I recently installed Suse 10.0 to my Dell desktop. I am looking to replace the monitor, as it is now fuzzy and dim and near the end. The machine runs on a Pentium-4, 1.5GHz processor, and has a 64MB DDR nVidia GeForce2 Ultra w/4X AGP Graphics Card.

I tried to hook up a new monitor (HP Pavillion mx70). While the system boot appeared to work OK, when my Linux desktop would normally appear, the monitor kicks off, and displays "CHECK PC SETTINGS".

I tried to alter the system settings, specifying the exact make and model, but the monitor will not work.

Being a new Linux user, and not being all that familiar with PC hardware architecture, I have a number of questions about how to replace the monitor:

Do I need to modify the system settings before attaching a new monitor? Will the old monitor still work after I do, and before I reboot the system?

Is there something about the installed video card that limits my choice of new monitor? Does Linux itself limit these choices?

HEEEEEELLP!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I'm guessing your monitor is 'kicking off' because of the frequency of which Suse is having the video card send the monitor. My best advice for you is to not just set the monitor make & model, but 'force' for lack of a better term, the settings. Set them for something low (comparativly) like at 1024x768 using 24-bit color, and a HorizSync of 31.5 - 57.0, and a VertRefresh of 60-85. Most current monitors can handle those settings.

You can do this in YAST (either GUI or the CLI). I belive you can also adjust your settings booting to the Suse install CD - 'rescue mode' I think its called, or something along those lines.

Sorry for not giving specifics... its been a while since I used Suse.
good luck
-tw