I downloaded debian 2.6.15 testing. In this kernel, it's not possible to contorl cpu throttling, because it's not in the kernel (neither as module nor integrated). So I downloaded the kernel source 2.6.17 and compiled it according to the "Readme" in /usr/share/doc/kernel. The compilation went fine, but when I reboot, an x-server failure occurs with the message:

Failed to start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly.

The x environment works well with the 2.6.15 version.

Somebody might have had a similar problem and can drop a hint....

Thanks for your support!
Urs, Switzerland

Hi

Hmm - as far as I know this is exactly what is supposed to happen. This is because the kernel module you need is compiled for the -old- version of your kernel, not the new one you just booted...

I ran into exactly this same problem when I upgraded by 2.6.9 kernel to 2.6.14.3 - everything went fine, but when I booted into the new kernel, Xwindows wouldn't start.

The first thing to do to solve this is to get the correct graphics driver source you need. If you have a Nvidia based GFX card this is absurdly easy - simply go to the Nvidia site and download the latest Linux driver.

Then switch your installation over to runlevel 3 (by editing /etc/inittab) so that it starts up in text mode.

What you then need to do is take the new graphics driver you just got and compile it under the new kernel. I used the following commandline to get the Nvidia driver to compile under my new 2.6.14.3 kernel so I could get into Xwindows under the new kernel:

NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8756-pkg1.run --with-kernel-source=/usr/src/linux/linux-version.version

This of course requires that the kernel source you just used to build your kernel is still present in the specified location, and is still configured just like it was when you compiled that current, running kernel.

Once the Nvidia driver has been compiled and installed for you (just follow the prompts) you can try starting up Xwindows by going

startx

in a text terminal. If it works, reset your runlevel to 5 and all should be fine.

Let us know how you get on.

Regards,

Thanks very much for your help!

I finally managed to get it to work. Here's how I did it:

My graphic card's an Intel 82852, so I had to download this driver. However, after installing it, I still couldn't start X, because of mouse and touch pad detecting difficulties. So I performed an update and upgrade (in the new kernel). This didn't help either. I then recompiled the kernel with the features I wanted "integrated" into the kernel (cpu throttling as well as graphic driver were only compiled as modules before). This solved the problem. I'm now running on 2.6.17 and didn't even have to additionally install the graphic card driver when starting with the newly compiled kernel.
Again, thanks for your support. I really appreciate comments like yours when I post a problem online!!!

Urs, Switzerland