Problem starting up Fedora

ingesis · 05-06-2011, 10:48 PM

I'm using Fedora 14 and I have tried to change my monitor resolution by creating a xorg.conf file. So now, when I try to start up my system, I just get the Fedora logo and nothing else happens.

I've tried to change my xorg.conf with a Live CD from a USB flash memory and I have no problem when I log in as a root, but just can not write to the partition of my Fedora. I just get "read" permission. And even more, I'm not free to mount the partitions, they are mounted automatically by Nautilus when open. If I try to access via /mnt by console, they does not appear. They are mounted but I don't know where.

What can I do?

John VV · 05-07-2011, 01:57 AM

some info would help .Like ...

what is your 3d video card ( if you have one)
is there a driver installed for it ? if so what one ?

have you read the fedora documentation ?
http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/index.html

if the GUI will not boot why not use the TEXT boot ?
add a 1 on the end of the kernel line ( in the documentation under "rescue" )

then get ride of the "bad" xorg.conf
-- text boot --

Code:

cd /etc/X11
mv xorg.conf xorg.conf.backup

??

Quote:

I have no problem when I log in as a root

????
in text ONLY ? or did you use the NOT recommended hack to allow a root GUI login .

or
are you referring to the install dvd in rescue mode ?

ingesis · 05-07-2011, 11:11 AM

Thanks John VV for your help.

Right now I'm not in my Desktop, so I'm going to try to answer your questions by memory.

Yes, I have a 3D video card and don't remember have installed a specific driver. So, I suppose it was installed by Fedora when set up. I don't remember exactly which model is but I think that is not important at this moment.

I've not read the documentation (I will).

When I was talking about logging as root was referring that (because an idea I found by googling) I started up a Live CD session with Fedora 14 (from a USB memory flash) and once logged in, I started a console session up and used the "su -" command without problems. It was supposed to let me mount and change info in the Fedora partitions within my PC. (naive?)

I've not used any hack to log as a root. And I've not tried to make a DVD rescue, neither.

John VV · 05-07-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

I have a 3D video card and don't remember

what card
THAT IS VERY important !!!!!!
and MUST be specified in the xorg.conf
vese ,nv,nouveau ,nvidia ,frglx,

so whether it is an ATI or nvidia card IS important

if you did NOT install a driver then for ati the opensource driver is used and NOT the proprietary ati driver
the same for nvidia BUT and this is a VERY BIG but
The nouveau opensource driver is used by default for nvidia cards

ingesis · 05-07-2011, 10:00 PM

When I said

Quote:

I don't remember exactly which model is but I think that is not important at this moment.

I was referring about "right now" it wasn't very important to know which 3D card I have since I can not even start up my S.O.

But now I have that info at hand: it is an Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS and I haven't installed any driver apart from that at the installation process. Then, should I've install and put in within my xorg.conf file the "nouveau" option?

And, since we're talking about the configuration of xorg.conf file, how can I determine what it is the suitable configuration to my Samsung SyncMaster 753DFX monitor? I guess the important values to determine are HorizSync and VertRefresh and I've found values like these

Code:

        HorizSync       30-65
        VertRefresh     50-75

and these

Code:

        HorizSync       30-71
        VertRefresh     50-160

But for me there's no way to determine which one is the best.

John VV · 05-07-2011, 11:08 PM

is this a current lcd or one of the old cathode ray tubes ( LCD or CRT )

if an old crt then refresh rate 85

if a lcd then set vsync

you do know that this can be done without making the xorg.conf by hand

there are gui tools for that in gnome

system / administration
or
system / preferences / monitor
system / preferences / display
use the gui to set it

ingesis · 05-08-2011, 11:04 AM

So, here I am:

I've restarted with Fedora install DVD in rescue mode (via shell) and could backup my xorg.conf file. At reboot, Fedora started up fine.
I've installed NVidia proprietary drivers for my card, using a tutorial found by googling, and everything ok.
Now, I can change my display configuration since System -> Administration -> Nvidia X Server Settings.

My problem at this point is that not all of the resolutions supported by my monitor appear. Using the same hardware with windows XP I can get resolutions of (among others) 1280x800 @ 70HZ or 1280x768 @ 75 Hz, but with Fedora the nearest resolution to what I need is 1280x900 or 1280x1024 @ 60Hz that would be useful except for that 60HZ refresh rate that makes me dizzy.

So, is there something I could do to get the resolution I need my HW works?

My Monitor is a CRT from 2002 so it's very old.

John VV · 05-08-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

I've installed NVidia proprietary drivers for my card, using a tutorial found by googling, and everything ok.

so you DID blacklist the "nouveau"
add a line to /etc/modprobe.d/50-blacklist.conf

and added a line to the kernel line in the menu.lis ?

see the fedora nvidia install instructions
"F15,F14, F13 & F12 Nvidia driver guides"
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=204752

Quote:

My problem at this point is that not all of the resolutions supported by my monitor appear

not doing the above will cause this .

ingesis · 05-08-2011, 03:33 PM

I've followed the tutorial for Nvidia cards and I don't get what I expected.

My grub.conf file have this info:

Code:

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd0,0)
#          kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/mapper/VolGroup-LogVol01 rdblacklist=nouveau nouveau.modeset=0
#          initrd /initrd-[generic-]version.img
#boot=/dev/sdb
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
default=0
title Fedora (2.6.35.12-90.fc14.x86_64)
        root (hd0,0)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.35.12-90.fc14.x86_64 ro root=/dev/mapper/VolGroup-LogVol01 rd_LVM_LV=VolGroup/LogVol01 rd_LVM_LV=VolGroup/LogVol00 rd_NO_LUKS rd_NO_MD rd_NO_DM LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 KEYTABLE=la-latin1 rhgb quiet rdblacklist=nouveau nouveau.modeset=0 vga=792 rdblacklist=nouveau nouveau.modeset=0
        initrd /initramfs-2.6.35.12-90.fc14.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.35.11-83.fc14.x86_64)
        root (hd0,0)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.35.11-83.fc14.x86_64 ro root=/dev/mapper/VolGroup-LogVol01 rd_LVM_LV=VolGroup/LogVol01 rd_LVM_LV=VolGroup/LogVol00 rd_NO_LUKS rd_NO_MD rd_NO_DM LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 KEYTABLE=la-latin1 rhgb quiet vga=792 rdblacklist=nouveau nouveau.modeset=0
        initrd /initramfs-2.6.35.11-83.fc14.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.35.6-45.fc14.x86_64)
        root (hd0,0)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.35.6-45.fc14.x86_64 ro root=/dev/mapper/VolGroup-LogVol01 rd_LVM_LV=VolGroup/LogVol01 rd_LVM_LV=VolGroup/LogVol00 rd_NO_LUKS rd_NO_MD rd_NO_DM LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 KEYTABLE=la-latin1 rhgb quiet vga=792 rdblacklist=nouveau nouveau.modeset=0
        initrd /initramfs-2.6.35.6-45.fc14.x86_64.img
title Windows
        rootnoverify (hd1,0)
        map (hd1) (hd0)
        map (hd0) (hd1)
        chainloader +1

And I don't know what else to do. I even have uninstalled the "nouveau" drivers.

Is there a way to undo any configuration and start with a new fresh one?

John VV · 05-08-2011, 04:14 PM

Quote:

installed NVidia proprietary

i should have added what nvidia driver
The recommended akmod-nvidia.rpm in the fedora instructions ?
or the nvidia.run from the nvidia website

if you used the rpm from the fedora repos then in gnome go to system /admaiastration/NVIDIA X Server Settings ( it will be someplace )
or from the terminal run
-- for globel settings do a root

Code:

su -
 nvidia-settings

set it there

ingesis · 05-08-2011, 08:01 PM

I've used the akmod-nvidia.rpm and get the Nvidia X Server Settings in my System -> Administration menu.

I've downloaded the driver NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-270.41.06.run from the NVidia website and running it with

Code:

./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-270.41.06.run

then I get the message

Code:

ERROR: Unable to find the module utility `lsmod`; please make sure you have  
         the package 'module-init-tools' installed.  If you do have            
         module-init-tools installed, then please check that `lsmod` is in     
         your PATH.

and my PATH has

Code:

[root@localhost sbin]# $PATH
bash: /usr/lib64/qt-3.3/bin:/usr/lib64/ccache:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/home/adrian/bin: No such file or directory

so, it's supposed that 'lsmod' is reachable since it is in the /sbin folder.

My xorg.conf file has this info

Code:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 260.19.29  (mockbuild@hephaestus.wilsonet.com)  Thu 
Dec 16 04:43:59 EST 2010

# RPM Fusion - nvidia-xorg.conf
# 

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    ModulePath      "/usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/nvidia"
    ModulePath      "/usr/lib64/xorg/modules"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from data in "/etc/sysconfig/keyboard"
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "la"
    Option         "XkbModel" "pc105"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Samsung SyncMaster"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 71.0
    VertRefresh     50.0 - 160.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Videocard0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 8600 GTS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "Videocard0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "1152x864_75 +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Should I try to install the Nvidia .run driver or the akmod RPM should work?

John VV · 05-08-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Should I try to install the Nvidia .run driver or the akmod RPM should work?

NO !!!

the .run will replace critical system files that you must replace afterword

also the headers ( and /or) source would need to be installed along with the software development group

make sure that there IS NO FILE called "xorg.conf "
reboot

there is a Gnome tool for setting the display size try that and let the system use udev to auto-detect the monitor and set it up
-- if that fails ( it looks like it has been )
as root run the nvidia tool and have IT save the xorg.conf
and detect the display and it's settings ( there is a window for that in the tool)

fedora no longer needs this file ( xorg.conf) everything there "should" be auto set up at boot

now sometimes that dose fail ( not often)

if the nvidia tool dose not auto detect and set things then manual setting it would be needed
form the above confg file try adding the display lines
( you might want to read the nvidia documentation - aka the README )
http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8...DME/index.html
options for "xorg.conf"
http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8...igoptions.html

ingesis · 05-08-2011, 09:51 PM

Now this is what happened

I backed up the xorg.conf file, restarted and got a 1024x768 resolution config.

Then tried to open the driver tool and got this message

Code:

You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver.
Please edit your X configuration file (just run `nvidia-xconfig` as root), and restart the X server.

After that opened a console session and, logged as root, ran the command previously indicated. This is what I got

Code:

[root@localhost adrian]# nvidia-xconfig

WARNING: Unable to locate/open X configuration file.

New X configuration file written to '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'

[root@localhost adrian]# nvidia-xconfig

Using X configuration file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf".
Backed up file '/etc/X11/xorg.conf' as '/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup'
New X configuration file written to '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'

So, I tried to open the NVidia driver app and got the same message that says that it appears that I'm not using the NVdia X driver. Then I went back to my console session to edit my xorg.conf file and added it some lines. The result is this

Code:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 260.19.36  (mockbuild@)  Sat Jan 22 06:36:47 EST 2011


Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    ModulePath      "/usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/nvidia"
    ModulePath      "/usr/lib64/xorg/modules"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/default/Type1"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from data in "/etc/sysconfig/keyboard"
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "la"
    Option         "XkbModel" "pc105"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Unknown"
    HorizSync       28.0 - 33.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 72.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "metamodes" "1152x864_75 +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Finally, I opened the NVidia tool and just get the same message previously described: that it appears I'm not using... blah, blah, blah.

I've ran out of more ideas.

John VV · 05-08-2011, 10:17 PM

i noticed something
YOUR xorg.conf says it was made by "260.19.36 " driver THAT is NOT the current driver from the fedora repo
the "270.41.06" is the current
so you probably did not instal the current driver

some place along the line something got messed up

fedora with the default "nouveau" and nvidia-x11 module -- all DEFAULT install
should see your crt monitor and be able to change screen resolution from 600x400 up to 1600x1200 with NO problems ( all from the Gnome GUI tool) and run at 85 Hrz using the standard gnome desktop gui tools .
by just using everything that is installed by DEFAULT

blacklisting "nouveau" and using the akmod-nvidia.rpm is only needed in some cases

but just to run fedora and change the screen the default software should be able to do it
and a gf 8600 card IS supported

ingesis · 05-08-2011, 11:29 PM

Mmm, may be it was because of the first time I installed the akmod-nvidia driver... in fact, reviewing the tutorial that I found before use the guide in forums[dot]fedoraforum[dot]org/showthread.php?t=204752, I think I've installed the kmod-nvidia one since it said

Quote:

kmod works fine for most people, but it doesn’t work on systems with different kernel

- like a self-compiled kernel
- an older Fedora kernel
- the quickly changing kernels from updates-testing/rawhide

Then may be when I tried to install the akmod-nvidia it just did not do anything to change my previous installation since a driver was already running.

Well, it seems logic to me, although I thing that even in that case it should work since my video card and, much more my monitor, are not brand new stuff.

What should i do next to uninstall my NVidia driver and try again from ground zero?