For example, if you are using a CD for booting, and you want to use text mode and to be asked for the installation method, enter this boot string:
boot: linux text askmethod
In most cases, you should simply press Enter at the boot prompt. The Linux kernel and ramdisk ( initrd.img ) will load, as shown in Figure 1-2 , and then start executing, as shown in Figure 1-3 .
Figure 1-2. Loading the kernel and initrd (ramdisk)
Figure 1-3. The Linux kernel starting up
1.3.1.3. Testing the installation media
At this pointif you are installing from DVD or CD seta media-check tool enables you to test the DVD or CD set, as shown in Figure 1-4 . Press Enter to test the discs (optional), or press Tab and then Enter to skip the media check. The tests will take 26 minutes per CD or 812 minutes per DVD on a modern computer.
Some disc burning programs will pad the image before burning it, adding additional data to the end of the disc. This will cause the disc to fail the media check even though the disc is valid.
Figure 1-4. DVD/CD media check
1.3.1.4. Selecting the installation method
The screen shown in Figure 1-5 will appear only if you did not not boot from an optical disc, or if you entered the method or askmethod keywords at the boot prompt ( Figure 1-1 ).
Figure 1-5. Language selection screen
Select the language to use during installation using the up/down cursor keys, and then press Enter to proceed. The keyboard selection screen shown in Figure 1-6 will appear.
Figure 1-6. Keyboard selection screen
Select the entry that matches your keyboard and press Enter.
If you included the askmethod keyword at the boot prompt or booted from a USB flash disk or a PXE boot server, the installation method dialog shown in Figure 1-7 will appear next.
Figure 1-7. Installation method dialog
If you select an installation method that is network-based (NFS, FTP, or HTTP), you will be presented with a network configuration screen where you can enable automatic IP configuration through DHCP and select IPV4 (used on most networks) and/or IPV6. If you do not enable DHCP support, an additional page will appear to collect the IP settings (IP address, netmask, DNS server, and gateway). In most established networks (including small business or home networks with a broadband Internet connection through a router/gateway device), the IP settings can be obtained from a DHCP server. If in doubt, try the DHCP server option; if it fails, you will be given the opportunity to enter the network information manually.
If you select the hard disk installation method, you will be prompted to select the disk device and path to the Fedora Core ISO images. Use Table 1-4 to determine the disk device, and append the partition number to the device name (for example, use /dev/hda2 for partition 2 on the IDE primary master disk); for the path, enter the pathname of the directory containing the ISO images, using the forward-slash ( / ) character to separate directories instead of the Windows-style backslash ( \ ).
1.3.1.5. Installation stage 2
At this point, control of the system passes from the boot media to the installation media. For example, if you've used a USB flash drive to boot and HTTP for the installation method, it is at this point that the system switches over to software from the HTTP server.
If you're using a graphical installation, the graphical environment will be started now, and the splash screen shown in Figure 1-8 will appear. Click Next to proceed.
If your mouse is not working, you can activate a graphical button on the installation screen by using the keyboard; just press Alt and the letter underlined in the button label. For example, to view the release notes while on the splash screen in Figure 1-8, press Alt-R (because R is underlined on the Release notes button).
If you are using a text-mode installation, you will see a text-based version of each of the following screens; the layout may be slightly different to accommodate the available screen space and the absence of a mouse pointer. Use the Tab key to navigate among the controls on the text screen.
You cannot manually create a new Logical Volume configuration using the text-mode installer
Figure 1-8. Fedora Core graphical-installation splash screen
If you have not already selected your language and keyboard type, the screens shown in Figures 1-9 and 1-10 are presented to collect this information.
Figure 1-9. Graphical language selection
Figure 1-10. Graphical keyboard selection
