Switching to Slackware and problems

toasty_ghosty · 08-28-2007, 09:59 PM

Hello,
I've been using Ubuntu for quite sometime. But I want something new, and something a tad more exciting. I found Slackware and I believe it may be the answer! But I have one problem, I am at college and I only have my x1900xt video card. But when I was installing Ubuntu this caused issues for me as it didn't support x1900 cards, so I got a blank screen. So I would use my older (and supported) card until I installed the proper drivers. If I install Slackware will their be any issues for me to address if I use my x1900 card, or should I wait until I can get my x850.

By the way, my motherboard doesn't include a native monitor output as some DFI boards don't. So that is not an option.

plumbum · 08-29-2007, 02:55 AM

You can install Slackware - the setup is totally text mode.
Then you try to setup X server. The command is 'X -configure'.
It will generate file xorg.conf for you. You can look into it
what driver is included. I've tried newer Kubuntu. After 1 week
I killed it and returned to Slackware.

Good luck

Alien Bob · 08-29-2007, 03:46 AM

As plumbum said, the install is completely text based, X is not started, so you should have no problems there.

Slackware installs a default /etc/X11/xorg.conf file which uses the VESA driver. While this driver does not offer hardware acceleration, it will work on a wide range of video adapters, so the chances are high that you can just logon, type "startx" and be greeted by the KDE or XFCE window manager.
When that works, you can always use the script "xorgconfig" to interactively create a better xorg.conf file or let X find out it's own optimal configuration by running "X -configure" and if that leads to a working X display, use the xorg.conf file which the "X -configure" command generated for you.

Eric

perry · 08-29-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alien Bob

As plumbum said, the install is completely text based, X is not started, so you should have no problems there.

Slackware installs a default /etc/X11/xorg.conf file which uses the VESA driver. While this driver does not offer hardware acceleration, it will work on a wide range of video adapters, so the chances are high that you can just logon, type "startx" and be greeted by the KDE or XFCE window manager.
When that works, you can always use the script "xorgconfig" to interactively create a better xorg.conf file or let X find out it's own optimal configuration by running "X -configure" and if that leads to a working X display, use the xorg.conf file which the "X -configure" command generated for you.

Eric

"What he said"

- perry

toasty_ghosty · 08-29-2007, 12:05 PM

Thank you. I was worried that I may have issues with that but it seems like I should not. The one nice thing about still being at college is the unbelievable download speed. Think 19000 mb/s....

hulk321 · 08-29-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toasty_ghosty

The one nice thing about still being at college is the unbelievable download speed. Think 19000 mb/s....

19000MB/Second is it really possible

onebuck · 08-29-2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulk321

19000MB/Second is it really possible

Hi,

Note the 'mb/second' not 'MB/second'.

edit:

mb -> mega bit
MB -> mega Byte