Ubuntu 8.04 server installation hangs

Can you use your usb keyboard to access your computer BIOS ?
You need to have a specific option to be enabled in order for your USB keyboard to be usable when you aren't with a OS with USB support.

Just try a PS2 keyboard it should work fine

Unfortunately, the motherboard in this unit does not have any PS2 connectors on it so I can't try using a PS2 keyboard and
confirm whether this will work or not.

I did not see any settings in the BIOS to enable/disable USB or USB IO devices as you suggested, however since I can use
the keyboard to enter/exit BIOS and change settings, then the USB keyboard must be recognized pre-OS load.

Rick

I have the same exact problem. No PS2 connectors. The keyboard works with Fedora. Ubuntu just hangs at the language selection screen, so I have no choice but to go with a different distro for my file server.

its just a guess!

pls check bios setup (cmos) for some parameter called "legacy usb support" or something like that. try to enable this, then retry

maybe this can make your keyboard work on bios/dos level

The Dell GX620 bios A11 does not have a "legacy usb support" selection.. I also have a GX620 and see the same problem, both on the 8.04 installer, and the 7.10 one also. The last Ubuntu version I was able to install on this system without this problem was 7.04.. Fortuantly I have one of the little PS2/keyboard/mouse/second serial port dongles that Dell sells for the GX620 that allows me to connect a PS2 keyboard to the system. I've only seen the problem on the i386 version..

I have a Dell Optiplex GX520 (P4 - 32 bit) and I am experiencing the same problem. It gets as far as the language screen - and then yer pooched!

Damn Small Linux - 3.n and 4.4.10 experience the same problem.

Other Linux distros (fedora) seem to detect the USB keyboard/mouse flawlessly.

I have not yet tried the "desktop" installer yet, but the server (8.04) install is garbage in this respect.

Based on what I've seen, I suspect that there is some fundamental USB driver that does not get loaded at first-boot - and the system cannot (or won't) use whatever BIOS functionality is present.

In the GX520 - there is a BIOS setting to turn USB either "ON" or "OFF" (or turn it on, but have it not try to boot through it), and mine is set to be "ON". I have tried several different USB ports on my system, but to no avail.

This is particularly annoying - especially because the trend among manufacturers is to eliminate the PS2 ports on computers.

And yes, Dell does sell a special internal cable - cum - dongle that provides PS2 connections. However, it is amazing that I have to shell out for some odd-ball dongle because Ubuntu cannot install in a "pure" USB environment.

What say ye?

Jim

New data-point:

Same system as above, however install done with the 9.n "desktop" DVD. USB keyboard (and presumably mouse) work just fine.

So! There is obviously something askew with the 8.04 server release.

The two distribution CD's that I received were part of the book <i>The Official Ubuntu Server Book</i> which I intend to peruse. I was also wanting to use the Ubuntu server as a "test bed" for a course I am taking on the Linux Kernel.

Since the 9.n desktop release CAN install on these screwy Dell boxes w/o PS2, is there something we can back-port to the 8.04 media - like the boot block or something - that will allow us to install the 8.04 server w/o having to shell out for some stupid PS-2 dongle?

I am perfectly willing to re-cut a custom 8.04 CD if I can do something like substituting the boot-block or whatever.

What say ye?

Jim

New data-point:

I tried re-mastering the 8.04 Ubuntu Server CD using the boot block from the 9.04 DVD - no joy - did not work.

Stinks being me.

What say ye?

Jim

Jim,

Do not hijack an year old thread from another user. If you'd like to seriously discuss this issue, you would be best served to start a NEW question regarding this as you will get far more exposure than you have doing it this way.

Cheers.

Jeruvy,

Hijack?

I shure-as-h [heck] thought this was on-topic and germane to the issue, since obviously he is not the only one having this problem.

I've been on other boards where I'd open a new thread to ask a question - and have some moderator pound me into the ground for "duplicating topic 3784" - so I thought this was correct and proper.

I'll be more than happy to move this discussion to another thread if that's the way you folks want it.

A thousand apologies.

Jim

I ask you to do this so that you can get 'more eyes' on the question. Hijacking an old thread like this will be ignored by many.

I wasn't trying to reprimand or give you heck for doing what you did, you if you inferred that I am sorry, I was simply trying to point you that this is not appropriate for this site, and it will mean very very few people will see your request for help (which could lead to other issues).

I was thinking strictly of your best interests to get the help more quickly and easily.

Good luck.