When I boot up slackware 9.0, I get that little penguin at the top left corner of the screen. I get this whether I have vga=normal or vga=7nn in lilo.conf. (don't know if or why that matters) When that penguin is there, the top 5 or 6 lines of my display are not usable, even after doing a Ctrl-L to clear the screen. If I do a 'less /etc/lilo.conf', and hit the Home and End keys several times, the file disappears off into that missing five or 6 lines of twighlight zone space such that I have to quit out of less and start again.

How I do boot up without that penguin and with access to the top 5 or 6 lines of my display?

Here's my lilo.conf, if it's needed for this:

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/hda
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 1200
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
reset
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
#vga = 773
# Normal VGA console
vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda3
label = Linux
read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends

Except for testing different vga= lines, I have not modified this file. It's just the way it was after install.

Thanks...

set vga to vga=0x030C (132x50 lines, you won't get a chance to see the penguin)

if you still do, looks like you need to recompile the kernel with logo set to OFF

Ok, I tried the vga=0x030C and I didn't see any difference in the screen. The penguin is still there. The top few lines are unusable.

I tried using most of the vga= entries in lilo.conf, and I didn't see any difference in the screen for any of them??

I am not yet to the point where I can recompile a kernel. So, I guess I can just live with the goofy screen problem caused by the penguin logo for now.

thanks...

edit: I reckon that lilo.conf is the wrong place to be looking for this issue anyway. Or, there's something that has to happen before lilo.conf, possibly related to 'framebuffer'. And, I assume that is a kernel recompile issue.

yes, framebuffer it is. sorry man, i use grub not lilo, so i guess the vga variable does not apply for lilo.conf =\

This may sound trivial but... Did you execute /sbin/lilo after your changes?

After you change lilo you have to run /sbin/lilo for changes to take effect.

Well, I rebooted after each change. That accomplishes the same thing, right?

Or do I have to specifically run /sbin/lilo?

thanks...

No.

Changes to lilo aren't applied until you run /sbin/lilo

fancypiper is right.
once finished you have to set the changes by running lilo
lilo -v or just lilo i believe

Ok, I see.

I have to make the change in lilo.conf.
Then run /sbin/lilo.
Then reboot.

I was able to change to vga=normal and got rid of the penguin and reclaimed the top few lines of the display. However, I prefer the 1024x768xnn settings which gives me more lines to view. I would just like it without the penguin, because that still hoses up the top few lines of the display.

Maybe somebody else, who isn't an uptime freak could test this out. Set lilo.conf to vga=773, or 791, or whatever. Run /sbin/lilo, Reboot. Watch all the text scroll up under the penguin, which takes away the top few lines of the monitor. Then do a 'less /etc/lilo.conf'. Hit End and Home a few times. And watch the text eventually disappear under the penguin. Do a Cntrl-L and then do the less thing again. And watch the text eventually disappear under the penguin. And do some other stuff and watch the top few lines be hosed up, such as doing an 'ls -la'. The top few lines stay hosed up.

Thanks if you have the time.

regards...

Uh..
And getting back to kazuni's comment. This probably requires a recompile with logo set to OFF, possibly.

I just don't understand what's so 'cute' about the penguin when it hoses up the top of the screen.

I don't think it screws around with mine or I have never noticed.

http://linux.tucows.com/preview/162516.html

a patch to get rid of the penguin, LOL :P