SUSE display issues with Dell 600m

Fred_G · 01-29-2006, 11:25 PM

Well, today I got SUSE running on my laptop as a dual boot. If I try to change the resoultion of the screen, I get my monitor divided in half, and a huge square as a cursor. Any ideas? The default size of Linux is cartoon like, and I cannot stand it.

This computer has an ATI 9000 video, so I should be able to bump the resolution up to a nice viewable size.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

E

paulsm4 · 01-30-2006, 12:15 AM

You might try the following command and see if SuSE auto-detects your display hardware any better the second time:

1. Log in as "root", from a text-only console:
You should be able to do this from a pull-down menu on the graphical console logon.

You can also do this by typing <Ctl-Alt-F1>.

2. Make sure X Windows is OFF:
As "root", type "rcxdm stop" or "init 3"

3. Re-detect your display hardware:
As "root", type "sax2 -ra"

4. Reboot (or run "rcxdm restart") and see if things have improved.

You might also want to consider downloading and installing the Linux drivers from ATI's web site. Be sure to download the "full package", which includes both the drivers, as well as ATI's GUI-based install utility.

'Hope that helps .. pSM

Fred_G · 01-30-2006, 08:26 AM

I tried that, I got an error invalid runlevel, switch to runlevel 3 first. So I downloaded the installer and ATI linux drivers on another computer, and burned it to a cd. I think I installed it, the screen is very distorted, and half of each box is unreadable. I saw something about 'install with Yast', I think I did that, I am not sure since I cannot read all the options on the screen.

Now when I reboot, I boot into a cli mode, unsure how to get to the GUI.

Kinda lost here... Any help greatly appreciated.

E

paulsm4 · 01-30-2006, 09:42 AM

Quote:

I got an error invalid runlevel, switch to runlevel 3 first.

Means that you didn't follow this instruction:

Quote:

2. Make sure X Windows is OFF:
As "root", type "rcxdm stop" or "init 3"

Please do this:

Quote:

1. Log in as "root", from a text-only console:
You should be able to do this from a pull-down menu on the graphical console logon.

You can also do this by typing <Ctl-Alt-F1>.

2. Make sure X Windows is OFF:
As "root", type "rcxdm stop" or "init 3"

3. Re-detect your display hardware:
As "root", type "sax2 -ra"

4. Reboot (or run "rcxdm restart") and see if things have improved.

PS:
I'd focus on getting things to work with the built-in SuSE drivers first. It's probably better to wait for another day before you trying experimenting with the ATI drivers.

PPS:
You can also run "Yast2" from the command line, if you need to.

Fred_G · 01-30-2006, 01:38 PM

I got that to work, but my screen is still screwed up badly. Any other ideas?

Thanks again for your help.

E

Mara · 02-01-2006, 02:59 PM

This problem is solved in http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=409751. This thread is closed, per the orginal poster's request.