Hello, and thank you in advance should you have an answer ! :-) This is long
winded, but I hope it actually helps your diagnosis.
After a severe windows problem I have recently installed Slackware 9.0 and
am enjoying it alot, I've even managed to create bootable CDs of my system.
(I was preparing for a full move to linux in 2004 the windows problem
simply sped up the process) I now have Redhat 7.2 as a server and Slack 9.0
as a desktop.
System: Asus mobo (ak-7 I think), via chipset, P-III 650, 512Mb ram, PCTV
pinnacle, Ensonique 32, D-link nic, 2930HBA, Plextor scsi writer, generic
DVD, WD 20Gb ide, Geforce 4 64Mb (video works good even though supposedly
unsupported) also tho I use a configuration program called xwin to setup
video so far works like a charm on most video systems tested, it is on my
bootable CD-roms.
Question 1: On a fresh boot, my PC uses just under 100Mb of ram, mostly
being consumed by "X", as the PC operates the ram cache slowly grows and
grows, like right now it is hovering around 183Mb total + 96Mb for system,
the system ram is the usual 100Mb, but I thought it was supposed to clear
the cache itself regularly when no programs are running?
Question 1a: Is this normal? I have attempted to seek out answers, however
it is unclear. I thought it may be possible to maybe open a terminal and
type something to clear the ram cache? or do I have a config problem that I
am unaware of?
Question 2: I have a pinnacle PCTV tuner card, the system appears to
recognize it fine at boot up, I can see what appears to be many positive
messages from the kernel, however, I can only convince the "Composite1"
input to work, the tuner only reports no signal, I disabled signal
detection and can almost see an image, but still no channels, only fuzz and
snow. I am attempting both TVtime and xawtv. (personal note: I like TVtime
better)
(Note: I have not attempted kernel re-compile as of yet, if this is
necessary I welcome advice on config selections)
(Note: I have seen some websites that inform of 3 specific selections when
rebuilding kernel, again this has not been done as of yet.)
For technicality, M-Player DVD works great !!! Video is extremely crisp,
playback smooth as glass and crystal clear.
Question 2 Additional notes: Cable company "Comcast" New Hampshire USA. I am
uncertain that, that would effect the situation, however I also realise the
most information I can provide will help with an answer you may provide.
The tuner did work with Win 2k in an experiment while troubleshooting the
other windows issue I was experiencing, so it should work.
Question 2a: Is it, maybe better to re-install my 32Mb ATI-All in wonder
card? I have heard ATI was extremely difficult to get working, and I never
did even try to get it working, bought PCtv, because it appeared to have
good success w/linux, based on info I read on many websites. Or is there a
better TV card? If so I would rather get that, especially if the
manufacturer is more linux friendly.
Thanks
Ken
P.S. Not actually pertinent to the questions.
If you are curious to my windows issue? Sometime last month (october) Roxio
5 simply stopped working on curiously specific burn configurations that I
needed and had run fine previously till then. I re-installed both 98se and
2k fresh, virus scanned, fdisked, all the normal stuff, altered from IDE
burner to SCSI burner no luck, (in fact I did this with both PCs even
switched components back and forth, even bought more ram to exclude it and
rebuilt several times, took 4 days) Thank God I still had Redhat 7.2 on my
server running for all the online reading and downloading. Nero works fine
on the now rebuilt 2k box with scsi 20Gb drive, intel onboard nic, ATI all
in wonder, on board crytal sound, PC is an IBM intellistation dual P-II
400, w/256Mb ram, w/ generic DVD, works fine and is now my portable
win-gaming PC to use in potential lan/internet games.
--
http://www.ken-zoe.net
Ken-Zoë M. Stevenson