k7-smp kernel help

[Matthew Kuiken]

Kenny wrote:
> OK, I have been at this for about 6 hours now.
>
> I have an AMD X2 4400+ dual core processor. I have been trying to use 
> the k7-smp kernel so that I can actually use both of my cores. I went 
> into synaptic package manager, and of course it automatically chooses 
> all of the latest pieces needed, including the appropriate restricted 
> modules (I have 2 7800GTX's in SLI mode, so I need the Nvidia drivers).
>
> It all downloads and installs fine (the kernel that it defaults to 
> download is 2.6.15.25-k7). But after about 2-5 minutes of use after I 
> boot into this kernel and log in, my entire computer locks up. Mouse 
> doesn't move, keyboard shortcuts don't respond. I have to manually 
> reboot with the power button. Reminds me of the days of Windows 3.1.
>
> So I thought that I would step it back and get the previous kernel 
> (2.6.15-23-k7). But when I try to download it, synaptic wants to 
> automatically put all of the latest software with it that depend on 
> the newer kernel. I couldn't get it to cooperate, so I figured, what 
> the hell, I'll try it.
>
> I reboot, choose the older kernel, and after the Ubuntu loading 
> screen, I get the X failure screen telling me that it couldn't start 
> X. I figured that this was because the restricted modules wanted to 
> work with the newer kernel and not this one.
>
> So I reboot again, this time to the newer k7 kernel (2.6.15-25-k7) 
> only to find that after the Ubuntu loading screen, nothing gets sent 
> to my monitor. My LCD power light goes orange dictating that it is no 
> longer recieving a signal from my video cards.
>
> The only way I can work in Ubuntu is to use the latest 386 kernel, and 
> that sucks because I'm running on only half of my physical cpu hardware.
>
> Is there a better way to do this? I've tried the sudo apt-get, but it 
> does the same exact thing as synaptic, getting all of the latest 
> stuff, not letting me have anything older.
>
> Suggestions?
>
> Kenny
>
You may want to try the 686 kernel.  It also has SMP enabled.  It may 
not be as optimized for your processor, but it should still allow you to 
use both.  Hopefully it will be a bit more stable.

HTH,
-Matt