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 Cheat Codes

German Version: CheatCodesDeutsch


Cheatcodes are used to pass values to KNOPPIX, to help with getting it working on difficult hardware. You type them into the boot screen, shown to the left, and press enter/return. The format is "kernel opt opt opt ...". Usually "knoppix" is the right selection for the "kernel", options as listed below. Example: "knoppix xvrefresh=60 noscsi floppyconfig"

Hint: Using the default DE-bootimage, SYSLINUX boots with german keyboard layout. The '=' letter is located at Shift-0 on this keyboard.

Options

lang=bg|ch|cn|cs|da|de|dk|es|fr|it|nl|pl|ru|sk|tr|tw|uk|us
specify language/keyboard


desktop=fluxbox|icewm|kde|larswm|twm|wmaker|xfce
Use specified WM instead of KDE


screen=1280x1024
Use specified Screen resolution for X


xvrefresh=60
Use 60 Hz vertical refresh rate for X


xserver=XFree86|XF86_SVGA
Use specified X-Server


xmodule=ati|radeon|fbdev|vesa|savage|s3|nv
Use specified XFree4-Module


wheelmouse
The mouse is a wheelmouse


2
Runlevel 2, Textmode only


floppyconfig
Run "knoppix.sh" from a floppy. The "floppyconfig" option allows you to reconfigure the system after autoconfig, or install your own config files, by mounting a floppy disk and running a bourne shell script called "knoppix.sh" from the root directory on this floppy. There is a GUI to create such a configuration floppy disk calles "saveconfig" (also located in the KDE menu under "KNOPPIX", but experts also know how to do this by creating their own shellscripts. A file called "knoppix.sh", if located in the toplevel KNOPPIX directory on CD, will also be executed at startup. This makes ist easier to create customized versions without having to change anything on the compressed filesystem KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX.


noapic noagp noapm nodma nomce nofirewire nopcmcia noscsi noswap nousb nosmp
Skip parts of Hardware-detection, In case of a failing hardware autodetection, try booting with any of the "no-" options as shown in the table above, like in knoppix noagp noapm noapic nodma nopcmcia noscsi nousb to skip some critical parts of the autodetection system. The "noswap" option is useful for a forensic analysis without touching existing swap partitions.


pci=irqmask=0x0e98
Notebook if PS/2 mouse doesn't work, Try "knoppix pci=irqmask=0x0e98" if (you have a notebook and) your PS/2 mouse doesn't work. (Possibly caused by a BIOS-flaw on your board.)


pci=biosirq
Will force the use of the BIOS assigned Interrupt ReQuests on the PCI bus. Possible cure for non-functioning hardware. Very handy for unruly IRQ conflicts. Look at dmesg and cat /proc/pci to find out if you have any such troubles..


mem=128M
Specify Memory size in MByte, Some Boards apparently don't pass the proper memory size to the linux-kernel. It may cause the message "Panic cannot mount root file system" and the system hangs. Use "knoppix mem=128M" to solve that problem if your system has 128MByte memory for example (caution you MUST use a capital "M" here).


noeject
Do NOT eject CD after halt


nodhcp
skip dhcp/network broadcast detection


gmt|uce
Hardware clock is set to GMT/UCE


vga=normal
No-framebuffer mode, but X


vga=ext
50-line TEXT mode


home=scan
Set home directory. 'scan' will search for knoppix.img in the root of all partitions. To create a home directory, go K-menu -> Knoppix -> Configure -> Create persistant home directory. Be carefull when creating the home-dir, Do NOT use the entire partition unless you know what you are doing. Other options could be, home=/dev/hda1 home=/mnt/hda1


blind
Start Braille-Terminal (no X)


brltty=type,port,table
Parameters for Braille device


alsa
Autoconfigure alsa for an pci-soundcard


alsa=es1938
Configure alsa for the snd-es1938.o-module pci-soundcard


testcd
Check CD data integrity, If your KNOPPIX CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent errors like "cloop read error", or programs on your KDE desktop keep crashing randomly, then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, or your CD-burner created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media. This is the most common error reported. Please boot with "knoppix testcd" to check if the CD is OK, and/or even better, verify the MD5 checksums that are present on the mirrors before writing the CD. Also, please read the KNOPPIX-FAQ.


Kernels

knoppix
Default settings


knoppix-txt
No framebuffer at startup


fb1024x768
Use fixed framebuffer graphics


fb800x600
Use fixed framebuffer graphics


failsafe
Boot with (almost) no hardware detection


expert
Interactive setup for experts, The "expert" mode provides a very simple and not yet well tested interface to loading additional Kernel modules from floppy disks (ext2 or vfat), plus interactive configuration of mouse/keyboard/soundcard/xserver. "expert" mode supports the same boot options as "knoppix".


knoppix -b
Quick-n-dirty boot, almost no HW detection, only 1 VT; hit enter at root-password prompt and start typing commands. Good if you just need to fdisk IDE devices, activate a different partition for booting, DD stuff, and you are planning on rebooting Real Fast after you're done. You can actually Alt-SysRQ-B safely ie. immediate reboot w/o worrying about shutting down nicely or anything, because nothing is mounted r/w at ALL - not even swap. Also works on other Linux distros.

Tips&Tricks

If you have an old (VGA) monitor and get only flickering with the defaults, try "knoppix-txt xvrefresh=60" or "fb800x600"
Most of the boot options are parsed in /etc/init.d/knoppix-autoconfig and the rest is found in /KNOPPIX/boot.img -> miniroot.gz -> linuxrc.

updates:

Updated for Knoppix 3.1 2003-01-05

Updated for Knoppix 3.2
desktop=gnome is no longer available...

Last edited on April 23, 2003 6:11 am.