[GRLUG] IBM NetVista not booting graphical environment - UPDATE

[john-thomas richards]

On Tue, Nov 20, 2007 at 03:18:01PM -0500, john-thomas richards wrote:
> I am helping a friend with his non-profit's computer (he runs an inner-city
> ministry that helps with job placement, tutoring for students, leadership
> development, etc.).  The machine is an IBM NetVista, Pentium III processor,
> and an nVidia card.  I attempted to install XP (he *needs* Quickbooks) for
> him.  The install works fine until the machine reboots and attempts to load
> the GUI.  When it does so, the monitor goes into sleep mode and requires a
> hard reboot (the keyboard becomes unresponsive).  I thought this was odd
> behavior so I got another *identical* machine (literally; he received a
> donation of several identical machines from a local business) and tried
> installing XP onto that blank drive (after formatting, of course).  Again the
> monitor went into sleep mode.  I then booted the machine with a Knoppix CD.
[snip]

After pouring much time into this, it has been determined that this
(and the other two) motherboard has a very special and very specific
failure that keeps it from booting a GUI.  (Mad props to Greg F. for
all his help.  He is a Very. Smart. Guy.  Thank you!)  So my friend
with the non-profit ministry has some nice hardware but no
motherboards.  He was recently offered some more computers by another
donor so I thought, hey, why not make a nice server out of the
hardware?  To cut this short, dual-Pentium III motherboards are a rare
find these days (nada on eBay).  Any of you guys have one (I have the
processors :-) for sale?
-- 
john-thomas
------
Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great
teacher.
Japanese proverb