Using the Text Mode Installer


Some computers are not capable of running the standard Fedora Core 4 installer that uses graphics and your mouse. When this is true, one of two things happens:

  • The Fedora Core 4 installer detects that your computer is not compatible with its graphics mode, and the text mode installer starts instead, automatically.

  • Your computer crashes, displays the installer screens incorrectly, or otherwise prevents you through abnormal circumstances from completing the install process as it is shown in Chapter 2.

If the latter is true in your case, you need to force the text mode installer to start preemptively so that the graphical installer is never started. To do this, boot from your Fedora Core 4 install media and enter the phrase linux text at the boot: prompt. This causes the Fedora Core 4 installer to bypass the graphics mode entirely and begin the text mode installer after the media check, as shown in Figure A.6.

Figure A.6. The text mode installer doesn't use graphics and doesn't use your mouse; it relies on your keyboard exclusively.


Fortunately, the text mode installer functions almost identically to the default installer discussed in Chapter 2. The program flow and offered choices and options are the same; only the appearance is different. You should therefore be able to navigate the text mode installer using Chapter 2 as a guide, provided that you keep the following in mind:

  • Highlighted text (red letters on a gray background) serves the same purpose as the mouse in the default installer; any highlighted text is currently being "pointed at."

  • The Enter key serves the same purpose as your mouse button would in the default installer; pressing the Enter key chooses the currently highlighted (pointed at) option.

  • Pressing the Tab key repeatedly is like moving the mouseeach time you press the Tab key, the highlight moves to the next choice on the screen. When offered a choice, press Tab until the highlight points to the option you want to select; then press your Enter key to select it.

The fact that you are forced to use the text mode indicates a greater chance that Fedora Core 4 is not compatible with your display hardware. You might find that after you finish the text mode installer, Fedora Core 4's graphical mode doesn't work when you boot your system. If this is the case, you might want to consider upgrading your graphics hardware to be compatible with Fedora Core 4. After you have done so, I hope you'll attempt to install Fedora Core 4 again!



    SAMS Teach Yourself Red Hat(r) Fedora(tm) 4 Linux(r) All in One
    Cisco ASA and PIX Firewall Handbook
    ISBN: N/A
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2006
    Pages: 311
    Authors: David Hucaby

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