First Time Run Problems
 

I am having problems running RedHat 7.3 on my IBM PC Server 310.

Everything seems to install ok, but when the server reboots and starts for the first time, i end up with a blank screen.

IBM PC Server 310
256mb
30g HD
S3 SDAC 86C716 Graphics Card
Goldstar Monitor

Any ideas anyone?

Installed same set of CD's onto two other PC's and no problems.

Also, just downloaded RH 8.0, and Mandrake 9.0, both of which will not boot, ISOLinux Error! ?

HELP!

cheers
sm@rt

i know this post doesnt help, but i have also had this problem with suse 8.1, it seems to boot up, then the my monitor goes into power saving mode and just stays like that.

ill give you my comp specs just to see if anyone sees anything similar

800mhz amd
80gb hdd
578mb ram
geforce 2 (64mb) graphics card
dunno what kind of monitor (not goldstar though)

If you've chosen to boot into "Graphical" mode (ie. runlevel 5, which I know is the default for Red Hat 7.3) then I'd say X is having some problems with your hardware.

It's probably fixable but first, of course, you have to stop it from booting into X (Graphical mode, run level 5). The easiest way to do this is probably to re-install Red Hat and be wary to choose "Text" mode (ie. runlevel 3) for your bootup choice towards the end of the install.

If my assumptions have been correct :confused: then you should boot to a linux prompt. Then you have to work out what's doing with X and all that, but at least it gets you started ;)

I really don't like S3 vid cards... maybe linux doesn't either hehe!

Thanks for the tip miknight, i can now login using root, and i have run Xconfigurator, but with no luck still.

Is there another driver other than the S3's that might work.?

Really want to make use of this old faithful IBM...

cheers
sm@rt

I don't really know, but it would be well worth looking on the web for it... google can find most things like this.

Also remember that it could be your monitor, not your video card. If Red Hat detected it as something it's not and tried to give it a refresh rate or resolution that the monitor couldn't handle then a blank screen may indeed be all you get.

So I'd say it is either the above or the S3 drivers.

It might be handy/necessary to edit the file /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 (Red Hat installs XFree86 v.4 by default, so don't get mixed up with the file /etc/X11/XF86Config). This file has all the X configuration in it, including what drivers to load, what monitors are available, in what resolutions, etc...

It'd be best to look around on the net for more info first, but chances are if you find an answer, it will involve messgin around with that file.

Sorry I can't be more specific about your problem, my last S3 card was in a 486-40 ;)

Check your S3 chip with "lspci -v" and check to see if it's supported at the XFree86 S3 driver support page.