Hello. My unit is a Dell Dimension 2400 with an Intel 828456G/GL/GE/PE/GV Display adapter that has failed. I added an S3 TRIO 32/64 PCI card to make it work. I have a ViewSonic A75f monitor. When I boot, the PC gives me an error message that reads "I cannot start the X server (your graphical interface). It is likely that it is not set up correctly. Would you like to view the X server output to diagnose the problem?"
Press <Yes> and I get the message "XFree86 Version 4.3.0 (Fedora Core 1: 4.3.0-42) Release Date: 15 August 2003 X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0 Release 6.6 Build Operating System: Linux 2.4.21-2.ELsmp i686 [ELF] Build Date: 24 October 2003

Before reporting any problems...(rest deleted for brevity).
Module Loader present
OS Kernel: Linux version 2.4.22-1.2115.nptl .
(==)Log file "/var/log/XFree86.0.log", Time Mon Jul 10 23:36:26 2006 (==)
Using config file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config"
(WW) I810: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:0:2:0) found (EE) No devices detected. Fatal server error: No screens found
If you encounter a server crash...(again deleted for brevity)."
I press <EXIT>. I am asked if I want to view the detailed X server output as well. I decline. I am asked if I want to run the X configuration program. I press <YES>. I then get "Couldn't start the X server, trying with a fresh configuration. Trying with card: Intel 845."
A quick BLINK of the screen and "Couldn't start the X server, Trying with a fresh configuration. Trying with card:S3TRIO64 (generic)" The screen then shows the message "I will now try to restart the X server again." I press <OK>. A few flashes and I get the same message I first got. If I press <No> I am asked if I want to run the X configuration program again. <NO> gets me "I will disable this X server for now. Restart GDM when it is configured correctly." <OK> and I get the message "Fedora Core release 1 (Yarrow) Kernel 2.4.22-1.2115.nptl on an i686 localhost login: _" Can someone help me configure this thing so I can follow the "Red Hat for Dummies" book I bought ? I am supposed to evaluate this operating system for a school that needs to upgrade it's computers. I need to learn this before the kids get back. Please keep in mind that I will need detailed step-by-step instructions because I cannot even navigate linux. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!

Log into the text-mode console and have a look at the appropriate X log in /var/log - what error messages is it coming up with?

(WW) I810: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:0:2:0) found (EE)

The BusID address is probably for your old card and not the new one. You should rerun the configuration.
Also, the "/sbin/lspci" will list the devices on the pci bus. This is what is used in the BusID entry in the "Device" section.

I have rerun the configuration over a dozen times and keep getting the same message. The rest looks like English to me but does not make any sense. ;-)
How would I log into the text-mode console and have a look at the appropriate X log in /var/log to find out what error messages is it coming up with?

Also, the "/sbin/lspci" will list the devices on the pci bus. This is what is used in the BusID entry in the "Device" section.
How would I navigate to the "/sbin/lspci" file (is it a file?)? and how would I activate it or look at it? I am totally new to this. Please be patient. Thanks for your response.

Press ctrl-alt-1 and the screen should switch to a text-console, with a login prompt. Login as root.

To run lspci, do this:

after you have logged in as described.

To look at the X log, first navigate to the directory, then identify the correct file, then open it. The file is called Xorg.0.log on my system but it may be slightly different on yours. However, it's likely to have X in its filename. The commands for these steps are:

(ls is the command to list files).

When I type in /sbin/lspci at the root, I get
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 82845G/GL [Brookdale-G] Chipset Host Bridge
(rev 01)
00:02.0 Display controller: Intel Corp.82845G/GL [Brookdale-G] Chipset
Integrated Graphics Device (rev 01)
00:1d.0 USB Controller:Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #1) (rev 01)
00:1d.1 USB Controller:Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #2) (rev 01)
00:1d.2 USB Controller:Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #3) (rev 01)
00:1d.7 USB Controller:Intel Corp. 82801DB USB2 (rev 01)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BA/CA/DB/EB PCI Bridge (rev 81)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82801DB LPC Interface Controller (rev 01)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller (rev 01)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corp. 82801DB/DBM SMBus Controller (rev 01)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB AC'97 Audio Controller
(rev 01)
01:04.0 VGA compatible controller: S3 Inc. 86c764/765 [Trio32/64/64V+]
01:05.0 SCSI storage controller: Adaptec AHA-2940U/UW/D / AIC-7881U (rev 01)
01:06.0 Communication Controller: Conexant: Unknown device 2f20
01:09.0 Eternet controller: Broadcom Corperation BCM4401 100Base-T (rev 01)

How do I navigate to the directory?

OK, so your display adapter is at 0:2:0. cd changes directory - see the commands in th previous post.

OK. I think I got the navigation part down (at least to the directory you specified). I typed in cd /var/log, then ls, and got a list of files with one named XFree86.0.log. I typed in vi XFree86.0.log and got the message I had gotten before with more detail. What it says is this:

XFree86 Version 4.3.0 (Fedora Core 1: 4.3.0-42)
Release Date: 15 August 2003
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 6.6
Build Operating System: Linux 2.4.21-2 ELsmp i686 [ELF]
Build Date: 24 October 2003
Build Host: porky.devel.redhat.com

Before reporting any problems, please make sure that you are using the most recent XFree86 packages available from Red Hat by checking for updates at http://rhn.redhat.com/errata or by using the Red Hat Network up2date tool. If you still encounter problems, please file bug reports in the XFree86.org bugzilla at http://bugs.xfree86.org and/or Red Hat bugzilla at http://bugzilla.redhat.com.

Module Loader present
OS Kernel: Linux version 2.4.22-1.2115.ntpl (bhcompile@daffy.perf.redhat.com) (gcc version 3.2.3 20030422 (Red Hat Linux 3.2.3-6)) #1 Wed Oct 29 15:42:51 EST 2003

Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting, (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational, (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.

(==) Log file: "/var/log/XFree86Config"
(==) ServerLayout "Default Layout"
(**) |-->Screen "Screen0" (0)
(**) | |-->Monitor "Monitor0"
(**) | |-->Device Videocard0"
(**) |-->Input Device "Mouse0"
(**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard0"
(**) Option XkbRules" "xfree86"
(**) XKB: rules: "xfree86"
(**) Option "XkbLayout" "us"
(**) XKB: layout: "us"
(==) CustomKeycode disabled
(**) |--> Input Device "DevImputMice"
(**) FontPath set to "unix/:7100"
(**) RgbPath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
(==) ModulePath set to "/usr/X11R6?lib/modules"
(++) using VT number 7

(II) Open APM successful
(II) Module ABI versions:
XFree86 ANSI C Emulation: 0.2
XFree86 Video Driver: 0.6
XFree86 XInput driver: 0.4
XFree86 Server Extension: 0.2
XFree86 Font Renderer: 0.4
(II) Loader running on linux
(II) LoadModule: "bitmap"
(II) Loading /usrX11R6/lib/modules/fonts/libbitmap.a
(II) Module bitmap: vendor="The XFee86 Project"
compiled for 4.3.0, module version =1.0.0
Module class: XFree86 Font Renderer
ABI class: XFree86 Font Renderer, version 0.4
(II) Loading font Bitmap
(II) LoadModule: "pcidata"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libpcidata.a
(II) Module pcidata: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.3.0, module version =1.0.0
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.6
(II) PCI: Probing config type using method 1
(II) PCI: Config type is 1
(II) PCI: stages = 0x03, oldVal1 = 0x00000000, mode1Res1 = 0x80000000
(II) PCI: PCI scan (all values are in hex)

After this there is a bunch of lines for the PCI that are in hex. I will skip these.
The next line that seems of interest is:
(!!) More than one primary device found
(--) PCI: (0:2:0) Intel Corp 82845G/GL [Brookdale-G] Chipset Integrated Graphics
Device rev 1, Mem @ 0xe8000000/27, 0xfeb80000/19
(--) PCI: (1:4:0) S3 Inc. 86c764/765 {Trio32/64/64V+] rev 0, Mem @ 0xfe000000/23,
bios @ 0xfea00000/16
There is more of the same for quite a way.
Then farther down the list the computer reports something like...
(II) Inactive PCI resources ranges after removing overlaps:
[0] -1 0 0xfeb80000 - 0xfebfffff (0x80000) MX[B](B)
[1] -1 0 0xe8000000 - 0xefffffff (0x800000) MX[B](B)
and then more of much the same.

The end shows some different stuff but ends with

(II) I810: Driver for intel integrated chipsets: i810, i810-dc100,
i810e, i815, i830M, 845G, 852GM, 865G
(II) Primary Device is:
(WW) I810: No matching Device section for instance (BusID PCI:0:2:0) found
(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal Server error:
no screens found

If you encounter a server crash, please report the problem by ....

At this point I am VERY TIRED of typing this stuff in. From what I can get there is a problem loading the graphics card or the monitor but I am NO expert at all with this. I still have NO IDEA what to do at this point. Please help.

How on Earth do I get out of VIM? I can't seem to exit this program.

:q[uit] Quit Vim. This fails when changes have been made.
:q[uit]! Quit without writing.
:cq[uit] Quit always, without writing.
:wq Write the current file and exit.
:wq! Write the current file and exit always.
:wq {file} Write to {file}. Exit if not editing the last
:wq! {file} Write to {file} and exit always.
:[range]wq[!] [file] Same as above, but only write the lines in [range].
ZZ Write current file, if modified, and exit.
ZQ Quit current file and exit (same as ":q!").

http://www.fprintf.net/vimCheatSheet.html

Thanks! What Vim used for? Is it some kind of editor?

yeah, amongst other things.

From Wikipedia
Vim, which stands for Vi IMproved, is an open-source, multiplatform text editor extended from vi. It was first released by Bram Moolenaar in 1991. Since then Vim has added a myriad of features, many of which are helpful in editing program source code. Vim is today one of the two most popular editors for programmers and users of Unix-like operating systems, alongside Emacs.[1]

Thanks! Can I use this Vim program to edit a file to allow my PC to recognize my replacement video card instead of using my damaged card on the board? I am not sure that this is the problem but for some reason I cannot start the X server and this seems like a logical place to start.

I have been experimenting with this beast and have gotten it to post different failure messages. The latest one tells me that a module failed to load after i redefined my video card. Where do I find these modules? If I can find the correct name for my video card's module, I might actually get this thing to work!