Getting X to start...and using desktop environments

[Tayl]

I am new to Linux, and finally got it installed. Installation went great, I installed classic X Windows and X Windows, and the Gnome desktop environment, and a few other essential tools. I selected that my system boot up in the graphical interface, but now when the system boots it goes straight into text mode. After reading, I found out that I needed to start X, so I typed "startx" into the console, and the screen flickered for a moment, then it came back with some system information near the top, with this message near the bottom of the screen:

-------------------------------------------------
Fatal Server Error: No Valid Modes Found

XIO - Fatal IO Error 104(connection reset by peer) on X server ":0/0" after 0 requests(0 known processed) with 0 events remaining
---------------------------------

I have a slow system, a 233 Mhz AMD K-6, with only 32 MB of RAM. Could this be preventing me from entering the graphical desktop? I have NO idea what I am doing, so if I am supposed to configure something, or mess with X11, or whatever, just tell me. Any help would be appreciated.

[fancypiper]

The Linux XFree86 HOWTO (http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/XFree86-HOWTO/)

Common x configuring tools:

XF86Setup
XFree86 -configure
Xconfigurator
xf86cfg
xf86config

[Okie]

logon as root, type in xf86config and answer all questions EXACTLY correct to configure your hardware, you will need to know the brand of graphics card, monitor horiziontal and vertical values, keyboard & mouse, once this is configured properly you should be able to startx, and if you have other Windowmanagers installed type in switchdesk blackbox or (switchdesk twm if all else fails), plus considering the age of your computer and only 32 megs RAM i would consider a very light Window Manager like Blackbox or WindowMaker, because Gnome or KDE would most likely be just too much for it, if you can add more RAM...

[Tayl]

Ok, I configured use the xf86config command, and it seemed to work, but when I typed in the "startx" command, I now get this error:

----------------------------------

Config Error: /usr/X11R6/lib/XF86Config: 48
subsection "extmod"

Module section keyword expected
giving up
xinit: Connection refused(errno 111):
unable to connect to X server
Xinit: no such process(errno 3):Server error

---------------------------------------

Once again, I am totally lost. :confused:
BTW I think I am going to go out to the store tomorrow and see if I can buy 64 MB of RAM cheap for the system. That'll bump it up to 96 MB, will that be enough for just a system to run Gnome and play around on? I'm not going to use it for anything serious, not yet, anyway...

[Luigi]

1) you don't NEED more ram to run KDE or GNOME. don't feel like you have to buy it. with a system like yours though, it will be slow on so little ram. so long as you're prepared for that, you'll be fine.

2) as for "extmod" not loading properly... extmod is the component of X for several miscellaneous extensions. it isn't essential to X, but you'll probably have trouble running some common apps without it. for the time being, let's get you up and running on X... it'll make you feel better about the whole thing.

we'll disable extmod for now, until we figure out what's wrong with it. log into your machine as root, and type
pico /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
(pico is a text editor, and XF86config-4 is the configuration file for X . something like an .ini file in windows....) if you come up with a 'new file', use Ctrl+X to exit pico, and try the same command, but on /etc/X11/XF86Config instead. remember - caps are important in Linux!

in this configuration file, scroll down using the arrow keys until you find the line that says
load "extmod"
put a "#" in front of that line, like so:
# load "extmod"
in configuration and script files, anything after a "#" on a line is treated as commentary, and is not read by the computer. when you're editing configuration files, you'll find that they are usually "well commented"; that is, there's a # and an explanatory comment after almost every line. by 'commenting out' the line that loads extmod, we're keeping the line there in case we ever want to get it back, but effectively neutralizing it in the meantime.

anyways - now that you've commented out the load extmod line, use Ctrl+X to exit pico, press the Y key when you're prompted to save the file, and then enter to keep the same file name. now try startx, and let us know what happens.:)

[Tayl]

Thanks for your help, everyone. I got it working, but I got it to work by following some different advice. I removed all XF86Config files, and ran XFree86 -configure. Then I just had to mess with the resolution and color depth, and X worked correctly. I'm currently running Gnome, on my measly 32 MB of RAM. Sure, it's a little slow, but I'm only using Linux to get a feel for it. If I end up liking it a lot, then I'll use this experience to install it on my main machine. Maybe even a dual boot, if I'm feeling lucky. :D

Next, I need to configure my sound....woohoo! More editing config files! ;)

[Tequila]

Good to hear you got it all working, Tayl. With that system I really recommend blackbox or fluxbox. They are so much smaller and faster for a system like that. Both are easy to compile and install. Take a look at http://blackboxwm.sourceforge.net and http://fluxbox.sourceforge.net

If you want some major eye candy try out gkrellm at http://web.wt.net/~billw/gkrellm/gkrellm.html Just click on my sig and check it out in the upper left corner.

[thekillerbean]

luigi,

damn, you are good at guiding someone! i hope you have experience with gentoo linux - if you do, please follow my thread in the installation forum. i bet i'll be asking some more questions when i get home in the morning.

later.

[Luigi]

thanks, bean - and a very nice name, it should be noted. those movies kick @ss. :)

unfortunately I only know two things about gentoo linux - jack and sh*t - and jack left town.
but I'm happy to try... I'll check it out.:D

[thekillerbean]

after going to the nhf link above, i figure your instructions above need to be in there as well.

i also like the theme of this website - it is totally dedicated to making a newbie feel at home - really cool :D. i've been to other sites where one feels completely out of the place due to all the rtfm comments. it looks like i'm here to stay!

keep it up, guyz and galz!

[harrysholycows]

he luigi, how did you get it to work? i had the exact same error message (something about not being able to connect to a X sever) and i still do not have x-windows running, not even startx. i treid everything. what is the command to delete the file?

thanks!