"Killed" Monitor starting XWindow
 

Hi,

I just installed Mandrake 9.2 last evening on a three year-old HP notebook. I'm using a CRT with this notebook as the attached flatscreen is non-functional (this info may be relevant).
With regard to coniguration of the graphical interface, I used the options selected by the install program and selected boot into XFree (sp?). Unfortunately, I could only boot into console mode. After login as either user or root, I received error messages when I typed "startx" or "kde". Based on suggestions in other, related posts, I began to change details of my config via XFdrake.
Upon testing configs (test button), some got errors ("choose another config"), and some tests consisted of my monitor sortof "rebooting" (lights change from green to yellow, then back to green - power down/power up sounds...). In now case did I see a GUI of any kind.
So, I exited XFdrake, and logged in as root, typed "startx", at which point my monitor did the power off thing (screen blanked, lights from green to yellow) and did not return to normal.
It does this now on every boot. I no longer have access to console mode (if I do I can't see it...) Is there any way to get back into the configuration utility to change things?

Many thanks

d

Hi.

Does your monitor work in Windows (if you have access to windows)?

If not then it is possible that you've used a refresh rate that's too high and have physically damaged your monitor. I say it's possible, but unlikely if your monitor's even remotely recent.

If your monitor's not broken, then you can do some editing on /etc/X11/XF86Config and get X working again.

Dave

Thanks Dave,

The monitor does still work with Windows. The monitor blinks off as soon as I boot into Linux, however, making it difficult to imagine navigating files, volumes, whatever...

Hi again.

Can you still get into a console?

Nope.

I should mention that I don't know the first thing about Linux/unix commands... I'm learning daily...

I tried Alt-F1 through Alt-F6 to try to get into a console...

no luck - blank screen.

Have you tried control-alt-F1 to get back to the console?

No. I'll try that when I get back home this evening. Thanks for your help.