Back again for another go!

Still getting the same problem on my PC. I know there's nothing wrong with the DVD I am installing from as I have used it successfully on other machines.

The problem is that the SUSE install goes well (and I take mostly defaults). If I add a user when prompted, and select auto login, I can use the system, but cannot log in as root (yes I can remember the password). If I don't select the auto login, after install and initial startup, I get a blank screen.

If I load in Failsafe and do a SAX2 -l to try and edit the settings, again, a blank screen...???

Really wierd, I know it's something to do with my system with all it's onboard crap, just wondering if anyone else knows what is wrong. SUSE detects all my nVidia stuff correctly. And if I tick auto login, it displays ok then...

Any ideas anyone, I am soooo desperate to get Linux on my machine. (remember, I'm a bit noob though)

Sound's a bit like xserver snag's too me.

but if you can log in, from the black screen but with a text prompt, then it's usually just a config/setting's thing so you'd log in, then try "startx" (no quotes). Or if you've just got a minor setting snag, you could try "init 5" (again, no quotes).

don't know what editor you'd have installed but you may need to have a look at the /var/log/XFree86.0.log and see if it's giving you any error's. They'd be identified with an (EE) indicator - you can ignore any (WW) or (II) for the moment.

Again, you'd have to log in as root from the blackscreen (well the text prompt), and then try

"vi /var/log/XFree86.0.log" (yes you've guessed it, no quotes) if it open's the file, you'll probably have to navigate it with the arrow key's and see what it say's. To get out of it, you can either "ctrl+z" or ":q" (no quotes but you'd have to type the : before the q).

hope this helps

regards

John

Thanks for your input John, but alas, no luck. Init 5 and startx gave the same result - a blank screen. as for the XFree86.0.log, no EE's in there, lots of WW's and II's as you mentioned...

But fear not. I spent 12 hours last night (via my trusty 128K ISDN) downloading a 700mb ISO image of SUSE Linux 9.1 Personal Edition from their FTP server. And guess what? Up and running within 30 minutes! I'm using it now! Not sure if it's a cut down version as it's only 1 CD but no matter, it's a starting point and from my vendor of choice too.

Feels good. Now I just have to start learning!