Problems with console TTYs

Tortanick · 07-03-2008, 05:07 PM

I'm running debian etch on a thinkpad x61 with a few backports, my kernel is 2.6.24-1-amd64 according to uname -r but if I use apt-cache policy it gives the version as 2.6.24-7~bpo40+1 from backports.org

My problem is annoying but not vital: once X starts I lose the ability to read console TTYs, if I jump to them with ctrl-alt-f__ I just get a blank screen. even shutting down X won't return them, however they work fine until X starts, I can see the bootup text and if I boot up in single user mode it I can use it fine.

tredegar · 07-05-2008, 04:19 AM

Try passing the parameter vga=normal to the kernel at boot time.

Tortanick · 07-06-2008, 03:36 AM

Thanks, but it didn't work.

Just to check I did it right, in grub you press e to edit, then add vga=normal to the end of the line starting with kernel. Then press b to boot

tredegar · 07-06-2008, 04:31 AM

You need a space between the end of the kernel line and the vga=normal but otherwise, yes, I think you did it right.
Or, you could add it to grub's menu.list, mine looks like this:

Code:

title	Ubuntu 8.04, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
root	(hd0,5)
kernel	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic
root=UUID=7591fe5b-8907-407f-854e-321684957104 ro quiet splash vga=normal
initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

Then reboot.

Tortanick · 07-07-2008, 02:32 AM

Well that's what I did. Pity if I did it wrong it might have still worked