Incorrect Screen Mode
 

Whenever I try install numerous distributions of linux (Suse 9.1 Personal, Slackware 8.1 and 9.1, Vector Linux 4.0 and 4.0, etc.) I keep on hitting the same problem. I get an error message

"Incorrect screen mode, press <ENTER> to choose a mode".

I have been able to get Suse 9.1 personal running, but have to satisfied with 640x480 screen with 16 colours. I know that I am able to get 1024x768 with 24 bit colour in Windows. As I am busy passing on from Windows and joining the Linux / Open Source Community, I just find this extremely frustrating.

Linux always defaults to generic or unknown monitor and unknown video adapter. I have a Phoenix 3s graphics card and a Vision 15" monitor.

PLEASE HELP!!

Maybe I should add that the Video Card is a Phoenix 3s Vision868.

PLEASE HELP!!

Just an update of what I am doing and how I am fairing.

I have managed to install Suse 9.1 personal (my initial posting). Unfortunately I am stuck with 640x480 screen resolution with 16 colours.

Last night I managed to install Slackware 8.1. Installation went SMOOTH, but when I tried to STARTX, all a got was a blank screen stating that no compatible screen settings were found.

I spend sometime working with xf68config file. Managed to get some output with STARTX, but the image only filled the bottom half of the screen and the icons and fonts appeared extremely large. xf86config reports that my video adapter is unsupported (Phoenix S3 Vision868 AT&T 409DAC) and that it will be regarded as a standard vga adapter. xf86config also reports that the adapter may be supported in a new version of xf86config. Will loading Slackware 9.1 be able to solve the problem, or is there SOMEWHERE where I get linux to support this graphics adapter.

Two questions at the moment:

(1) Why are you using such an old distribution?
Newer versions have more drivers...

(2) What is the output of /sbin/lspci ? Run under Slack...

Sounds like right now you need the proper driver
for that video card.

SOME JOY!

I played around a bit with SUSE 9.1 personal and the monitor / graphics card configuration tools. By accident noticed that SUSE suggested that I rather use 'SAX2-VESA' to configure the card from console.

It's worked. I still use 640x480 resolution, but at least my colour depth is now 16 bit.

Will sort out the resolution soon.

THANKS for the input, which pointed me in the right direction.