i do the whole xf86config thing.. and once im done and save it i type startx... the screen goes black then comes back with an error message in whichi noted most importantly saying:

(==) Using config file: "/root/XF86Config"

(EE)VGA(0): Virtual Height (0) is too small for the hardware (min 1)
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.

Fatal Server Error:
no screens found



I'veran xf86config numerous times trying all kinds of different configurations from the least demanding settings to what would be correct and have no idea where to go from here.. luckily im on a laptop with xp on it so =p

anyone able to help? preferably on aim: synds9
thanks!

Try this?

http://linuxquestions.org/questions/history/163323

HUH? most distro's puts this file in....../etc/X11

why is it in root???

is it absolutely necessary to update the drivers before i run xf86config . i would assume it should work with the generic ones provided.

no idea bro.. im a noob

I think when you run XF86Setup it moves a copy of the new XF86Config to the root folder where you can test it.

Dachy,

Here is a good site to provide support with Linux on laptops: http://www.linux-laptop.net/

I am going to guess here (I've never installed Slack on a laptop) you need to specify your monitor's horizontal and vertical frequencies in the XF86Config file. That would be the first thing I would do.

Question: What chipset is your video card?

Slappy

i didnt mean the laptop had linux on it.. i just meant it was a back up computer that has windows on it that allows me to actually get to this site for help.. well the card is a geforce 5600 256mb i tried the whole superprobe thing and it doesn't even work. i did specify the settings but it just isn't doing it.. any other ideas guys?

okay, so i've finally got startx working for me. i went through xconfig, set my monitor syncs manually, and wrote it to the directory that it was running xf86 from. /root/XF86Config and now it works. but when i go on my user account Dachy, the mouse doesnt work properly.. it goes up into the top left screen and if i move it it springs right back to there. i had the same problem when i first logged on with root and changed the config to Auto for the mouse from Microsoft.. (logitech optical) and it only works in root.. i dont know where to go from here now.. any help?

Dachy,

You really need to move that XF86Config out of the /root directory. Aside from being insecure, it is just good practice to keep the file in /etc/X11/. One reason the mouse only works for root is may be due to permission issues. The /root directory will allow only access to the root user or an Super User (SU) account. Does your Dachy account have SU privilege? Give it SU and try the mouse again as an experiment to see if it works.

Do you have a USB mouse or PS2?

Can you post your XF86Config file?

Here's the mouse section mine. Compare the two:
***Note*** ----> I have a Logitech MX 700 7 button mouse, so the "Buttons" option will be different.

~~~~~~~~START CONFIG FILE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
# Identifier and driver

Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Buttons" "7"

# On platforms where PnP mouse detection is supported the following
# protocol setting can be used when using a newer PnP mouse:

# Option "Protocol" "Auto"

# The available mouse protocols types that you can set below are:
# Auto BusMouse GlidePoint GlidePointPS/2 IntelliMouse IMPS/2
# Logitech Microsoft MMHitTab MMSeries Mouseman MouseManPlusPS/2
# MouseSystems NetMousePS/2 NetScrollPS/2 OSMouse PS/2 SysMouse
# ThinkingMouse ThinkingMousePS/2 Xqueue
# Option "Protocol" "PS/2"


# The mouse device. The device is normally set to /dev/mouse,
# which is usually a symbolic link to the real device.

Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
# Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
# Option "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
# Option "Device" "/dev/ttyS1"

# When using XQUEUE, comment out the above two lines, and uncomment
# the following line.

# Option "Protocol" "Xqueue"

# Baudrate and SampleRate are only for some Logitech mice. In
# almost every case these lines should be omitted.

# Option "BaudRate" "9600"
# Option "SampleRate" "150"

# Emulate3Buttons is an option for 2-button Microsoft mice
# Emulate3Timeout is the timeout in milliseconds (default is 50ms)

~~~~~~END CONFIG FILE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Slappy

how do i move it from there, and make sure it uses that file while it's in etc/x11/ ? i still havent learned the basic commands by heart

if your file at the moment is
/root/XF86Config
then you should issue this command as root:
"cp /root/XF86Config /etc/X11/XF86Config", without quotes of course
then when you "startx" the next time, it should work (as "/etc/X11/XF86Config" is the standard)
I suggest you learn those basic commands...I had quite a hard time to when I first had to work on linux....because win teaches you nothing, even makes you dumber at times.....
maybe you should go to http://www.slackware.com, and read the docs you find there. And you can use man <command> to get detailed info about the command you wanna use.
Well, ummm, I myself have some problems right now, but good luck, and have fun