RH 7.3 MAJOR issues w/ "no screens" and Xconfig...

[P. N. Guin]

Okay, let me take a minute to cool down...

Hello everyone!

I have been perusing the board for about a week studying up, and finally decided to install Red Hat 7.3 tonight. The installation went fine, but I can't get the startx to work.

I have searched the board, and this seems to be a pretty common problem, but I think mine has a twist to it (read on)...

When the PC boots, it comes to a screen w/ a title bar that looks like the sky. I press enter to select RH, and it starts loading everything. When it finishes, I login as the root, and type startx

It then displays the error re: no screens--fine. I use the Xconfigurator, and it gives me the segmentation fault error right off the bat :mad:

So okay, I do the # 'XFree86 -configure' that I saw during my search; and it behaves just like the other poster said it would.

Here's the twist....
So, I go to access the file created during the test....and it tells me I DON"T HAVE PERMISSION:confused: :mad: which makes no sense, since I'm logged in as root. It also said the same thing when I tried to access the /etc/initttab file to change my run mode....


Okay. I have the case open, and I notice that the model of my video card may be diff. than the one setup chose for me. Smart of me to check, eh?

I can see I'm not the first one to have this problem, but the permission thing really threw me off! I just want to get into the GUI desktop, either KDE or GNOME and see what it's like.


Well, if nothing else, at least my first post was a long one. :(

Okay, I tried something else. By typing setup at the root prompt,and selecting Xconfig... from the menu, I no longer get the segmentation fault. X config just runs for a second, does nothing, and then fails back to the setup menu...grreeaaat.

BTW, my video card is a S3 Trio64 V2/DX, and the Trio64 is compatible w/ RH, but the site says its for v. 6.1, and says Alpha, too...me thinks I am hosed.

233 Mhz Intel proc.
144Mb of RAM
2Gb Hard drive

[mdwatts]

Are you actually logged in as root or using 'su -' when you get those permissions errors?

How exactly are you trying to access /etc/inittab? vi /etc/inittab ??

Have a look at www.xfree86.org for you video card model to see if the version of X included with Redhat 7.3 supports the card.

I believe RH7.3 uses X4.2, but you can check using

X -version

Also see if Redhat has anything on their site about the S3 Trio64 V2/DX and try Google for Linux searches as you may find XF86Config examples you can try.

[P. N. Guin]

mdwatts,

Thanks for your reply!

yes I'm in as root, but I wasn't using the vi command:o

I'm trying to copy my XF86Config file over to a floppy and post using this computer, but the Linux box won't recognize my floppy...

# cp XF86Config.new a:

and it makes a new file on the c: called a: which is exactly like XF86Config.new (I obviously have NO clue as to what i'm doing)

I checked S3's website, and they said I need XF86_S3

so upon checking XFree86.org, they said they are up to ver 4.2.1 now, but all the XF86_S3 stuff should be supported.

Yes, Redhat does use ver. 4.2.0

This is crazy...:(

[P. N. Guin]

Okay, I got the XF86Config file off my Linux box, so here it is, maybe it'll help.

I think the part re: the video card should be most useful, if any of it is...
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "glx"
Load "record"
Load "xtrap"
Load "speedo"
Load "type1"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "PS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "Monitor Model"
EndSection

Section "Device"
### Available Driver options are:-
### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz"
### [arg]: arg optional
#Option "ShadowFB" # [<bool>]
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "vesa"
VendorName "S3"
BoardName "Trio64V2/DX or /GX"
BusID "PCI:0:8:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection



I can't believe how much work, yet how rewarding it was just to be able to mount and copy to a stupid floppy:rolleyes:

I guess being a Windows user for so long, I take things for granted...I can't wait to get into the damm desktop environment.:p

[mdwatts]

Please do not crosspost your questions.

Once is enough in the most appropriate forum.

[P. N. Guin]

Okay, sorry.

I'll delete one of them, I just wanted to get a jump on this problem; and it didn't seem like anyone was answering the first post.

Again, sorry sorry for the repeated redundancy . :o :D

[askrieger]

I notice that you are using the driver called "vesa". I took a look at the link that mdwatts posted. Your board should be supported by the "s3" driver. However, if it doesn't work, try "SVGA" (or is it svga?). That seems to work with most everything, unless you're a gamer.

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by P. N. Guin
Okay, sorry.

I'll delete one of them, I just wanted to get a jump on this problem; and it didn't seem like anyone was answering the first post.

Again, sorry sorry for the repeated redundancy . :o :D

Being that LNO is actually free support and run by volunteers that donate their own time and knowledge to hopefully assist others, sometimes you need to be patient when waiting for someone to reply to your questions.

It's also Saturday and most of the LNO members are out enjoying their time off from work and school.

[mdwatts]

No Screens Found either indicates you do not have a 'Screen Section' or the one you have is invalid.


Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection


You do not have any valid modes to use.

i.e. from mine.


Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Geforce3"
Monitor "Compaq P2200"
DefaultDepth 16
Subsection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1800x1440/70Hz" "640x480"
Virtual 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1800x1440/70Hz" "640x480"
Virtual 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1800x1440/70Hz" "640x480"
Virtual 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1800x1440/70Hz" "640x480"
Virtual 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection

[P. N. Guin]

I see what patience can provide, thanks for the continued replies!

Seeing that my XF86Config file has no values for the Screen section, can I obtain that info physically (by looking at the card, obtaining refresh rates, etc. )and fill it in where it belongs in the file, then save the new version?

Or is it something that had to be inputted during setup, or does it need to be detected by the system on its own?

It seems as if I'm getting closer...

[mdwatts]

First make a backup copy of your XF86Config and then try configuring X again. Pay special attention to the mode selections etc.

If that doesn't work/help, try searching Google for Linux ( www.google.com/linux ) for your video card model plus XF86Config. You may find a sample config file you can get the mode lines from. Do the same for your monitor.