Running startx with radeon hd5870 just puts monitor to sleep
 

I decided to leave Ubuntu and go to Slackware to hopefully learn more about linux. I have installed Slackware but am unable to start a gui. I can hear the sound of kde starting up but there is no signal to my monitor. I suspect it is something to do with my video card (an ati radeon hd5870) not being configured properly. I am very new to this and don't even know where to start. If there are some commands I can run to better assist you in helping me please let me know.

Thanks

Hi, the monitor maybe under or over scanning.

You may have some chance using the xorg shortcut keys.
to change the monitor frequency sent by the graphics card.
Ctrl + (num-pad) (num lock on!)
and Ctrl - (also on the number pad)

I hope this helps, Glenn

Thanks for the reply. I have tried your solution, but still no luck. I remember that in Ubuntu I would need to change the overscan options through catalyst control center or the entire monitor wouldn't be used. But, even with incorrect overscan settings I would still at least get a signal to the monitor. Is there possibly a way to install the proprietary ATI drivers without using a GUI?

Possibly, cd to the dir where the ati/amd .run package is located.

type, sh name-of-ati-driver.run --help

With the nVidia package I can use --ui=none, maybe ati has the option too.

Glenn