I have downloaded Solaris. But I can't install it on my 64 bit PC.
It is fraught with installation problems. I gave it up.
I know it will work on SUN Sparc computer. However, it is beyond my budget.
Did you install it successfully on an ordinary PC?
Yes, I did install it on a 64 bit PC. Perhaps did you gave-up too early.
Why don't you describe what problems did you encounter? aMaybe someone will point you in the right direction.
Yes, I have done several hundred installations of various 32 and 64 bit machines. I have one running beside me right now, and everything works on it and it installed without any issues.
In order for anyone to be able to help you you need to give your hardware specs and the errors/problems you encountered.
Thanks everybody for the replies.
What is the version number of Solaris you manage to install?
I failed with the following program:
sol_10_606_x86
I have the above on a DVD. It is a bootable DVD.
I downloaded, compressed and concatenated as suggested by the Sun's website.
It boots fine. However, in the process of installation I had severe problems and forced to give it up.
I would like to know whether you managed to install the above version or some other old version.
I downloaded it October 2006. I tried to install it several times and gave up.
I would like to hear from you all again.
All of them, including Solaris Express builds.
Not the latest, but works fine.
Indeed.
I guess you mean uncompressed.
This is where you should provide more information.
How did it failed ?
On what hardware did you try to install ?
Did you check if it is supported before using the SDD tool ?
olders and newers.
You tried during one year and a half ?
Here I am !
Thanks Jlliagre for taking time to reply me.
Today I downloaded the latest version.
I still didn't find time to decompress/concatenate.
I will do it soon.
I am glad you are all behind me for the installation.
I will make another attempt as you will help me.
Please do keep a good watch on this thread. I am very busy with so many other things at the moment of writing. I will try to install within next 48 hours.
Do you want me to try with the latest version?
I will accept your suggestion.
By the way, what is the SDD tool?
Then, pick latest Solaris Express build and please don't refrain to tell what your H/W is and how did the previous installations failed.
I downloaded Solaris Express version and Solaris 10.
Both are bootable CDs.
The Solaris Express version is over 3GB.
I just inserted and restarted the computer.
It tried to install. I stopped it for the time being.
So I can install both of the programs.
What is the advantage of Solaris Express program?
I think my hardware is in line with HCL.
The processor is AMD 3200 or 3600
I have 1GB of RAM.
My graphic card and sound card are run-of-the-mill models.
My monitor is more than 10 years old. It is Samsung.
All Linux versions and Windows XP/Vista recognizes my hardware.
Good.
Hopefully.
Correct.
Why ?
You'll know when/if you succeed.
It's newer, more features, more drivers, more software.
What thinks the SDD tool ?
That's fine.
More is better but 1Gig is Ok.
I hope there are run-of-the-mill drivers ... 
640x480 ?
No mainboard nor disks ?
Which means it works but doesn't help knowing if drivers are available for Solaris.
Today I tried to install the latest Solaris version which I downloaded a few days ago. It was not the express version.
First I used a third party program (Acronis partitioner) to make a FAT32 partition and two 'ext3' partitions for Solaris.
Afterwards, I installed Windows 2003 server on FAT 32. It works fine. I could work with it.
Then I installed Solaris.
During the process of installation it erased the 'ext3' created Solaris compatible file system.
It took nearly 3 and a half hours to complete the installation.
When the computer reboots, GRUB asked me whether I need Solaris, Solaris fail safe and Windows.
This means installation was fine.
However, I got some error messages and Solaris didn't start.
The following were the messages:
Error for comment 'read sector' Error Level: Informative
.........................................................................
2.ata_disk-start: Select failed
...................................................................................
3.Vendor 'Gen-ATA' error code: 0x3
What is the problem? What is the meaning of those messages?
The installation took very long time. However, it was fine.
When the computer starts, GRUB gives me 3 choices.
I tried even with Solaris Fail Safe alternative.
It just repaired things. It didn't start the program.
Did it take over 3 hours to complete the installation?
I need your help.
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The following is the file system created by Solaris installation.
CodoSo /5044MB
CodoS1 Swap 518MB
CodoS7 /export/home 26891MB
I believe ' CodoSo /5044MB ' works as the root partition.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My processor is AMD ATHLON 3500+ ( 64bit)
Motherboard: Asrock - ASROCK - AM2 - K8T890CF - DDR2 - SATA2 - GLANC
Samsung hard drive - 250GB - 7200RPM - SATA -II -3.5 -Nc
Graphic card: ASUS - GF7100GS - TC - PCI-E - 128MB/512MB - DDR2
Samsung DVD Recorder
Sony Floppy Drive
[ The article number of the motherboard is 'ALIVESATA2-GLAN' .]
[ The article number of the graphic card is 'EN7100GS512/TD/ . It is called Asus EN 7100 series.]
[ If I want I can change to 640x480 resolution on my screen. At the moment I am using 800x600.]
[ Monitor: VESA 800X600@60HZ]
[ Card: ATI RV 280 5960]
[ Colors: 16.7 million (24 bit)]
[If I want I can change the colors to 256 (8bit) or 16 (4bit).]
It might be a disk issue, a controller issue, a BIOS configuration issue or a driver issue.
You can try installing Solaris Express build 81 or newer as a similar report was fixed that way.
Did you read my entire post? I added more details.
A lot of details indeed.
Are you asking us if it took three hours ? Well, only you know if it did.
Do you have a working OS now ?
By the way, it's not CodoSo but c0d0s0 (zeros, not o's).
You misunderstood me.
I have a working open SuSE 10.2 version. I am writing to you using open SuSE 10.2. This computer has even Mandriva 2007 and Fedora Core too. All are working.
I bought the new computer to install Solaris and Windows 2003 to work as a small server. So in the future this computer will be a client.
I thought you would suggest something else by reading all the details.
Something like change the resolution of the monitor and try.
It is my presumption you know more than me about the issues related to installation problems.
It seems you have nothing more to add.
I played with this last night until 2 o' clock in the morning.
Now things have changed.
When Solaris starts, I get the command prompt.
I can write all the commands like ' ls ' , ' df ' , ' du ' , ' fsck' , etc.
So it is partially working.
Do you know the command to go to the graphical environment?
I tried the command ' Solaris' and ' solaris ' . There were no response.
I tried the commands ' Start' and ' start ' too.
I know there is a command in Linux command line to switch into the graphical environment. I have forgotten it.
I badly need your help.
I'd agree with jlliagre, it sounds more like your hd even though you can get into the console login, usually the graphical environment will start automatically within a few seconds of booting up, try logging on the console and then logoff, it should then automatically start the graphical environment within 5 seconds roughly. Another way to find commands is to log in as root and type "help".
Thanks franz
I tried more than you suggested. There i no response.
There is a fix for the problem.
While meddling with it I got a message; it is to follow the instructions from the following to solve the problem:
[Repository Integrity Check Failed] --> The title of the error message
It fixed a problem in a database. However, I can't get the graphical environment.
Then I removed entire program and tried with the Solaris Express version.
I faced the same funny problem. [ ata_disk_start: Select failed ]
The Solaris Express version is an offshoot of Solaris. So the same problem should be there.
For me the error message borders some hardware problems. I searched the message on Google.
I don't know what to do.
I would follow your suggestion.
I am waiting to hear your comments.
Do you want me to buy a new hard drive and try to install it on it?
It seems the hard drive is incompatible with Solaris.
I installed latest SuSE on the computer.
So both SuSE and Windows 2003 server works fine.
GRUB comes to the screen and give me the choice.
I just removed the entire Solaris.
I am waiting to hear from you all the next step.
I want to install Solaris.
What shall I do?
Thats strange, Getting a new hd seems to be the better option. I would experement on an old hd (just to see if it really is the hd at fault or other bits of your hardware ect)
Something that might help is to find an old hd (early to lateish 90's) and get your project up and running on that and then find a new hd that is known to work with solaris and transfer to that. Then at least you have your project up and running ect.
I'm running solaris 10 5.11 (open solaris) on a maxtor from the late 80's early 90's, so that age range is fine.
Just a thought, i had to solve an error a couple of days ago, it was about booting up ect.
doesn't matter if you can't login, type the command "/lib/svc/bin/restore_repository"
It might help, it might not, but see what it does do. (you can get more info here: sun.com/msg/SMF-8000-MY)
franz
The following worked.
/lib/svc/bin/restore_repository
However, I could not get the graphical environment.
It just fixed an error in the database of software.
It is not easy to find old computers nowadays.
What is 'hardware ect' ?