Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Most Linux Distros Won't Run on Pentium 4

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bad-news-for-all dept.

linugen writes "According to this article on LinuxGram, the majority of Linux distributions won't install on the Pentium 4. Apparently this is caused by the CPUID database, which contains no information on the Pentium IV. Currently only Red Hat and Turbolinux have updated versions of the CPUID databases."

6 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. Kernel panics and AMD by joshuaos · · Score: 4
    It seems that the linux kernel has more problems than just the Pentium IV. I recently bought a brand new machine (piece by piece), with an AMD Thunderbird 800Mhz processor, and when I installed RedHat 6.2, the installation went fine, but as soon as I tried to boot, it tried to disable the CPUID and kernel panics and goes into a hard lock every time. I managed to pass a parameter to the kernel at boot, but it's rather rediculous that the kernel seems to have this problem fairly often.

    Joshua

    Terradot

    --

    When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!

    1. Re:Kernel panics and AMD by Thagg · · Score: 4
      Thunderbird and Duron CPUs did have this problem with RedHat 6.2 only; in that RedHat 6.2's installed kernel (as opposed to the installation kernel) tried to turn of the CPUID with a panic resulting.

      The way to fix it is to boot this system at the lilo prompt with the x86_serial_nr=1 flag as in the following

      lilo: linux x86_serial_nr=1

      Then, rebuild a kernel. The defaults, interestingly, don't enable the CPUID; so just making a kernel with all the defaults yeilds something that boots.

      thad

      --
      I love Mondays. On a Monday, anything is possible.
  2. Re:Just get 2.2.18 by Majix · · Score: 5

    P4 owners only need to download 2.2.18 which should be out any day now

    ... and mere moments after posting, Linux 2.2.18 was released :)

  3. Has anybody told ... by Bryan+Ischo · · Score: 5

    ... the existing three Pentium 4 owners about this?

  4. Bad kernel design by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 5

    It seems to me that the Linux shouldn't just fail if it doesn't understand a CPUID. Is there some reason it can't fall back to a "compatibility mode" (like, 486 or Pentium mode or something) so that it at least works? Maybe it won't run optimally, but a little warning message is better than a full-blown barf.


    --

    --
    Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
  5. Whatever happened to objective reporting? by IsleOfView · · Score: 4
    This is falling into a pattern that is being seen way too often on Linux news sites. From LinuxGram's "about" page:
    What makes us unique is our intelligence, which comes from:
    • The best reporters in the industry. We get the story behind the story.
    • The best reporters in the industry. We get the story behind the story. A perspective that comes from the years we've been in this industry. We don't just rewrite press releases.
    • Contacts at the highest level of every company in the industry. We've even been accused of having bugs in their boardrooms.
    • We work harder. We have a proven track record. No other newsweekly breaks more news. Every week. Week after week.
    • A fierce dedication to reporting the facts. We get it right the first time - an accuracy rate that is unchallenged.
    The article says that Intel is working with Linux ISV's to update their CPUID databases. Seems like they're doing the right thing. Is Intel really responsible to contact EVERY OS manufacturer for x86 and let them know that they are releasing a new CPU? I suppose that this is not a popular opinion on Slashdot, but maybe Intel does do some things right...