KNOPPIX Live CD

srivastava · 05-13-2005, 04:28 AM

My monitor does not support resolution higher than 1024x768 and I guess the default resolution for live KNOPPIX CD is higher than this. As a result, my monitor goes out of range when I insert the live CD and run KNOPPIX.

Is there anyway to overcome this problem?

mithu_sree · 05-13-2005, 04:32 AM

I also got the same problem

harken · 05-13-2005, 08:36 AM

I had this problem when I first used Knoppix as well. It's not the resolution, but the refresh rate which is by default too low (around 60Hz). Change it from KDE's Control Center and see if it works.

Lleb_KCir · 05-13-2005, 09:58 AM

simple, once you boot up with knoppix and you get the flying lines across your screen (caused by the to high of an output foryour monitor) change over to one of the terminals. you will be at a root prompt and already to rock.

vim /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

then just scroll down until you start finding the res. settings in the config file. rem out (#) anything higher then your monitor can deal with, then hit the ESC and type :wq yes you need the :

after that you can either /etc/ init.d/kdm or xdm or what ever the Knoppix display is, or just init 2, then back to init 5 and you will be golden. i normally just stop X and then go back to terminal 1 and type start X after i have reconfigured the XF86Config-4 file.

I have to do that on a few of my systems even though my monitor can handle 1280x1024 it does not do so above 60Hz like the default setting in Knoppix.

a1fitz · 06-13-2005, 02:57 PM

Lleb_KCir

I am having what sounds like the same probelm. this is the first time to run any linux OS at all. I am going to set up my home PC with knoppix without any other OS on it. When I run this live CD everthing starts loading fine about the time the machine tells me starting desktop I have what appears like a tv with horizantal hold problems. I really didn't understand your comment on how to over come this. Probably do to my lack of understanding linux. What do you mean by change teminals. Are you saying even though I can't see the prompt I should be able to type in

vim /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

and will be able to see and work from there?

craigevil · 06-13-2005, 04:38 PM

At the boot/login prompt try typing knoppix vga=normal
you can also specify the screen size by typing knoppix screen=1280x1024(or whatever size you want)

Some of the other things you can play around with:

screen=1280x1024
Use specified Screen resolution for X

xvrefresh=60 or vsync=60
Use 60 Hz vertical refresh rate for X

xhrefresh=80 or hsync=80
Use 80 kHz horizontal refresh rate for X

xserver=XFree86|XF86_SVGA
Use specified X-Server

xmodule=ati|radeon|fbdev|vesa|savage|s3|nv|i810|mga|svga|tseng
Use specified XFree4-Module

fb1280x1024 or fb1024x768 or fb800x600
Use fixed framebuffer graphics

f you have an old (VGA) monitor and get only flickering with the defaults, try "knoppix-txt xvrefresh=60" or "fb800x600". If nothing else works, try boot: failsafe -b 1

From: Knoppix Cheat Codes

A little more up to date list of "cheat codes": CHEATCODES AND HINTS FOR KNOPPIX V3.8

Knowing Knoppix
The first guide to Knoppix for the complete beginner.

If you can spend the money and "really" want to learn some things about Knoppix and Linux get:
"Knoppix Hacks is an essential tool for anyone who works — professionally or not — with computers. Knoppix Hacks, just like Knoppix, is targetted at a wide audience ranging from System Administrators to the family "computer guy" called on to fix his cousin's PC.

There is a common misconception among people who have heard of Knoppix that it is only for Linux users. This perception couldn't be further from the truth. Knoppix, as demonstrated by the author, is an extremely useful tool regardless of your preferred operating system. This book is for anyone who has had to fix the computer of friends or family; the system administrator who has ever had to resuscitate a lifeless machine; even the average home user who's curious to try something new without replacing what they already have."
http://arstechnica.com/columns/linux/linux-20050504.ars

Lleb_KCir · 06-14-2005, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by a1fitz
Lleb_KCir

I am having what sounds like the same probelm. this is the first time to run any linux OS at all. I am going to set up my home PC with knoppix without any other OS on it. When I run this live CD everthing starts loading fine about the time the machine tells me starting desktop I have what appears like a tv with horizantal hold problems. I really didn't understand your comment on how to over come this. Probably do to my lack of understanding linux. What do you mean by change teminals. Are you saying even though I can't see the prompt I should be able to type in

vim /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

and will be able to see and work from there?

craigevil has a very detailed reply and here is a bit more if you are not willing to mess around with the multiple boots that you might have to play with to get the cheats to work.

Code:

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device  "Nvidia GFX 5200"
 Monitor  "Panasonic"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth  1
  Modes  "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth  4
  Modes  "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth  8
  Modes  "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth  15
  Modes  "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth  16
  Modes  "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth  24
  Modes  "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

that is the section you are looking for inside the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file. you are editing with vim. vim is a text based file editor.

http://www.cs.colostate.edu/helpdocs/vi.html

http://www.cec.mtu.edu/newuserdoc/node9.html

both of those should give you enough tools to move around inside of vi (vim) to edit the above portion of the XF86Config-4 file. just scroll down until you see that part of the file. in Knoppix it is much longer so what you are looking for is to edit out the lines that start with the 1280x1024 and find the ones that start with 1024x768. then you can get back to the terminal 1 and ctrl+c to stop X from running, then type startx and X should work for you.

steps:

1. hit ctrl+alt+F2
2. type vim /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
3. scroll down until you find the lines as you see above. hit the "i" key to enter insert mode (you will see in big bold white letter INSERT in the bottom right corner of the screen) and place a # infront of the lines with the 1280x1024 as the starting resolution.
4. hit the ESC key
5. type :qw

yes that is a : then a q and a w right next to each other. this will save and exit from the file.
6. hit ctrl+alt+F1
7. hit ctrl+c (this will force stop X from running)
8. type startx (without a space between start and x)
you should be golden.

best of luck. also if you are running an ATI vid car you will want to read up on the ati hack (cheatcode) for knoppix in order to get X running too.

SuSE-friend · 06-14-2005, 05:14 PM

While primary boot screen appears
hit F2 or F3
type in the "line"

knoppix screen=800x600 vsync=75

That would start Knoppix GUI - KDE with 800x600 and refreshrate 75 Hz
if that also not work try refreshrate 60Hz

and maybe experiment with higher settings ...
but your monitor is maybe limited if going to 1024x768 and 60 Hz

A problem you may also have in mind that Knoppix KDE needs about 192 MB of RAM to start with GUI(graphically user interface)

The above posts show you more advanced ways ...