Virtual PC, Cent OS, and Single user mode

Hi,

To boot the CentOS in single-user mode when GRUB appears in your screen durinfg the Linux booting, just hit "e" to edit the boot line and and add the word "single" at the end of the line and boot (hit "b")

Thats it.

Cheers,
K.

Hi KeremE,

Thanks for responding so quickly! However, that part I have completed - it is the next part:

"Now edit /etc/inittab configuration file and change default runlevel from 5 (X11) to 3 (Full multi user mode), then reboot your computer. Now Linux boots in text mode and virtual machine won't crash anymore."

That I am having trouble with.

Would you be of assistance?

Thank You,
Max

When you say, "change 5 to 3", do you mean that for for number 5 - (X11), I should change the number to three... (bit confused, never in the true sense used linux before)

Thank you for your time,
Max

Yeah this line (which is original):

id:5:initdefault:

should read:

id:3:initdefault:

when you are done editting.

This is what comments above the line explains.

if you don't know how to modify it in vi:
- Just locate you cursor over 5
- Hit r (will now show anything but vi will be in replace mode)
- Type 3 (you will see the 5 is changed to 3)
- Hit ESC key
- type : (semicolon)
- you will see you cursor is  at the bottom line before the ":" prompt
- type wq
- Hit enter

now reboot.

Hi,

Thanks for all your help! Worked like a charm. I will award you the points. Would you be able to tell me though, how to get back into the GUI, all I get now is:

"root@localhost~]#"

Thank you,
Max

Hi,

Since you have edited the inittab file to 3 the system does not boot by default to GUI.
To get into GUI just type 'gdm' or 'kde' at the prompt if you have logged in as root.
If you have logged in as any other user then just type startx at the prompt to go to GUI.

[root@localhost~]# gdm

Hi pavithrab4u and KeremE,

pavithrab4u: Thank you for those commands but as soon as I run them, I get the virtual PC error message again.

I found on this website:

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:MElRuMo3UaAJ:vpc.visualwin.com/+An+internal+virtual+machine+error+(13)+has+occurred+CentOS&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=2

That CentOS's graphical interface is indeed capable of running under virtual PC, but only with the following enhancements:

"Needed to add "noacpi" to boot parameters, and set X color depth to 16"

Any idea of what this means?
As well, I noted in the beginning that this question was just for editing that file, but as this question deals with the successful operation of CentOS under VPC 2004, I thought it would be more useful to experts exchange to continue it until the real solution is found - however, if you wish I can award you (KeremE ) the points right now, as you did successfully answer my question.

Thank You,
Max

Hi,

to add "noacpi" means you need to edit you grub configuration again and add "noacpi" permenently as an option. To accomplish this:

cd /etc
vi grub.conf

and add noacpi to the end of every kernel entry such as this:

default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title CentOS (2.6.9-42.0.3.EL)
        root (hd0,0)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL ro root=/dev/VolGroup01/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL.img
title CentOS-4 i386 (2.6.9-42.EL)
        root (hd0,0)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.EL ro root=/dev/VolGroup01/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
        initrd /initrd-2.6.9-42.EL.img

In this example you need to add noacpi following the quiet. Save and exit.

For the screen depth to 16:

cd /etc/X11
vi xorg.conf

locate the section "Screen"

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Device     "Videocard0"
        Monitor    "Monitor0"  
        DefaultDepth     24  


Such as this. Change DefaultDepth to 16 save and exit.

As for the quetion and grading: You might have closed the question as such you have commented the original q is already answered. The correct way would you create another tread for the new question for the pepole might not be able  to search a solution on how to change depth etc.

But anyway may be pepole would have difficulties just as yourself and follow this Q step by step :)

Thank you for the information, I will review it as soon as I have access to the virtual machine.

Thank You

Hi KeremE,

How do I edit the grub configuration file to add "noacpi" to the end of the line? I tried your above instructions but they did not seem to work - perhaps because it was at the end of the line? And, I only have one "kernel entry", as you called it.

Thank you for your patience,
Max

Hello,

I did a Google search and brought up a page on how to edit with 'vi' and completed editing the 'grub' configuration file by adding 'noacpi' to the end of my only "kernel entry". Now when I went to edit the X11 configuration file, the screen color depth was already at 16...and after a reboot, it doesn't work. I've just about had it with Virtual PC and unless you can think of anything, I think I will download VMWare and see if I have better luck.

Thank you for your help,
Max

I would... Microsoft Virtual PC stinks. It was a very poor product before MS bought it, and hasn't improved much. VMware is superior in every way.

I agree with Alextoft :) VMWare is very robust and known to work very well with linux. It even has a prepacked RedHat FC packet available.

But for the sake of the question it is not sure that 16 refers to color depth or color (16 bit versus 4 bits (16 color)). Then just set the color depth to 4 and modify thi Sceen saction such as:

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Device     "Videocard0"
        Monitor    "Monitor0"
        DefaultDepth     4
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     4
                Modes    "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0  
                Depth     24
                Modes    "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

And give it a try.

Another Alternative is to setup Cygwin on any Wintel Computer and start X over the cygwin. Accessing your PC remotely.

Last but not least I guess it is time to close the Question :) May be the rest of this discussion is another topic . We're getting more and more off-topic. I'm afraid the moderators would "terminate" us all :)

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for taking a while - I was a bit busy. No, it did not work either. For anyone else looking at this I (and I'm sure the experts will as well) recommend VMWare for running CentOS in a virtual environment. I will award full points to KeremE since he did answer the original question.

Thank you for your patience, knowledge, and willingness to put up with my constant steering off-topic,
Max

Yr welcome. I hope You'll enjoy VMWare :)