Needed to fix a computer where XP wouldn't deal w/ the PC's Ethernet. I tried my custom Slax 5.1.8 (KillBill Ed) disc. (BTW, Slax is a Slackware 11 live CD.) It booted normally, config'd the Ethernet, but I couldn't get anything done w/ X. Straight garbage on a (relatively ancient) 32MB Diamond Stealth II Viper. Ctrl-Alt-Bksp back to the cmd line. Next, try xconf && startx. Got a kinda working display, but the sync was all wrong, so the desktop icons were way out-of-size and the mouse pointer left permanent black tracks all over the display. Equally useless.

Now that the crisis is over, I'd like to get the ans to two questions:

1) What programs can be used to automagically setup Xorg.conf for a rescue disc ? I can live w/ 1152x864 (ideal), dropping back to 640x480 (failsafe) by 16 or 24 colors.

2) One of my own PCs needs a better display driver (the VESA default is simply too dark to be used for long). Unfortunately, this is a kinda old on-board chipset w/ integrated video (VIA KLE133). I just found a tarball for an X driver from about three years ago. I can't find anything (GOOGLEing) about Xfree vs Xorg driver compatibility. I don't want to damage any of this gear, particularly from recklessness, so could someone shed some light on Xorg vs Xfree compatibility ? Ultimately, I'm going to have make a decision and try something, but I'd like to hear from someone w/ real knowledge on the subj, before proceeding.

TIA....

I answered my own question. Knoppix (and indirectly DSL) have a script called xsession which, in addition to launching Xorg, does a very good job of probing display and monitor capabilities (much better than Slax.) Until I learn enuf about shell scripting (so I can port it myself), I can launch a DSL session on the prob PC, save the xorg.conf to USB thumb drive, then add those special case conf files to my rescue disc.

A little more cumbersome than I'd hoped, but workable till I grok shell scripts better....