can't use desktops

loti20 · 08-17-2006, 11:32 PM

i installed both the kde and gnome desktops for mandriva. for some reason, when i boot it only allows me to see the command prompts. at first, when i tried to enter a gui, it gave me an error like, "virtual size exceeds video memory. screens found, but not configured"or something like that. i went into the xorgconfig and change some of my monitor settings. i reduced the refresh rates, colors to 256, and resolution to the lowest possible. now when i boot i got "fatal server error: caught signal 11. server aborting". Obviously I have no clue what I'm doing. Can anyone help???

Tinkster · 08-18-2006, 02:38 AM

Hi,

and welcome to LQ!

Can you tell me anything about the video-hardware, and which version of
Mandriva you're using? How old is the machine?

Cheers,
Tink

loti20 · 08-21-2006, 08:50 PM

Thanks for responding Tink. Here's the info about my graphics...

2X AGP (133 MHz Accelerated Graphics Port)
ATI 3D Rage LT Pro TM (64-bit Hardware Accelerated 3D Graphics)
2 MB 100 MHz SyncGraphics video memory (upgradable to 4 MB)
MPEG full-motion video playback
Maximum non-interlaced resolution of up to 1280 x 1024 (when supported by monitor)

I'm trying to load this on an old computer, a Compaq Presario 5050.

Hope that's helpful....

Thanks!

Tinkster · 08-22-2006, 01:51 AM

Hmmm ... should work just fine, and give you either 800x600x24K
or 1024x768x16k with no problems (just judging by the RAM).

Can you boot to runlevel 3 (type 'init 3' on your grub/lilo prompt)
and run 'X -configure' manually?

Cheers,
Tink

loti20 · 09-01-2006, 10:22 PM

so i typed "init 3" and this is what came up...

INIT:Switching to runlevel: 3
Stopping dm: [OK]
Starting cpufreq: Probing cpufreq modules: [FAILED]
[FAILED]

Not sure what this means. Any help? I could really use some hints and tips about doing things from the command screen. I still can't get my desktops to come up. I'd like to be able to do things from both the command environment and the desktops. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! I am a complete noobie!!! lol

loti20 · 09-01-2006, 10:49 PM

Also,I've tried accessing several files such as /etc/inittab, /etc/sysconfig/system, /var/log/Xorg.0.log and I keep getting the message Permission denied. I'm getting somewhat frustrated. Did I install this incorrectly?? Should I reinstall?? Someone please help!

Tinkster · 09-01-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loti20

Also,I've tried accessing several files such as /etc/inittab, /etc/sysconfig/system, /var/log/Xorg.0.log and I keep getting the message Permission denied. I'm getting somewhat frustrated. Did I install this incorrectly?? Should I reinstall?? Someone please help!

You'll have to do these things as root, not as yourself.

And once you're there, and are root, try the X -configure

Cheers,
Tink