WinLinux 2001 Release Notes Last Update: 04/03/2001 1. INTRODUCTION 2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 3. COMMON INSTALLATION PROBLEMS 4. COMMON CONFIGURATION PROBLEMS AND KNOWN BUGS 5. SUPPORT AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 6. DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT 1 INTRODUCTION WinLinux 2001 is a Linux distribution created for Windows users. It was developed to be the easiest Linux system in the Windows world. It is based on graphical setup tools that turn installation and configuration processes a breeze. It also allows you to see Linux as another application installed on your Windows system, even starting it from your Start Menu. Please notice that Windows applications cannot run within Linux without third party software, like vmware (www.vmware.com) or wine (www.winehq.com). WinLinux is able to automatically detect and configure most of your hardware devices, including but not limited to: video card, network card, sound card and mouse. Several software configurations are also detected and set without user intervention, such as TCP/IP network and display settings and time zone information. IMPORTANT NOTICE: WinLinux 2001 is fully compatible with Windows 95/98 and Millennium edition on the Windows side and it is fully compatible with Red Hat Linux 7.0 on the Linux side. WinLinux 2001 does not work on Windows NT or Windows 2000. NOTICE FOR WINDOWS MILLENNIUM USERS: Windows Me is unable to start WinLinux 2001 from the Start menu icon. You must use WinLinux Startup Disk or install LILO (the Linux boot loader) to start WinLinux 2001. 2 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Minimum configuration required to run WinLinux 2001: - Pentium class processor - 32 Mbytes RAM - VGA video card - Mouse - Windows(tm) 9x - a hard disk drive with approximately 500 MB free HD space in a FAT32 system or about 1GB free HD space in a FAT16 system, for a full setup In addition it is also recommended that you have: - a modem and an Internet connection - an SVGA card - 64 Mbytes RAM - free HD space to install third party applications WinLinux 2001 supports the same hardware supported by the Linux kernel. At the time of this writing the following devices are NOT supported by the Linux kernel: - some modems that depend on software drivers (also known as 'win modens') USB mouse and USB keyboard are supported by WinLinux 2001 as well as Lucent win modems. Please also read KNOWN BUGS AND LIMITATIONS below for software issues. 3 COMMON INSTALLATION PROBLEMS Before attempting to reinstall after an unsuccessful try, please read the following instructions carefully. Insufficient free space on the hard drive: please check SYSTEM REQUIREMENT for information on how much free space must be available before installation. Please remember that a FAT16 system wastes a lot of hard drive space if most of your files have small size. If you have a FAT16 system, consider upgrading your Windows version to support FAT32. Corrupted file system before installation: it is wise to check your hard drive for errors often. If you installed WinLinux 2001 and it did not work for any reason, please remove it using Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel and check your hard drive for errors before attempting to reinstall it. System hangs: if your system hangs you can follow two different paths according to the state of your system: 1) If you see a text mode screen (white text over a black background) press Ctrl+Alt+Del just like you would do in a Windows session. Pressing those keys will reboot the system, so do it only if your system does not respond to any other command. 2) If you see a graphic screen with windows or if the screen is scrambled, press Ctrl+Alt+BackSpace (BackSpace is the key normally located above the Enter key, used to erase the last typed character). That should restore your graphics system without the need to reboot the machine. If that doesn't work press Ctrl+Alt+F1 once or twice until you see a text mode screen (white text over a black background) and follow the steps in the first item above. For advanced users: You can also press Ctrl+Alt+F6 anytime to switch to a text console login screen if needed. Using a removable disk drive: although we recommend installing WinLinux 2001 on a fixed drive it can be installed on a removable drive provided that there is a Linux device driver to handle the hardware device and that it is configured in your system. Since this is a task we recommend only for advanced users we ask you to report this need to our Online Support. Using a SCSI disk drive: you can install WinLinux 2001 on a SCSI disk drive and boot from it. WinLinux 2001 comes with support for most common SCSI host adapters in order to use less hard drive space, if your SCSI adapter is not present please report to support@winlinux.net or download it from the SUPPORT area of our website www.winlinux.net. 4 COMMON CONFIGURATION PROBLEMS AND KNOWN BUGS 4.1 COMMON CONFIGURATION PROBLEMS 4.1.1 The system installs, boots but stops showing the message: "login: " This problem can be caused by the following: 1) You have a wrong driver selected for your video card. To change the card type, please check manufacturer and model in the hardware manual. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to reboot your computer. Go to Start Menu, Programs, WinLinux 2001, and open WinLinux Configuration Utility. Select Video device, click on Force Settings and select the card model that most closely matches your hardware. 2) Your graphics card is configured to use an invalid video mode. To change the video mode, press Ctrl+Alt+Del in order to reboot your computer. Go to Start Menu, WinLinux 2001, and open WinLinux Configuration Utility. Select Display device, click on Force Settings and select one of the following: Resolution: 640x480 @ 60Hz Bits per Pixel: 8 (recommended) Resolution: 800x600 @ 60Hz Bits per Pixel: 8 Note on VESA 2.0 compatible cards: If you experience the problem descrive above and you card is compatible with the VESA 2.0 specification, do the same as above to restart your computer and run WinLinux Configuration Utility, select Video device, click on Force Settings and select 'VESA 2 (VBE2) compliant framebuffer'. 4.1.2 If your network card is not detected, click on the Add... button and select a device driver. You will also be asked for net card TCP/IP settings, like IP address, netmask and default gateway. Ask your network administrator if you have doubts. If you are on a Local Area Network (LAN) or connected to a similar Cable Modem ISP you may want to use DHCP instead of setting TCP/IP parameters, in that case you must check the 'Obtain an IP address from a DHCP server' checkbox. 4.1.3 If you SCSI host adapter is not detected, click on the Add... button and select a device driver. 4.1.4 WinLinux 2001 may install and boot correctly and stop with the message no init found or Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 08:01 That happens because our loader was unable to automatically find the hard drive partition where WinLinux 2001 is installed on. It may be caused by the presence of multiple IDE and SCSI hard drives on the same computer or by IDE hard drives connected only to the secondary IDE interface. To boot properly you must run WinLinux Configuration Utility, answer No to the question about setting users and passwords and click on the Advanced... button of Device Configuration screen. On the Advanced window check the box "Boot WinLinux from user defined hard drive partition" and fill in the hard drive Partition Name. Partition naming scheme under Linux IDE Interface | Master/Slave | Partition number | Partition Name --------------+--------------+------------------+---------------- 1st | Master | 1 | /dev/hda1 1st | Master | 5 | /dev/hda5 1st | Slave | 1 | /dev/hdb1 2nd | Master | 1 | /dev/hdc1 2nd | Slave | 1 | /dev/hdd1 ----------------------------------------------------------------- SCSI disks follow the same convention: First SCSI disk is /dev/sda, second is /dev/sdb and so on. The first partition of the second disk is /dev/sdb1 4.1.5 Network card doesn't work: if your netword card doesn't work when you start WinLinux from Windows 95/98, try restarting the computer from Windows and selecting WinLinux from the boot screen. If you didn't install LILO, run the Configuration Utility again and install LILO, reboot your computer as usually and then on the next reboot you will see the boot screen. This method of starting WinLinux is known as "cold boot". If other PCI card doesn't work too follow the same instruction above and try a cold boot before asking for support. 4.2 KNOWN BUGS AND LIMITATIONS If you have a compressed hard drive (Stacker, Doublespace, Drivespace, etc) you cannot install WinLinux 2001. There is no support for it and it is not likely to be in the future. You can decompress your hard drive before installation or put another hard drive (e.g., D:) on your computer to install WinLinux 2000. 5 SUPPORT AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION You can access our online support 24 hours a day at www.winlinux.net/support. We provide FAQ's, Howto's and comprehensive Linux information besides documentation on WinLinux itself. You will also find links to other online Linux resources that can help you improve your system and/or solve your regular needs. If you cannot solve a WinLinux installation or configuration problem or if you need any help setting up your WinLinux system, use WinLinux Online Support to post your questions and our team will be answering your message shortly. Please refer to our web site www.winlinux.net for any additional information you may have. 6 DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT In no event shall JRCP be liable for any lost revenue or profits or other indirect, direct, special, incidental or consequential damages, even if JRHC has been previously advised of such damages. Please refer to http://www.winlinux.net/disclaimer.html for updated information and read the license agreement included in the end of this file. WinLinux is a service mark of JRCP. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft. Other trademarks cited here are property of their owners. -------------------------------------------------------------------- LICENSE AGREEMENT AND LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY WINLINUX 2001 Please read this document carefully before installing WINLINUX 2001 or any related software in your computer. This document contains important information about your legal rights. By installing any or all of this software product, you agree to the following terms and conditions: GENERAL The Linux operating system is copyrighted and licensed pursuant to the GNU General Public License ("GPL"), a copy of which can be found in this product, at www.gnu.org, and at many other sites on the Internet. This product includes many software programs that are not subject to the GPL or other licenses, as well as an assortment of applications from third party vendors. The Linux operating system, along with these various other software programs included therein, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Linux Software Programs". WinLinux 2001 is an easy-to-use and Windows-friendly Linux system. It has the unique and innovative characteristic of developing a configuration utility for Windows that automatically detects pre-existing computer configurations, hardware configurations, as well as user-preference configurations. Many hardware configuration devices, such as video cards, mouse, local network cards, printers and others, are included within this context. This software program is hereinafter referred to as the "WinLinux 2001 Program". LICENSE Many of the Linux Software Programs are copyrighted under the GPL and other licenses that permit copying, modification and redistribution. Review the on-line documentation that accompanies each of the Linux Software Programs included in the WinLinux 2001 Program for the corresponding license applicable to it. Some of these licenses relate to an assortment of applications from third-party vendors and various components thereof are licensed to you under a binary-only, restricted use license, meaning that you may install each of these software products only in a single computer for your own individual use. The WinLinux 2001 Program is licensed to you under a binary-only, restricted use license, meaning that you may install it only in a single computer for your own individual use. Copying, redistribution/transfer, reverse engineering, and modification of any of its software components, as well as the installation of the WinLinux 2001 Program in more that one computer, is strictly prohibited. Any violation by you of this restricted use license shall result in the immediate termination of your license to use the WinLinux 2001 Program and JRCP USA L.LC. reserves the right to demand that you either return this product to it or destroy this product within ten days following delivery of notice to you that this license is terminated. Please check the on-line documentation accompanying the WinLinux 2001 Program for all applicable license terms. If you do not agree to comply with the license terms applicable to the WinLinux 2001 Program, do not install the WinLinux 2001 Program in your computer and return this product to JRCP USA L.L.C. with transportation charges prepaid within 30 days from the date of original purchase, as shown on your original sales receipt. Provided you are in compliance with the conditions of this document, JRCP USA L.L.C. will refund to you the amount of your original purchase price for this product, as shown on your original sales receipt. If you wish to install the WinLinux 2001 Program in more than one computer, please contact JRCP USA L.L.C. to purchase additional licenses. INSTALLATION Carefully read the following Terms and Conditions before installing the WinLinux 2001 Program. Installing the WinLinux 2001 Program indicates your acceptance of the Terms and Conditions set forth in this document. If you do not agree with these Terms and Conditions, do not install the WinLinux 2001 Program and return this product to JRCP USA L.L.C. in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph. The WinLinux 2001 Program, including source code, documentation, appearance, structure and organization, is the proprietary product of WinLinux Ltd. and is protected by copyright and other applicable laws. Title to the WinLinux 2001 Program, and to any copy, modification or merged portion thereof, shall at all times remain with WinLinux Ltd., subject to the terms and conditions of the GPL and other relevant licenses. LIMITED WARRANTY EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY STATED IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED AND LICENSED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. JRCP USA L.L.C. warrants that the tangible medium on which the WinLinux 2001 Program is fixed will be free from defects in material and manufacture under normal use for a period of 30 days from the date of original purchase by you, as shown on your original sales receipt, and the WinLinux 2001 Program will appear precisely as described in the accompanying documentation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, it is expressly understood and agreed that if you purchase and open the packaging of this product and install it, you will not be able to return it and will receive no refund in connection therewith unless and only if it is in the sole discretion of JRCP USA L.L.C. defective in material or manufacture in accordance with the terms hereof. LIMITATION OF REMEDIES AND LIABILITY To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the remedies described below are accepted by you as your only remedies, and shall be available to you only if you register this product with JRCP USA L.L.C. in accordance with the instructions provided with this product within 30 days of your original purchase date. JRCP USA L.L.C.'s entire liability, and your exclusive remedies, shall be as follows: If the tangible medium is defective, you may return this product to JRCP USA L.L.C. within 30 days of its original purchase date, along with a copy of the original sales receipt, and JRCP USA L.L.C., at its option, will replace it or refund the purchase price paid by you for this product. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL JRCP USA L.L.C. BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE WINLINUX 2001 PROGRAM. JRCP USA L.L.C. expressly reserves the right to alter the WinLinux 2001 Program or modify this License Agreement and Limited Product Warranty at any time, without notice, as it may in its sole discretion deem reasonable. COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKS If any provision of this License Agreement is held to be unenforceable, it shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof. This License Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida, United States of America, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this License Agreement, or the breach hereof, which cannot be settled amicably by us, shall be submitted to the competent state or federal court in Miami-Dade County in the State of Florida to the exclusion of any other forum. Copyright 1999-2001 JRCP USA L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. "WINLINUX" is being registered as a trademark of WinLinux Ltd.. "Linux" is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and assigns. INSTALLATION SUPPORT Installation support helps you successfully install the WinLinux 2001 Program in your computer. This includes support in three distinct areas: Answering questions you may have prior to installation; helping you get through the installation process; and assisting you with the final configuration tasks. Our installation support will get your system running the WinLinux 2001 Program, but there are many other optional tasks that you might want to undertake which are not included in the installation process. See SUPPORT area of our website for details. Please note that the Linux Software Programs are NOT covered by WinLinux 2001 support in any way whatsoever. REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS Registering your copy of this product for support involves answering a few questions on our online registration form at www.winlinux.net/registration. You are strongly encouraged to register before you begin the installation process, since a web browser or e-mail is required. The data acquired at the time of registration will allow our support technicians to give you better support, especially hardware device information. Please answer the questions accurately and completely. You will not qualify for the Limited Product Warranty described herein if you do not register as aforesaid within 30 days of the original purchase date of this product, as shown on your original sales receipt. Copyright 1999-2001 JRCP USA L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. "WINLINUX" is being registered as a trademark of WinLinux Ltd. in the U.S.A. and other countries. "Linux" is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and assigns.