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-   -   I need help installing a video driver (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/i-need-help-installing-a-video-driver-4175501227/)

Jack Crain 04-10-2014 09:55 AM

I need help installing a video driver
 
I tried installing Ubuntu 13.10 in a Biostar P4M-90 motherboard with built in VIA graphics card. When I try to run Unbuntu, it starts out telling me that the video will run in Low graphics and it then runs in the Terminal program. I am really new with Linux , but have managed to find a driver for the video but I don't have a clue as to how to load it. Any help?
Ubuntu is loaded as a dual boot system with Windows Vista

jdkaye 04-10-2014 11:03 AM

Can you post the output of this command (do it as root or use sudo):
Code:

lshw |grep -a10 vga
jdk

Jack Crain 04-11-2014 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdkaye (Post 5150153)
Can you post the output of this command (do it as root or use sudo):
Code:

lshw |grep -a10 vga
jdk

I just gtet a flashing curser in the upper left corner of the screen. It won't move or show what I type until I press control/alt/delete, then the typing shows and the computer restarts and it does the same thing all over again.

jdkaye 04-11-2014 09:27 AM

Are you sure you have installed the lshw package? If not, do so. It's quite a handy thing to have. See what the results of this command are:
Code:

which lshw
You are doing all this in a console, correct?
jdk

Jack Crain 04-11-2014 01:48 PM

The first message I get is "Your screen is running in Low Graphics mode" with a block to click "OK". When I click ok, then it clears the screen and say, "What would you like to do?" and givesw 4 options, 1 Run in Low Graphics mode for one session, 2. Reconfigure graphics., 3, Troubleshhott the error, and 4,Exit to console login.

Each option has a small circle and you click in the circle to pick the option you want. At the bottom of the box is Cancel and OK box to click once3 you choose your option.

Just clicking cancel clears the screen and gives you a blinking curser in the upper left hand corner of the screen. no matter what you type, nothing appears on the screen. Pressing Control/alt/delete will show you what you types, but it shuts down the computer and restarts it.

Clicking option 1 clears the screen and a new box comes up telling you wait one minute for the display to restart. There is a block to click that says "OK" and a block that says "Cancel.I have waited 20 minutes and nothing happens, until I click either of the boxes, then it goes to the blank screen with the blinking curser that doen't show anything until you press control/alt/delete.

Option 2, gives you a new screen with the question "How would you like to reconfigure your display?", and 2 choices, 1. Use Default, (Gereral configuration, and 2, Use your backed up configuration. Again, you click your choice to highlight it and either click Cancel or click OK. Clicking the first choice just clears the screen and reloads the same block asking you how you would like to reconfigure the display. Second choice does the same thing. Clicking "Cancel" on either choice brings you up to the original screen where it asks you what you would like to do.
Third choice, Troubleshoot the error, sends in a new screen that ask,"What information would you like to reveiw? and it give you 3 options, 1. reveiw the xserver log file, 2. review the startup errors, and 3. edit configuration file. Choosing option 1 starts a new window with a the config file fron Xserver Xorg, and it looks to have the vidio logged in it. 2option brings up a new window but it is blank. 3rd option clears the screen and goes right back to the What information would you like to review screen. Clicking cancel at any time takes you back to the original screen.

THe last option on the original window, exit to conesole login just sends toy to the screen with the blinking curser that does nothing.

mostlyharmless 04-11-2014 02:46 PM

The problem is that VIA graphics aren't really supported on newer versions of Xorg. You might find this: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2184594 informative.
The bottom line, for machines with older graphics cards, is to use an older version of any distro. If you do succeed in booting something older, you can use the above suggested commands to post more information about your exact hardware.

Emerson 04-11-2014 07:59 PM

What is the PCI ID of this adapter, I'd be surprised if it does not work with openchrome. But then again, if you are not using any demanding graphic applications good old fbdev will do.

Shadow_7 04-11-2014 08:27 PM

I've had via chipsets in the past, they're not exactly stellar, but you should be able to get a "choice" of screen resolutions and types. Although probably not anything HD without an after market card. You might try Cntrl+Alt+F# combos to switch out of the gui and into a terminal since your graphics setup doesn't seem to be defaulting correctly.

Jack Crain 04-12-2014 06:53 AM

Can
t get to the GUI. I han't had the installation complete yet.

JeremyBoden 04-12-2014 10:38 AM

Did the live CD do proper video when you first tried it?

That motherboard is very old - do you have a slightly newer video card that you could try?

Jack Crain 04-12-2014 07:26 PM

I tried it out on a newer computer and it worked fine. I've given up on Ubuntu and went with LXLE. That one works with the old motherboard......sometimes


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