Hey everyone,

Basically, i've been given a machine by a friend who doesn't really know the history of where it came from. It has no manufacturer markings on the outside, but inside it looks complete. I've found a power lead for it, and it's booted up, i plugged in a screen and it all came on hunky dory.

BUT...

it checks everything is there, and then gets stuck on this screen saying...

''Fedora Core Release 6 (20d)
Kernel 2.6.18-1.2798.FC6 on an i686
Local Host Login:''

I've tried a few passwords but they are all wrong.

I'd love to get it booted up and see what i can do with it. It seems quite old, and has a RAM of 16 or 32mb.

Any help or advice would really be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Joe

Why not install a new operating system?

ubuntu is free and easy.

ahh thanks for the reply.

Is it fairly easy to do this?

Also, one last quick question...

the outside of the machine has no markings, and the motherboard has very little writing on it

can i still find out the max supported ram on it?
i'd also be interested to find what ram it has in it now too...

Thanks,

Joe

Once you have an Operating System installed there are many scans available to tell you what is what inside.

Ubuntu is very easy. All you need to do is download it on a working computer with a CD burner then create a Disk Image of the download (ISO).

If you do not have Nero or burning software capable of Disk Imaging then you can use this free ISO burner: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

After the CD has been created just boot it on the old computer and choose to install it.

Let us know if you need more details.

I went into BIOS to change the boot order so that the CD with Ubuntu would load first. The first screen of the ubuntu screen loaded and then finished off 2 seconds later with the same screen asking for host login.
I don't know the password...

That screen shows this...

''Fedora Core Release 6 (20d)
Kernel 2.6.18-1.2798.FC6 on an i686
Local Host Login:''

Sorry to be a pain Jephree, and thanks for all your help so far.

Joe

You can try formatting the drive with GParted.

This should remove Fedora and all other data on the drive after which you should be able to start fresh.

A GParted guide is HERE

Again this is an ISO to be imaged to CD and bootable.

I did as you said to do, and it still ended up stuck with the host login page.

Is there a worldwide host login username and password? Or will this be an individual thing?

I'm at a loss as to what to do, as i've tried both things suggested.

Any more help?!

Thanks,
Joe

With GParted did you try the option to Delete the partition?

Object here is to wipe this hard drive of all data.

Afterwards one can create a new partition and format.

You could also try to reinstall Fedora:

http://www.mjmwired.net/resources/mjm-fedora-fc6.html

Also here is a Google of Fedora's Local Login behavior:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...cal+host+login



...

Hi Jephree that last link from google was really helpful.

I met a guy yesterday who had also suffered the same problems as me, and suggested i check to see if my cd had the Live version on it. As apparently this affects whether or not it works straight away?

No full screen ever comes up from the CDs because it always becomes stuck on the host login screen.

I need to get the CD booted as a priority i think...

Very confusing!

Thanks for your help so far Jephree