I have whitebox enterprise linux 3.0
kernel 2.21.x.x!
my gui interface (xserver) ws working fine until now.
I just installed linuxconf from the net. Now, at startup xserver is not starting. It says "i m unable to start xserver. maybe due to bad config. do u want me to run x configuration?" if i say says. it tries to run xserver and fails. then it lands me at command-line????
I am doomed. I cant use command line interface!
tell me wat to do?
Plz help me run the xserver again??

You must be from the future! The latest kernels start with 2.6.

Read the /var/log/xorg.X.log where X is a number. Look at the dates of the files and see which is the most recent.
Look for lines with (EE) in them. Also, if there is a parsing error in your xorg.conf file, the log will say on which line the error is.

---

P.S. Please use "you", "I" & "I'm" in you posts instead of "hacker" English. They make the message difficult to read. Thanks. If that is a true quote of the error message, then you may have greater problems. Only a hacked system would produce an error message display like that.

---

I just had an old memory about LinuxConf being used with 2.4 kernel distro's but not 2.6. This may be old information, from years ago, but make sure it is OK to use it with your distro. I don't think simply installing it should effect the video, but what you do with it could have consequences.

---

I downloaded the source for linuxconf and generated the documents, e.g. sgml2latex tech-intro.sgml, and found that it is run during bootup. Did you see an option menu, during bootup, on how to start?
Does it have a "text mode & network" default. (Although that wouldn't account for the error message)

From the ANNOUNCE document:
Did you run linuxconf --status and linuxconf --update? Maybe it will help. If installing LinuxConf did cause the problem, I think that the cause may be indirect.

sorry. my kernel is 2.4.21.x and distra is whitebox enterprise linux 3.0 (respin 1). Its based on red hat.
Its definately not hacked coz i dont have net and nobody uses it except me!!
I installed linuxconf and then my boot time msgs changed a bit!
At the first startup it asked me something about making my settings "current" with my system/hardware and i answered yes!
Maybe that caused the problems.
I have intel d915gvwb desktop board with on-board intel gma-900 graphics card. But when i ws asked abt my graphics card during installation of linux i selected
"vesa generic driver" as my wasnt in the option list.
I think linuxconf might have detected my graphic card and it changed my xconfig. That might have caused problems!!!
It presents me with a menu and it has "graphic and network" by default.
If i dont do anything then linux tries to start xserver again and again and again! Initially it gave up after few tries and landed me in the CLI.
But now it keeps trying it! I have to use linuxconf's menu to select CLI!
Should i get some log/error files for u to see??
Plz help!

Read through our /var/Xorg.#.log file, where # is a number. Use "ls -l /var/log/Xorg.*" to list the files and pick the most recent to examine. Look for lines starting with "(EE)". These are the errors.

The xorg configuration is /etc/X11/xorg.conf. You might want to post that. The vesa driver is almost universal, and it's selection probably wasn't the problem. If the HorizSync or VertRefresh entries are off, that could cause the problems that you are seeing.
example:
For some monitors (especially 16:9 LCD monitors) you may need to use the "gtf" program to generate a custom modeline.
example:Also, If you have a redhat video configuration program, by all means, try that. That is what it is there for.

Double post.

Sorry, I accidentally pressed the "Report" button and didn't realize that what I had entered was posted until I rewrote it.

" *xorg*.* " : there is no such file in /var/log/
" xorg.conf " : there is no such file in /etc/X11
Instead i have files called " XFree86.#.log " where #=0,1
latest is XFree86.1.log
I opened it
It has these error lines in the end:

***********************************
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Mouse0" (type: MOUSE)
(EE) lnx_io.c: Unable to set the keyboard repeat rate using the KDKBDREP
ioctl(). This may be caused by a buggy kernel.
(EE) lnx_io.c: Unable to set the keyboard repeat rate using the KIOCSRATE
ioctl(). This may be caused by a buggy kernel.
(EE) lnx_io.c: Keyboard repeat rate setting has been disabled because the
kernel running on this machine seems to be malfunctioning, or
does not support the KDKBDREP or KIOCSRATE ioctl() calls.
This is probably a kernel bug.
(II) Mouse0: ps2EnableDataReporting: succeeded
************************************

There are some minor warning msgs also. The file XFree86.0.log is similar.
There is another file named XFree86.0.log.old.
Its last section is:

************************************
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Mouse0" (type: MOUSE)
(EE) lnx_io.c: Unable to set the keyboard repeat rate using the KDKBDREP
ioctl(). This may be caused by a buggy kernel.
(EE) lnx_io.c: Unable to set the keyboard repeat rate using the KIOCSRATE
ioctl(). This may be caused by a buggy kernel.
(EE) lnx_io.c: Keyboard repeat rate setting has been disabled because the
kernel running on this machine seems to be malfunctioning, or
does not support the KDKBDREP or KIOCSRATE ioctl() calls.
This is probably a kernel bug.
(II) Mouse0: ps2EnableDataReporting: succeeded
Could not init font path element unix/:7100, removing from list!

Fatal server error:
could not open default font 'fixed'
************************************

Also, there is a filed named " XF86config" in /etc/x11
It has the following contents:

************************************

# XFree86 4 configuration created by pyxf86config

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# RgbPath is the location of the RGB database. Note, this is the name of the
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db"). There is normally
# no need to change the default.
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Red Hat 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
FontPath "unix/:7100"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "fbdevhw"
Load "glx"
Load "record"
Load "freetype"
Load "type1"
Load "dri"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# Specify which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1))
# Option "Xleds" "1 2 3"
# To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable.
# Option "XkbDisable"
# To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the
# lines below (which are the defaults). For example, for a non-U.S.
# keyboard, you will probably want to use:
# Option "XkbModel" "pc102"
# If you have a US Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use:
# Option "XkbModel" "microsoft"
#
# Then to change the language, change the Layout setting.
# For example, a german layout can be obtained with:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# or:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys"
#
# If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and
# control keys, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps"
# Or if you just want both to be control, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps"
#
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# If the normal CorePointer mouse is not a USB mouse then
# this input device can be used in AlwaysCore mode to let you
# also use USB mice at the same time.
Identifier "DevInputMice"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "StudioWorks"
DisplaySize 280 210
HorizSync 30.0 - 54.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 120.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "vesa"
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "VESA driver (generic)"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Group 0
Mode 0666
EndSection
************************************

One more thing, how can i start some configuration utility related with this "XFree86"???

Is there any reason you need to use this old of distro?

It uses many old things like the issue you have in your other post about the usb adsl modem. Seeing the kernel version explains the problems.

The X is using old XFree86 stuff where todays distro use Xorg which is what others are asking about.
Kernel is a whole tree version down.

To stay in the Redhat distro go with Fedora Core 5 or 6. I would use 5 if it was me.

Brian

I cant change my distro! I can however update my kernel to 2.6.17.4!
Plz tell me how to get this xfree86 working.
It was working fine initially.
It just stopped working after installing linuxconf!
I beleive that this xfree86 can easily work with my current system as it was working previously.
So, plz help.

I prefer using it with my current kernel and distro but i can
update the kernel (but not the distro!) OR i cud update this xserver; if needed!

To upgrade that distro to 2.6 kernels will require many rpms to be updated. I have done it but took me several days to get it up and working fairly stable. Many changes between them with the addition of hal, udev, and many more. There are some links if you search google about Redhat 2.4 to 2.6 kernel. As far as the linuxconf it is a very old tool. Used in Redhat 7 or 8 and earlier versions. More for the 2.2 kernel Redhat distros.

Good luck
Brian

Now its gotten worse!
now i cant even use text mode!
When i select text mode in linuxcinf; it says "sbin/telinit 3". Then nothing happens!
Plz help
(I cant change the distro or the kernel)

Not knowing the exact steps that got you here I am at a lost. Maybe the best option is reinstall and then note every command and step you perform.
I can't really say where to start to fix it. It is something that is this far that seeing the machine would save time and typing.
Brian

OK then.
I guess this problem of mine cant be solved.
So i plan on re-installing.

I have the following distros:

*Mandriva Linux 2006.0 cooker-Download-i586- 20050927 9:26
*I can also try to find FC4 or FC5
*If all else fails i can also download FC6 from net but i wud have to wait for 1.5 months for it!

So tell me
1. wats this mandriva? is it a live cd or a full distro?
2. Which one of the above shud i go for? Can my usb router/modem work in any of these?

Give FC5 a shot. Again I am not 100 percent sure on the USB modem based on your other post about it.

Mandriva just another distro setup similiar but uses different tools and gui tools. Some of the commands you have used so far do not work with Mandriva. They are Redhat/Redhat clone commands only.

Brian

why not FC6?