LinuxQuestions.org
Review your favorite Linux distribution.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Mandriva
User Name
Password
Mandriva This Forum is for the discussion of Mandriva (Mandrake) Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 05-05-2004, 01:42 PM   #1
dutch1918
Member
 
Registered: May 2004
Location: Big Sky Country
Distribution: Suse 9.3
Posts: 34

Rep: Reputation: 15
Blank screen after installing Mandrake 10.0 Official


I installed Mandrake 10.0 Official Powerpack on a Dell Inspiron 7500 laptop that uses the ATI Rage Mobile chip. Mandrake can see it and installs using KDE. However, when the install is finished and the puter re-boots I get a blank screen. I tried installing using Gnome however, I could not get a complete install. Can anyone help or suggest what I should do.
 
Old 05-05-2004, 04:07 PM   #2
Swampy
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Dover, Kent
Distribution: Debian 6.0.1 (Squeeze)
Posts: 133

Rep: Reputation: 15
Just to clarify, when you boot the computer, do you see either a LILO or GRUB menu?

Even without Windows installed, you should still see something like Linux, Failsafe, Floppy etc.

On the summary screen near the end of the install process, just check that you have a configured bootloader. Make sure it's installed in the MBR.

If LILO doesn't work, perhaps try GRUB instead, see if that makes a difference.

Even if your graphics card isn't correct and you get into a text boot, you should still see some boot messages.

When you select Linux at the Boot prompt, do you see any boot messages at all?
Press Esc to show the Boot messages in text mode.

Please post your Boot messages, perhaps there's a certain service that's preventing Linux from booting?
 
Old 05-05-2004, 04:35 PM   #3
dutch1918
Member
 
Registered: May 2004
Location: Big Sky Country
Distribution: Suse 9.3
Posts: 34

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
Quote:
Originally posted by Swampy
Just to clarify, when you boot the computer, do you see either a LILO or GRUB menu?

Even without Windows installed, you should still see something like Linux, Failsafe, Floppy etc.

On the summary screen near the end of the install process, just check that you have a configured bootloader. Make sure it's installed in the MBR.

If LILO doesn't work, perhaps try GRUB instead, see if that makes a difference.

Even if your graphics card isn't correct and you get into a text boot, you should still see some boot messages.

When you select Linux at the Boot prompt, do you see any boot messages at all?
Press Esc to show the Boot messages in text mode.

Please post your Boot messages, perhaps there's a certain service that's preventing Linux from booting?
Yes I see the Lilo menu ie Linux/263-7/2425-2/failsafe/floppy and then it goes through text line of loading until at some point it ends and I get a blank screen. I am new to Linux so I don't know how to get those messages off the laptop. I do know how to log into root and when I goto [root@localhost drakz] I can see the following files:

ddebug.log
README
auto_inst.cfg.pl
install.log
replay_install.img
report.bug.gz

But again I don't now how to get those files off the laptop. Where can I go to learn how?
 
Old 05-05-2004, 04:50 PM   #4
Swampy
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Dover, Kent
Distribution: Debian 6.0.1 (Squeeze)
Posts: 133

Rep: Reputation: 15
How are you logging into root? Do you get to a text-based console or is this through another computer?

What I was thinking was that there may be a message during the boot process that indicates a failure somewhere, or at least something other than OK.

you can usually view files using vi.

vi README
or vi install.log

If you try to open any file that isn't text, you'll just see garbage. Type :q! to quit out of Vi.

Just a thing, when you see this blank screen, if you press Ctrl+Alt+F1, do you get a Text-based Login prompt?
 
Old 05-05-2004, 04:53 PM   #5
dutch1918
Member
 
Registered: May 2004
Location: Big Sky Country
Distribution: Suse 9.3
Posts: 34

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
Quote:
Originally posted by Swampy
How are you logging into root? Do you get to a text-based console or is this through another computer?

Just a thing, when you see this blank screen, if you press Ctrl+Alt+F1, do you get a Text-based Login prompt?
Thats how I get to the root by using Ctrl+Alt+F1
 
Old 05-05-2004, 05:07 PM   #6
Swampy
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Dover, Kent
Distribution: Debian 6.0.1 (Squeeze)
Posts: 133

Rep: Reputation: 15
Oh, that's allright then. Linux is happily installed on your system, you've just got a screwed up X server for your Graphical environment.

At the console prompt, and as a reguler user, type

startx

Do you get any errors?

Do you know the specifics of your graphics i.e. Type of graphics card, refresh rates of the monitor (not sure if that applies to LCD screens, probably wrong about that)

If your graphical environment isn't starting try running the following command as root:
xf86config

Follow the instructions on screen and answer the questions. If you make a mistake you will have to hit Crtl+C to quit and start again, but there's no limit to the amount of times you can run through this.

You will end up with a newly written configuration file. Type the following commands as root:

mv /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /etc/X11/XF86Config.old
(move any existing config file to a backup name, just in case)

cp /etc/X11/XF86Config /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
(xf86config names the configuration file 'XF86Config' by default. As of Xfree86 4.x the first place X looks for it's config is a file called 'XF86Config-4', so we copy the file.)

Log back into your regular user and hit startx again. Any difference? Any error messages?
Try posting what you see. It may give peolpe browsing thsi forum a clue as to the problem.

By the way, have you checked if someone's had the same problems as you at Tuxmobil?

www.tuxmobil.org lists a large number of laptops, yours may be listed.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Blank screen after installing Slack 10? BajaNick Slackware 3 01-09-2005 04:07 AM
Screen went blank while installing RedHat 9 simke Linux - Newbie 8 11-03-2004 06:34 PM
X gives me a blank screen in Mandrake 10 official smiler Linux - Newbie 5 08-27-2004 12:28 PM
Blank screen when installing Mandrake on Toshiba Laptop schemer1 Linux - Newbie 3 02-05-2004 04:57 AM
Blank Screen after installing Kernel 2.6 sminons Linux - Software 2 11-26-2003 11:05 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Mandriva

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:02 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration