PS3 Linux FAQ thread

[sleepyrye]

Ive search everywhere, posted several times to several forums and sent private messages on this concern. Im using ydl 5.0 on my panasonic 47' widescreen tv (PT-47WX53G), using hd cables (3video, 2 audio), i have the options of 480i, 480p, and 1080i. Using 480i, it looks like garbage and dosent fit in screen, and on 1080i, which probally is better res. due to my tv supports this, i find that the windows/text are extremly small.

Is there a way to magnify these to fill the screen better and so i can actually read them. Ive done the whole ps3videomode thing and tried different settings, but none enlarge my windows and text. I dont know linus at all, and if anyone can tell me what to type in and where to type it, i would be forever gratfull.

[vaporub]

i need help with installing gentoo for the ps3. I have installed it about 5 times now and still cant get it to run.

Biggest problem: dont know how to load up the desktop. Desktop screen comes up snowy (kinda like the old school TVs when you unplug your cable wire) and my mouse cursor looks like an X. my "fluxbox" is just a huge grey screen with a small window in the corner.

[Bootaaay]

I'm trying to install Fedora Core 5 on my PS3, however I keep getting various 'Buffer I/O error's - I thought it might be the speed I burnt the dvd at so I tried a lower setting but I still get the same error repeatedly, my friend said it might be the PS3s hard drive and i'll need to install a new one, is this the case, or am I doing somthing wrong during the installation? (I'm using this guide btw - http://ps3.qj.net/PS3-Linux-The-void...g/49/aid/73144 - and followed it exactly)

Can anyone help?

[cyanide]

Originally Posted by vaporub

Biggest problem: dont know how to load up the desktop. Desktop screen comes up snowy (kinda like the old school TVs when you unplug your cable wire) and my mouse cursor looks like an X. my "fluxbox" is just a huge grey screen with a small window in the corner.

If you're using startx to load the GUI, you won't get fluxbox directly since it's only loaded when X is started through xdm. And your description pretty much describes a normal X desktop. Try going to the console and typing:
/etc/init.d/xdm restart
-= Double Post =-

Originally Posted by Bootaaay

I'm trying to install Fedora Core 5 on my PS3, however I keep getting various 'Buffer I/O error's - I thought it might be the speed I burnt the dvd at so I tried a lower setting but I still get the same error repeatedly, my friend said it might be the PS3s hard drive and i'll need to install a new one, is this the case, or am I doing somthing wrong during the installation? (I'm using this guide btw - http://ps3.qj.net/PS3-Linux-The-void...g/49/aid/73144 - and followed it exactly)

Can anyone help?

A buffer io error points to either a bad hard-disk, bad partitioning, or bad DVDs/CDs. It's hard to pinpoint the location since I can't look at the actual errors. Try taking a picture and uploading it somewhere

[chill392]

I have a normal TV, not HD or anything, and I can't get Yellow Dog to recognize it after installation. Any ideas?

[utstu72]

I had to download the CD iso's instead of the dvd version and I can't seem to get it to start the install. What can I do? Is there some other kboot prompt to enter besides "install-fc sda"?

[MGSnake727]

when i first boot my PS3 up with the YDL 5.0 DVD in it gets stuck at

"Mounting ,,,"

then goes to

"Kboot "wierd loading symbol" ,,,"

and starts back at

"Mounting ,,,"

and repeats

I have no idea what to do.

[dungmymieu]

I have a same problem
it say: kboot: ...../ppc64/vmlinux-ps3 not found
anyone help me ??

[MGSnake727]

I have that problem with my other DVD
I thought it might have been a bad burn so i made this new one with the Mounting problem.
(edit) Hope its not a DVD problem, my burner just died.

[utstu72]

Originally Posted by dungmymieu

I have a same problem
it say: kboot: ...../ppc64/vmlinux-ps3 not found
anyone help me ??

Ok, I had the same exact problem. I finalized the disc last time, now I'm going to try it with the disc open... I'll keep you posted.

[MGSnake727]

I have some good news for dung and some bad news for me. The error is because we burned the .iso as a file not as an image (you need to select "burn image" when you make the DVD, and make sure you set it at a low speed)
I'm not sure about the "mounting ,,," error but i'm guessing that it was just a bad burn since my DVD drive died right after the burn.
P.S. This information might be unreliable, I found it on the official playstion forums.

~[EDIT]~I have a feelig i'm going to need the functionality of Gentoo and i was wondering if i should **** around in YDL first because i have no linux experience.

[cyanide]

I had to download the CD iso's instead of the dvd version and I can't seem to get it to start the install. What can I do? Is there some other kboot prompt to enter besides "install-fc sda"?

You can't use CDs dude. There's a reason why they're not listed in the download section.

[pizzamousechips]

Sorry if this has been addressed, I did a long search and found nothing...

Is there any way to have a nicer looking resolution on an SDTV? I'm running it on a pretty nice 33" Sony WEGA with component cables, but the 480i option looks horrible. Windows don't even fit on the screen. Of course, 1080i doesn't even show. So is there any in between? Anything easier to work with?

Thanks in advance.

[hexonn]

Yes, it has been addressed


Sadly, the PS3 (and other PC video things for that matter) are "blocked" in with SDTVs, and depending on your TV the letters and everything can be hard to read, there is no other option to raise/zoom/adjust this though as SDTV can only achieve 480i

[pizzamousechips]

Argh. Thanks. I guess I won't really be using YDL then, until I get an HDTV that is. At 480i, it's hardly usable.

[gohanhd]

sorry to askk but what does PPc stand for what kinda of programs are they?

[cyanide]

PowerPC.

[gohanhd]

no/dev/pm/ device found at start of X or what ever you call it, is it problem that needs to be fix...

Im having trouble installing VLC or Mplayer for the mater of fact. Im kinda new to this...I wundering if I can can someone help with this? Im using videolan-client-0.8.5-2.fc5.fc5.ppc.rpm, I tryed "yum install vlc"....and I try click it. but it says it missing some files or so...or am I using the wrong....VLC thing?

[coheedcollapse]

Originally Posted by sleepyrye

Is there a way to magnify these to fill the screen better and so i can actually read them. Ive done the whole ps3videomode thing and tried different settings, but none enlarge my windows and text. I dont know linus at all, and if anyone can tell me what to type in and where to type it, i would be forever gratfull.

I know if you change to the GNOME interface instead of the Enlightenment default you can pretty easily change the text sizes of just about anything - thats what I had to do because I only have like 27 inches of screen space.

[aussie_ar]

First of all, sorry for my english. Hope u understand my enquiry.

I got my ps3 yesterday. I spend like 24 hours uploading all my files, Im half way there. Recently I found out that i can install another OS but I have to format my 60gb hard drive to make a partition. That would result in me losing all the files uploaded : S

I heard that some ppl installed OSX or Windowns xp but it runs slow as hell. I've been reading every single page of this forum and I dont see what are the advantages of installing Linux.

Games-os is a good one. You get access to the internet, can play music, videos, slideshows, etc.

Isnt that the same you would get by installing another OS ?

Anyway, can you insert a CD (game or whatever) to your ps3 and run it from linux?

[Sinfulfate]

Originally Posted by aussie_ar

First of all, sorry for my english. Hope u understand my enquiry.

I got my ps3 yesterday. I spend like 24 hours uploading all my files, Im half way there. Recently I found out that i can install another OS but I have to format my 60gb hard drive to make a partition. That would result in me losing all the files uploaded : S

I heard that some ppl installed OSX or Windowns xp but it runs slow as hell. I've been reading every single page of this forum and I dont see what are the advantages of installing Linux.

Games-os is a good one. You get access to the internet, can play music, videos, slideshows, etc.

Isnt that the same you would get by installing another OS ?

Anyway, can you insert a CD (game or whatever) to your ps3 and run it from linux?

OSX and Windows xp cant be installed on your PS3. You can however run a windows emulator on linux which is really slow. The advantages of running linux on your ps3 is the fact you have a fully functional PC on your PS3 so you get all of a pcs advantages. Linux on PS3 is the same as Linux on a PPC computer so what you can do on a PPC linux pc you can do on linux on your PS3. So no you cant run ps3 games on linux since PS3 games run only on the PS3 OS and cant be ran on a PPC linux computer.

In case you dont know Linux doesnt replace your PS3 OS so with linux you have 2 OS. So theres no reason not putting linux on your PS3.

[Andyland]

Sadly, the PS3 (and other PC video things for that matter) are "blocked" in with SDTVs, and depending on your TV the letters and everything can be hard to read, there is no other option to raise/zoom/adjust this though as SDTV can only achieve 480i

I have an Ilo (Walmart) SDTV with what I believe to be 480i resolution. I am running FC5 on a 60GB PS3 and the windows are blocked off the edges of the screen. Are we, the owners of poor man's TVs completely screwed out of all the fun? Is there a distro that fits windows on a 480i display? Am I even posting in the right thread? And thanks for all the help, the previous posts here have solved all kinds of problems.

[aussie_ar]

Thanks for the quick answer.

When I said if you could insert a CD I didnt mean a PS3 CD. Like, can you run a CD-ROM with games on it or software compatible with Linux ?

I was thinking to install Mac OSX Tiger. I guess it will not be a good idea to install that OS. I'll give Linux a try. When you install a new OS, does the new one become the default OS? In other words, can you start the PS3 first and then switch to the other one?

This might be a bit off-topic. Will my songs, pictures and videos get deleted if I perform a "quick format" ?

And the last question before I start installing Linux, in case I dont like that OS (never used it before) can I delete it?

Any help is much appreciated.

[Sinfulfate]

When I said if you could insert a CD I didnt mean a PS3 CD. Like, can you run a CD-ROM with games on it or software compatible with Linux ? Yes you can. Tho Im sure where you find a CD-ROM with games for PPC linux you best bet will be just to download them off the net.

I was thinking to install Mac OSX Tiger. I guess it will not be a good idea to install that OS. I'll give Linux a try. When you install a new OS, does the new one become the default OS? In other words, can you start the PS3 first and then switch to the other one? You cant install whatever OS you want only ones that were remade to work with the PS3. So you cant run any Mac or Windows OS. Yes it becomes default when you mkae a new one. In Linux you just type in boot-game-os(I think thats the command will need to double check) to boot into the PS3 OS or you could just hold the button that turns your ps3 on for like 5secs will go straight to the PS3 OS.

This might be a bit off-topic. Will my songs, pictures and videos get deleted if I perform a "quick format" ? Yup I believe you lose everything which is why installing linux as soon as you get your ps3 is recommended. You can backup your stuff I think but I dont how as I didnt need too.

And the last question before I start installing Linux, in case I dont like that OS (never used it before) can I delete it? You dont really have a choice for what OS to use Linux is your ONLY option but there are many different kinds of Linux like gentoo, fedora core 6, Yellow dog, ubuntu etc that all work with the PS3 but yes you can delete it by formatting the partition.

[ojg333]

I KNOW! I've read all the post and know why the windows platforms can't work on the powerpc architecture and about the driver issue, but what about the one windows platform that was designed for the original powerpc, windows NT 4. Of course it's a dead os with no support so that means no drivers for the hardware. BUT, can these linux drivers be ported to work on NT or use compatible drivers designed for XP/win98. WHY? I have an old Pentium1 Thinkpad with win 95 and a bunch of emulators that run great some even run through DOS mode, maybe we could use these emulators on it. I figure NT should run them also, and undoubtably the processor and ram would have no issue running this OS at a good speed. I was gonna try and intall it on the PS3 using a the arc bootloader or files from the bootup floppy transfered to the usbdrive maybe renaming them to the correct bootloader name that the PS3 would recognize. I KNOW I'm probably just dreaming and it is impossible but I'm sure there some Devs or hackers out there who know much more than I do who can either use this info or set me straight once and for all cuz I gotta know!

Yeya! my first post, thanks to this forum I've got YDL xmame snes gnuboy audacious on a "super computer" that allready plays the best games possible and runs quieter than my PC. Sony's got a homerun with this and its just a matter of time before the rest of the world knows it.

[Granite]

What command do you type for The :
kboot:_

[Sinfulfate]

Originally Posted by ojg333

I KNOW! I've read all the post and know why the windows platforms can't work on the powerpc architecture and about the driver issue, but what about the one windows platform that was designed for the original powerpc, windows NT 4. Of course it's a dead os with no support so that means no drivers for the hardware. BUT, can these linux drivers be ported to work on NT or use compatible drivers designed for XP/win98. WHY? I have an old Pentium1 Thinkpad with win 95 and a bunch of emulators that run great some even run through DOS mode, maybe we could use these emulators on it. I figure NT should run them also, and undoubtably the processor and ram would have no issue running this OS at a good speed. I was gonna try and intall it on the PS3 using a the arc bootloader or files from the bootup floppy transfered to the usbdrive maybe renaming them to the correct bootloader name that the PS3 would recognize. I KNOW I'm probably just dreaming and it is impossible but I'm sure there some Devs or hackers out there who know much more than I do who can either use this info or set me straight once and for all cuz I gotta know!

Yeya! my first post, thanks to this forum I've got YDL xmame snes gnuboy audacious on a "super computer" that allready plays the best games possible and runs quieter than my PC. Sony's got a homerun with this and its just a matter of time before the rest of the world knows it.

hehe the PS3 game lineup is crap. You obviously havent played any real next gen games yet =/

Doubtful if thats possible but we already have linux and thats good enough for now.

[ojg333]

Your right, perhaps its not the BEST, you could build yourself a monster gaming PC with dual PCIxpress video cards and an Intel Extreme processor, that'll run you over a grand. I have a 360 and PS3 graphix r more real, they look more textured and less cartoony. Not a big library of games, true, but after all it's only been out for a few months. In time when the devs learn to master the cell we're gonna see even more impressive games. Eventually 360 will not be able to keep up with the graphix. Look at what the PS3 has already done for BluRay. For the time I'm content with Fight Night, RFOM, Motorstorm, plus all the free demos and we can hack the hell out of it. I just hope Sony learns to work in cooperation with the homebrew community and not in antagonism, cuz we can make the PS3 into the most complete home entertainment system. Now if someone could just show me how to compile I will be complete.

Thanx Yall!

[hexonn]

Originally Posted by Andyland

I have an Ilo (Walmart) SDTV with what I believe to be 480i resolution. I am running FC5 on a 60GB PS3 and the windows are blocked off the edges of the screen. Are we, the owners of poor man's TVs completely screwed out of all the fun? Is there a distro that fits windows on a 480i display? Am I even posting in the right thread? And thanks for all the help, the previous posts here have solved all kinds of problems.

actually, there kinda is but I didn't find out about it until a while ago though, although the text is still an issue


For Gentoo (and pretty sure the other Distros as well) you have to edit kboot.conf and changge video=ps3fb:mode:1 to video=ps3fb:mode:129, and reboot
there is also a way to Dither it by adding 2048 to that number I believe

It will actualy make the res from 576x384 to 720x480

However, on my TV the picture becomes Larger than my screen xD so it's the opposite problem as the former

But it's okay since I mostly just use it to watch videos in mplayer and can just make a window that barely tuches inside my TV's "borders"

[anime4ever888]

does anyone know how to fix the sound when i installed gentoo linux and kde 3.5 when i turn it on the sound is all screwed up and when i try and watch a movie or something its screwed there to

i managed to install vlc and the gui for vlc but when i run most of my hi quality movies like 1 that is encoded in x264 at 720p they wont run properly and keep freezing

anyone know how to fix this?

i thought i should also note that other then when i installed linux on my ps3 a few days ago ive never used linux before. but in the last few days ive managed to install and fix a lot of things on my ps3 so if you know what is wrong try and post what i need to type to get it to work.

please answer i can't figure out what to do