from https://lubuntu.me/downloads/ or was it from some other source?

Incidentally, I have an even lower powered Atom 270N powered netbook with only 1G ram on which I installed Debian-10, using the Debian-10-netinstall.iso, and added LXDE during installation; it is not fast but it does run well enough to be useful for browsing and emails and word processing or spreadsheets with abiword and gnumeric.

[iminfargo]

I just checked my download: lubuntu -18.04-alternate-i386 so it must be an alternate dvd. I remember what was supposed to be the lubuntu web site. I think the processor is 64-bit so I'm going to go back and try to find the newest 64-bit version that allows the live run, download it and start again.

I'll let you know what happens from there.

Thanks.

[mörgæs]

Though your hardware supports a 64 bit OS I'm not sure it's the best choice.

If you find that it's slow you could also try Debian 32 bit (https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2130640&page=22&p=13902890&viewfull=1#post13902890).

[iminfargo]

So I downloaded the 64-bit desktop iso which seemed to be working ok. I installed to my hard drive and it rebooted once ok at which point I searched online for someway to enable a bcm4312 wireless. Found a post in the ubuntu forums about using something called STA so I followed those instructions and it worked then. Powered down. On restart it hung pretty close to right away. I rebooted and kept pressing shift until the boot menu came up. I tried adding l915.modeset=1 and doing F10 for it to boot. It went through a little way in text, got to a message about sta and then gave me 3 messages about a read error on the disk and stopped. So I swapped out the hard disk with a spare 128GB SSD I had, reinstalled, and now it won't do the reboot. Nothing shows up - just the backlight is on the screen. I guess I'll try downloaded the livedvd for 32-bit and try that to see if it helps. 64-bit is really not going to do much better on this system. I know - wider bus, prefetch, etc., but the end result is that it is a old slow machine. I don't like how the wireless turned out so if I can ever get this installed so it actually boots I can try messing with that.

Anyone have any advice for this poor novice?

Thanks.

[iminfargo]

Morgaes - I missed your reply. I agree on the 64-bit - it won't help on something this old.

[guiverc]

FYI: the Alternate (18.04 LTS) ISO is for low RAM machines. The live system runs best with most of 700MB of RAM, the `ubiquity` installer also most of 700MB of ram to fully function; so the Alternate installer is built for machines with only 700MB that cannot run 'live' & 'installer' at the same time, ie. low RAM boxes. It also hasn't been re-spin since the original 18.04 release (ie. no 18.04.1/.2/.3..) as few people use it, but isn't needed if you machine has >700MB of RAM.

Also be aware of where you downloaded the ISO from. Search engines point to a number (3 that I'm aware of) sites that offer Lubuntu for download (only 1 is under the control of the Lubuntu team & Canonical); and the unofficial sites tend to offer the alternate more than the official site (http://lubuntu.me/) does. I'd suggest sticking to official Ubuntu or Ubuntu flavor (Lubuntu) sites (ie. go through https://ubuntu.com/download/flavours to find out which is the official sites for any flavor, and don't ask search engines).

[iminfargo]

The downloads have been from the lubuntu site - I just clicked the wrong download the first time and that's how I got the alternate. I have since tried both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the livedvd and when it boots up clicking to install lubuntu. I tried both with and without selecting the install of extra software/drivers/etc., still to no avail. What i have always happen is that it restarts after installation just fine, but any subsequent boot still hangs. The latest has been that the screen with the 5 dots shows for about 3 seconds, then it goes to a blank screen, the hard disk blinks a few times and then it hangs. So, I have to ask, what does Ubuntu and it's derivatives do on the very first boot that it doesn't do any other time? Surely it has to know "first boot"? What ever happens during that seems to negate being able to boot again.

[iminfargo]

Just tried the same thing with xubuntu 18.04(?) - same problem. So, this little thing has a resolution of 1024x600 which I know really isn't a standard resolution. Is it possible that this is causing the problem? Perhaps this is when X is starting up?

[iminfargo]

I think it is hanging when it is starting X. On the initial boot after installation the screen goes blank at about the same time and then goes to the arrow in the screen while X comes up. On second boot it hangs at this point with a dash or underbar in the top left of the screen. If I reboot a live session and look on the drive i installed to there doesn't seem to be any errors in the log files I have found on that disk's /var directory.

[mörgæs]

How does Debian behave?

[iminfargo]

So sorry - I didn't realize 2 things in your previous reply:
(1) it was actually a link to Debian
(2) Debian was an actual version of linux

I'll be trying that later tonight and post back the results.

Thanks!

[iminfargo]

Same result. Windows 10 installs and runs - albeit slowly. It's not worth the hassle to me, so I'm just going to trash it.

[mörgæs]

I thin it's too early to give up.

What exactly is the error / problem when using Debian? Same as in post 13?