After install 'blank' desktop

I have installed the zorin-os-9-core-32.iso on two different computers. The install look OK. But after click OK to reboot after install, the screen stays light blue and nothing happens.
After a hard reset, the system boot up, gives a password prompt and after that I see only a desktop with a recycle bin and a Home folder. No start menu will shows.

If I press ctrl-alt-del and logoff, I see for a view seconds the a start menu below the screen.

What’s wrong?


PC1
CPU = Pentium 4 1800Mhz
MEM = 512MB (512)
VIDEO = Diamond Stealth III S540 PCI 32MB
HDD = 80Gb
Root = 78GB
SWAP = 2GB

PC2
CPU = Pentium 4 2400Mhz
MEM = 640MB (512 + 128)
HDD = 250GB
Root = 70GB
Swap = 2GB

What monitor are you using, you may be able to adjust the screen picture, and fix it that way. (I have a monitor at home, that will has the screen up enough for me to not be able to see the first line of my terminal, and a auto screen adjust fixes it with up )

What happens after another reboot?
What happens if you open terminal -- shotcut: [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[t]

Linx wrote:What monitor are you using, you may be able to adjust the screen picture, and fix it that way. (I have a monitor at home, that will has the screen up enough for me to not be able to see the first line of my terminal, and a auto screen adjust fixes it with up )

What happens after another reboot?
What happens if you open terminal -- shotcut: [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[t]

The screen that I used is a 17"LCD screen, I think it's not the resolution. Auto adjust works but not for showing the start menu.
I can get the terminal and in the syslog I see a lot of errors

After a reboot before I can login, I see a message: "System program problem detected" (next line) “Do you want to report the problem now?” than a black screen for more than 10 minutes. There’s no hard disk activity add that moment. After waiting I can login, but no start menu....

Hi, I think you have a couple of issues there based on your machines specifications:

PC 1 - only has a graphics card with 32 Mb Memory

PC2 - 640 Mb (512 + 128) - this indicates 128 Mb Memory allocated for Graphics with the rest for main memory usage.

I think both your PCs are sadly underpowered - you may have to wait for the release of Zorin 9 Lite edition - while you are waiting you may want to try LXLE or Linux Lite as possible alternatives.

Swarfendor437 wrote:Hi, I think you have a couple of issues there based on your machines specifications:

PC 1 - only has a graphics card with 32 Mb Memory

PC2 - 640 Mb (512 + 128) - this indicates 128 Mb Memory allocated for Graphics with the rest for main memory usage.

I think both your PCs are sadly underpowered - you may have to wait for the release of Zorin 9 Lite edition - while you are waiting you may want to try LXLE or Linux Lite as possible alternatives.

PC2 have no shared memory for the videocard. The card is a GeForce FX 5200 128MB/64bit - Nvidia

On the webpage http://zorin-os.com/faq.html I read:
What are the minimum system requirements that I need to install Zorin OS?

For the Zorin Desktop based versions (not Lite):
1 GHz x86 processor
5 GB of Hard Drive space
512 MB of system memory (RAM)
Graphics card capable of 640x480 resolution

PC 2 have more than that, why will it not work? It's my old mediacenter and with Windows on it I had no errors


PC2
CPU = Pentium 4 2400Mhz
MEM = 640MB (512 + 128) (tested with memtest)
VC = GeForce FX 5200 128MB/64bit - Nvidia
MB = ASUS P4B
HDD = 250GB
Root = 70GB
Swap = 2GB

Hi, I really do think that that information needs updating - I would have said 1 Gb for smooth operation (like XP - 512 Mb was OK but 1 Gb was sweet). Now in your original posting you had not quoted the FX5200 - that 540 + 128 has always indicated that it is reserved memory for graphics (up to 128 Mb) of on-board vga - so you will not have access to that +128 - it is reserved entirely for graphics. I'm afraid the FX5200 could well be an issue as I have seen posts on here and on Ubuntu forums with that particular card. With regards PC1 you will certainly be having issues of it not running at all with a PCI card with only 32 Mb memory (I know because I have tried to do that on this rig with a Vanta SoundBlaster Graphics card with the same memory.

The best advice I can give you is if you can, upgrade the FX5200 to a higher AGP spec - I was luckky to get an 8x AGP card off the web for £44 when my old FX5700 256 Mb bit the dust recently!

If upgrading is an issue, I suggest you either wait for Zorin Lite or in the meantime try LXLE - superb lightweight distro (http://lxle.net)

Swarfendor437 wrote: Now in your original posting you had not quoted the FX5200 - that 540 + 128 has always indicated that it is reserved memory for graphics (up to 128 Mb) of on-board vga - so you will not have access to that +128 - it is reserved entirely for graphics. I'm afraid the FX5200 could well be an issue as I have seen posts on here and on Ubuntu forums with that particular card. With regards PC1 you will certainly be having issues of it not running at all with a PCI card with only 32 Mb memory (I know because I have tried to do that on this rig with a Vanta SoundBlaster Graphics card with the same memory.

Hi,

I don't understand your explenation about the memory.
The 512 and 128 are both PC133 CL2 banks and there's no onboard VGA card. The system can used +/- 640MB.
I'll try zorin-os-8-lite on PC2 tomorrow, but I don't know why Zorin give's a lot of erros. And I can't beleve that the Nvidia card is to small for this work.

Thanks for the response

Hi, Well firstly very surprised that you have got 512 and 128 working alongside each other!

The FX5200 isn't underpowered I just think there was an issue with another member - also seen issues with FX5200 while I was searching for other member on ubuntufoorums.

Please wait for Zorin 9 Lite as Zorin 8 Lite is end-of-life (like the version of Lubuntu on which it was based)

Hi,

try running "DPKG" per this guide:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2247