Xwindow problem

[fieldsrvcguy]

Hello everyone. I am a Linux newbie and I have an interesting problem. I am running Debian 3.0 and every time I type startx the xwindow server starts to come up but the crashes with the following error: "Fatal server error: no screens available".

I am running a P3 500 with 196Mb of ram. For video I have an ATI Rage 128 with 16 Mb of ram. I have tried to configure xfree86 with both the r128 driver and a generic VGA driver at 256 colors.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance,
Steve

[DrFrankenstein]

Try running a different resolution/color depth and make absolutely sure your using the correct drivers for your video card. If in doubt, xf86config.

[BigFatJoe]

post the Monitor and Screens sections of your /etc/X11/XF86Config

[fieldsrvcguy]

DrFrankenstein - I have tried various resolutions and color depths to no avail. I am reasonably certain that I have the correct video drivers, although I am goin to try and download the latest XFree86 stuff today.

BigFatJoe - Here is the info that you requested:
# ************************************************** ********************
# Monitor section
# ************************************************** ********************

# Any number of monitor sections may be present

Section "Monitor"

Identifier "Sony"

# HorizSync is in kHz unless units are specified.
# HorizSync may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY. REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

HorizSync 31.5 - 48.5

# HorizSync 30-64 # multisync
# HorizSync 31.5, 35.2 # multiple fixed sync frequencies
# HorizSync 15-25, 30-50 # multiple ranges of sync frequencies

# VertRefresh is in Hz unless units are specified.
# VertRefresh may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY. REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

VertRefresh 40-150

EndSection


# ************************************************** ********************
# Graphics device section
# ************************************************** ********************

# Any number of graphics device sections may be present

# Standard VGA Device:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Standard VGA"
VendorName "Unknown"
BoardName "Unknown"

# The chipset line is optional in most cases. It can be used to override
# the driver's chipset detection, and should not normally be specified.

# Chipset "generic"

# The Driver line must be present. When using run-time loadable driver
# modules, this line instructs the server to load the specified driver
# module. Even when not using loadable driver modules, this line
# indicates which driver should interpret the information in this section.

Driver "vga"
# The BusID line is used to specify which of possibly multiple devices
# this section is intended for. When this line isn't present, a device
# section can only match up with the primary video device. For PCI
# devices a line like the following could be used. This line should not
# normally be included unless there is more than one video device
# intalled.

# BusID "PCI:0:10:0"

# VideoRam 256

# Clocks 25.2 28.3

EndSection

# Device configured by xf86config:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Rage"
Driver "ati"
#VideoRam 16384
# Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
EndSection


# ************************************************** ********************
# Screen sections
# ************************************************** ********************

# Any number of screen sections may be present. Each describes
# the configuration of a single screen. A single specific screen section
# may be specified from the X server command line with the "-screen"
# option.
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen 1"
Device "Rage"
Monitor "Sony"
DefaultDepth 8

Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "640x480" "800x600" "1024x768" "1280x1024"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "640x480" "800x600" "1024x768" "1280x1024"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "640x480" "800x600" "1024x768" "1280x1024"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection

# ************************************************** ********************
# ServerLayout sections.
# ************************************************** ********************

# Any number of ServerLayout sections may be present. Each describes
# the way multiple screens are organised. A specific ServerLayout
# section may be specified from the X server command line with the
# "-layout" option. In the absence of this, the first section is used.
# When now ServerLayout section is present, the first Screen section
# is used alone.

Section "ServerLayout"

# The Identifier line must be present
Identifier "Simple Layout"

# Each Screen line specifies a Screen section name, and optionally
# the relative position of other screens. The four names after
# primary screen name are the screens to the top, bottom, left and right
# of the primary screen. In this example, screen 2 is located to the
# right of screen 1.

Screen "Screen 1"

# Each InputDevice line specifies an InputDevice section name and
# optionally some options to specify the way the device is to be
# used. Those options include "CorePointer", "CoreKeyboard" and
# "SendCoreEvents".

InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"

EndSection

Additionally hear are the last few lines of my log file that shows the error:

(II) Setting vga for screen 0.
(II) Loading sub module "vgahw"
(II) LoadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(II) Module vgahw: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 0.1.0
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.4
(II) R128(0): PCI bus 1 card 0 func 0
(**) R128(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
(II) R128(0): Pixel depth = 24 bits stored in 4 bytes (32 bpp pixmaps)
(==) R128(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(**) R128(0): Option "UseFBDev" "true"
(==) R128(0): RGB weight 888
(II) R128(0): Using 8 bits per RGB (8 bit DAC)
(**) R128(0): Using framebuffer device
(II) Loading sub module "fbdevhw"
(II) LoadModule: "fbdevhw"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/linux/libfbdevhw.a
(II) Module fbdevhw: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 0.0.2
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.4
(II) UnloadModule: "ati"
(II) UnloadModule: "fbdevhw"
(II) Unloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/linux/libfbdevhw.a
(II) UnloadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Unloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(II) UnloadModule: "r128"
(II) Unloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/r128_drv.o
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Thanx again
Steve

[linux12414]

Do you know the refresh rate of your monitor?

Those look like the "default" settings.


Also, looks like you'll have to change the resolutions for each color bit. 480x600 will be way too big for your screen...Try making the first set either 600x800 or 1024x768

[BigFatJoe]

I think you may have problems with XFree 3.3 vs. XFree 4.x

For example, /etc/X11/XF86Config and xf86config both refer to the xserver 3.3. i thought this was your problem, since you mentioned xserver-vga and xserver-r128. Both of these are 3.3 series.

If you are going to download the newest XFree server, you will most likely go for the 4.x. In this case, you need to edit /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and/or use xf86cfg

The errors you posted to seem to try to use the 3.3 server (parses XF86Config) but the modules for your driver seem to be for the 4.x series. Maybe you should try to figure out which one you want, and ensure everything's for the right server (such as your drivers).

To determine your server, run "X -version" and "XFree86 -version". See if these two match up.

Once you get this straightened out, it may be easier to figure out the "screens" prob...which may be anything from the wrong sets of options in your config file, the server parsing thwe wrong file, a lack of correct drivers, etc.

[fieldsrvcguy]

BigFatJoe - I think you may be absolutely correct about my problem. I will try it out when I get home from work in the morning.

Thanx
Steve

[fieldsrvcguy]

BigFatJoe - and everybody else who responded - thanks for the help. I got x-windows to run today. Of course then I turned around and corrupted my kernal, but I know how to fix that.

The problems I was having were two fold - One I was working with the wrong configuration file which led to me not catching the second problem - The Rage 128 does not support frame buffering.

I have found the best way to configure the x-windows for Debian is probably to type the following command: dpkg-reconfigure xserver-XFree86

Tanx to everyone for all the help

Steve