Since nobody else have post problems with the boot process, execpt people with a dell c600 laptop a one other, I would ask this way.
Is there anybody else, who don´t saw the "boot:" promt from the installation/help menue after boot from the first cd, and/or results in an dot "." in the next line afer press any key?
Some of the dicussions about this you can found here: https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-test-list/2005-April/msg01347.html https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-test-list/2005-April/msg00959.html
After a few tests, I think the problem could be brake down to the point, that it doesen´t work with the actually version of isolinux 3.07 for the boot process.
It can be a problem with a bug/incompatibility in the dell´s BIOS, but I´m also found this guy with a complete differen hardware, an Via C3 system, more about this found here: http://syslinux.zytor.com/archives/2005-March/004967.html http://syslinux.zytor.com/archives/2005-April/005012.html
I don´t know if the newer version 3.08 pre XXX fix this, but
with a substitution of ISOLINUX 2.11 FROM AN OLDER FC3 installation cd I could SOLVE THIS PROBLEM completely! <<< Only the change of the isolinux.bin file is enough.
So my question for the fedora team. Is it very nessesary to use the newer version of isolinux or is it possible to go one step back to an 2.xx version? I know, since 3.xx there where many new thinks added but did we realy need them? Many other distributions use the 2.xx tree.
Oliver Kahl
Now a little howto for all who can´t wait to install FC4 test on their dell latitude :-)
Howto make an bootable FC4 disk with isolinux 2.11 under another existing linux:
1.Copy the iso file from the FC4test2 CD1 download in your homedirectory, or if you have only the bootable cd, put all from the CD in an iso file with the following command (I do it this way):
mkisofs -o FC_3.91_CD1.iso -R /dev/cdrom
hints: FC_3.91_CD1.iso is the name for the file that would be created. /dev/cdrom is the device with the ready burned CD, sometimes /media/dvdrecorder or what ever. It depends on your hardware. You need arround 2G free space in your homedirectory !!!
2.Make a subfolder in your home directory and in this one for the CD1 mkdir fedoracd cd fedoracd mkdir CD1 cd ..
3.Now it´s time to be root :-) and mount the *.iso file to the CD1 location. After that you will see the same files in the CD1 directory as you take a look on the CD.
su mount -t iso9660 -o loop,ro FC_3.91_CD1.iso fedoracd/CD1
4.Copy the directory where you would make changes as described in the next. The blank and dot at the end are very important, don´t forget them.
cd fedoracd cp -a CD1/isolinux .
5.After that you must saw an directory with the name isolinux in the fedoracd directory. Now it´s time to get the file isolinux.bin from a FC3 from somewhere into the fedoracd folder. As root you could overwrite the new isolinux.bin with the old version after that.
cp /FROM_SOMWHERE/isolinux.bin home/yourname/fedoracd/isolinux.bin
cp isolinux.bin /isolinux/isolinux.bin
6.now you need a little bit concentration for the very long next command line, please write down all of it in ONE LINE, the CR+LF are only a blank, only for you to make it easier to read! A describtion for the most values are added.
mkisofs -o FC_3.91A_CD1.iso -b isolinux/isolinux.bin -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -joliet-long -P Fedora -r -T -V FC-3.91a-CD1 -x CD1/isolinux -graft-points CD1 isolinux/=isolinux
hints: -o : is for the output file name -b : makes the cd bootable -boot-load-size 4 : also the same value for dvd -P : name of the publisher -r : readable -T : renew automaticly all trans.tbl files!!! (you need it for fedora cds) -V : Volume name
7.Took the output iso file and burn the cd with your prefered application.
Have fun with all other hills you must climb up to run FC4 installation on your c600.
Oliver
Ok, I had the time to make more tests an found out, that upgrade to ISOLINUX 3.08 3.08-pre8 would fix the "boot:"-prompt problem on dell c600 latitude!
If anybody find out the same, also at oher platforms, let is know us!
You could get the latest version from: http://syslinux.zytor.com/
this would take you to: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/boot/syslinux/
look into the folder "Testing".
Ups, pre-10 is out, ok I test it also this night or next day with the dell and write down the result here!