how do I turn screen blanking off
 

what start up files do I edit to turn it off
it blanks the screen in X and the CLI
once the screen goes black it needs a reboot to get it back on

this is a laptop
I don't know if the back light is off
or
if the screen is blacked out

Add this to the relevant stanza of your /etc/lilo.conf:
Source /usr/src/linux/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt:

thank you
a fix is a fix even an ugly fix is a fix

for console only there is a section in /etc/rc.d/rc.M file:


# Screen blanks after 15 minutes idle time, and powers down in one hour
# if the kernel supports APM or ACPI power management:
/bin/setterm -blank 15 -powersave powerdown -powerdown 60

This is what I run when I really don't want my screen blanking for a while.

xset -dmps; xset s off

I tried all methods listed. None worked. I use blackbox window manager.
The only time my screen doesn't blank is when I'm using vlc to watch videos.

Anymore ideas. It's really irritating at times.

Thanks.

After trying all the above and more to turn the screensaver off I saw a topic somewhere (Been searching about this so much I don't remember where) which said to put this in your xorg.conf right after the Module section. This finally did the trick.

Section "Module"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "blank time" "0"
Option "standby time" "0"
Option "suspend time" "0"
Option "off time" "0"
EndSection

I finally got blanking turned off. I had to create an xorg.conf file by running Xorg -configure.
Adding the "ServerFlags" did the trick.
Thanks

WOW!
this looks like a common problem

You can also make sure that xscreensaver is installed and running. You can then go into xscreensaver's settings and disable the screensaver. The screen shouldn't blank after that. I'm using fluxbox and haven't had a problem with my screen shutting off.