x window problem in debian

[brtklt]

After upgrading to 3.0 I can't run X under anything but one resolution and after some idle time, when I move my mouse or press a key xdm is restarted. X only wants to work through debconf, any other configuration through xf86Config or XF86Setup will not work. I've read on some pages I searched for for this problem that this is a kind of common problem in 3.0. Any ideas how to work around this or what could be wrong?

[sarah31]

try doing:

dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86

as root of course. To set up your X again if there are some personal tweaks you did to your original xconfig file then just copy them over later.

[brtklt]

I've managed to get the X configuration I want, but the problem I described where xdm is restarted after a certain amount of idle time is still there. Could this be a problem w/ power management b/c I don't have idled installed and cant' think of another problem.

[Xsecrets]

Just curious you upgraded to 3.0 of what?

[brtklt]

Debian. Thought that would be assumed by the subject, sorry.

[Xsecrets]

Ok I just noticed that they are calling woody 3.0 even on their site now. I was just confused because I knew the latest stable release was 2.2rX and I did not think they stuck numbers on anything untill it was stable.

[danrees]

Originally posted by brtklt
After upgrading to 3.0 I can't run X under anything but one resolution and after some idle time, when I move my mouse or press a key xdm is restarted. X only wants to work through debconf, any other configuration through xf86Config or XF86Setup will not work. I've read on some pages I searched for for this problem that this is a kind of common problem in 3.0. Any ideas how to work around this or what could be wrong?

Are you using XFree86 4.1 (xserver-xfree86 in Debian)? In that case, make sure you're editing /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and not /etc/X11/XF86Config

Also make sure that you don't just select one resolution when debconf prompts you - you should select all the ones you want available.

[brtklt]

I've got the resolution problem worked out, the only problem I'm having now is that I get an xdm screen after a certain amount of idle time -- X just closes and xdm is restarted. I was told that the program idled can cause this, but I don't have it installed so am unsure would could be causing this. Thanks for the help.

[sarah31]

well to be sure, look in /etc/init.d/ to see if you do indeed have idled running. Do you only have xdm to log in with? Perhaps there is a setting in the xdm config that is killing X (sorry i know nothing of xdm). If you can find the cionfig file lok through it to see if there is some sort of time management process that has been set up by default.

You could try installing gdm or kdm to take over your login. gdm is quite easy to configure.

EDIT: have you looked through your X logs to see if it is an automatic shutdown or a error related shutdown?

[brtklt]

Nothing in .xsession-errors. I'm going to try using gdm, but have a question. In BSD /etc/ttys has the configuration for xdm, terminals, etc -- where is that on linux? I remember setting up a dumb terminal a long time ago but can't remember what file I used.

[brtklt]

I've installed gdm and still have the same problem. The thing that's confusing is that even when I'm not logged into X and nothing but the gdm login screen is up the same thing happens -- it restarts when I press a key or movie the mouse. I looked in BIOS to make sure all power management features were off and they are. in xsession-errors I have two lines, one that says:
GDKWindow unexpectedly destroyed
and another that says:
explicit kill or server shutdown