*sigh* I cannot get Gentoo to install, no matter what.

H3LL5P4WN

Hello, I am building a new Athlon 64 system, and someone on Pimprig.com recomended Gentoo to me. So before the new system is built, I figured I'd give Gentoo a shot to see what I'm in for with the install and such.

I have had nothing but problems installing it.

Currently, I am attempting to install it on an old P2 Gateway, as it is what we had lying around here at work. I could not get the 2004.1 cd to work, so after poking around a bit, I grabbed a copy of 2004.2 x86 Test 7. This boots, finds my NIC, etc.

Ive tried Stage I, and it won't bootstrap anything.
Stage II, it won't bootstrap (I think), and wont compile a kernal
Stage III, it won't complile a kernal, no matter which I choose.

Ideally, I'd like to Stage I it, and use the gaming kernal.

If anyone can assist me, I'd greatly appreciate it. Gentoo sure looks cool, I just wish I could actually get to use it.

Fortean

Frankly, the best advice anyone in here can give you is to have the manual handy. Do ctrl-alt-F2 and log-in to a second terminal, open www.gentoo.org through links and have the handbook open while working on terminal one (ctrl-alt-F2).

However, if you are new to Linux and are looking for something that just works, I'd advise Mandrake or Suse since gentoo needs a lot of love and care :->

H3LL5P4WN · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:21 pm Post subject:

Thats sort of what I am doing. I have the manual open on my XP box, and the P2 machine on a seperate KVM.

I don't mind the love and care, I just need some assistance on where to love and where to care, lol.

I'm not new to Linux, however the only experiece I have is with Fedora, which has a nice GUI installer.

H3LL5P4WN · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:23 pm Post subject:

Could I get some suggestions on what to put in my make.conf?

I guess thats where the trouble starts, lol.

Fortean · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:27 pm Post subject:

H3LL5P4WN · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:49 pm Post subject: Update

Im following the example exactly, using the example USE settings, and I get the following error:

!!! ERROR: sys-libs/ncurses-5.4-r1 failed.
!!! Function econf, Line 365, Exitcode 1
!!! econf failed

Fortean · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: Update

Please post your make.conf

H3LL5P4WN · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:03 pm Post subject:

CFLAGS="-O2 -mcpu=i686 -fomit-frame-pointer -march=pentium2"
CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu"
CXXFKLAGS="${CFLAGS}"
MAKEOPTS="-j2"
GENTOO_MIRRORS="<long mirror list>"
USE="x86 oss apm arts avi berkdb crypt cups encode foomaticdb gdbm gif gpm gtk gtk2 imlib jpeg kde gnome libg++ libwww mad mikmod motif mpeg ncurses nls oggvorbis opengl pam pdflib png python qt quicktime readline sdl slang spell ssl svga tcpd truetype X xml2 xmms xv zlib"

H3LL5P4WN · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:09 pm Post subject:

I reran emerge --emptytree world, and I noticed one more thing:

configure: error: C++ preprocessor "/lib/cpp" fails sanity check

Then the !!! ERROR I posted above.

Fortean · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:41 pm Post subject:

Are you emerging a stage 1? At what part of the installation process were you when this error came up?

H3LL5P4WN · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:54 pm Post subject:

Yes, I'm attempting a Stage I. This error occurs when I run:

emerge --emptytree world

The USE page tells me to do that.

deadaim · Guru Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Posts: 467 Location: Florida

Okay, you need to read and follow the Gentoo Handbook word for word. You shouldn't have to perform 'emerge --emptytree world' anywhere during the install. Stop using the "USE Page". That is only to help you choose the flags you want to place in make.conf. The Gentoo Handbook will advise you when you should decide on your USE flags.

Tell us if you have any problems and try to give us detailed output.

deadaim · Guru Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Posts: 467 Location: Florida

thechris · Veteran Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 1203

the p2 was a 686?

H3LL5P4WN · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:43 pm Post subject:

The CXXFKLAGS was a typo.

In part 6a, after I update Portage, it says to add these to the make.conf:

USE="-gtk -gnome qt kde dvd alsa cdr"

I may be misunderstanding that, but does that particular set of USE commands limit what I can do? Thats why I used the longer list found on the USE page.

Lastly, I thought the 586 was the Pentium, and 686 the Pentium 2. If Im wrong, then feel free to correct me.

deadaim · Guru Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Posts: 467 Location: Florida

The pentium 2 is a 686.

As for 'USE="-gtk -gnome qt kde dvd alsa cdr"', that's just an example. You are supposed to change it to your liking.

BTW, according to those USE flags, you don't want gnome and you want kde, dvd support, alsa, and cdr support.