Sax Question

pbeckler · 09-03-2005, 08:00 AM

I was given this advice before:
If you are stuck at the command line just tipe "sax2" as root and suse will try to set it up for you, if it cant then just choose "LCD" "1280x1024" and "60" and test then "70" and "75" , if it fails just start again and tipe "sax2" (you might have to tipe "init 3" and log in as root first).

I logged in as root, changed to init 3, ran sax2, but I couldn't see anywhere to specify the other parts, like LCD, the resolution or refresh rate. How do I do it?

berbae · 09-04-2005, 03:55 AM

sax2 runs essentially with the graphical interface.
when it's said
just choose "LCD" "1280x1024" and "60" and test then "70" and "75"

I think it's with the graphical interface in runlevel 5

It's true there is a command line sax2 in runlevel 3 but try before to fix the issue in runlevel 5 in graphical mode
it may be sufficient.

pbeckler · 09-05-2005, 08:22 AM

I tried to run it in runlevel 5, but it said that it only ran in runlevel 3. The same computer runs fine (and always has) with Mandrake 9.x to 10.2 so I can't see why Suse would be having so much trouble. Fedora won't run either. I don't even get a command line with FC4, it just goes blank when I do the first reboot.

abisko00 · 09-05-2005, 08:30 AM

Runlevel 3 is correct. You can also run sax2 as YaST module (called "Graphics Card and Monitor") in runlevel 5, but this is the safer way to do it.

You will find different combinations of all three settings (LCD/resolution/frequency) in the monitor setup section.

berbae · 09-05-2005, 08:45 AM

If you use KDE under SuSE, you can start sax2 in graphical mode in
K menu/System/Configuration/SaX2

Also you can try 'sux sax2' in a console while staying in runlevel 5

Read 'man sax2' for other options which can be useful for you.

pbeckler · 09-05-2005, 08:45 AM

How can I run YaST at the command line? I can't get a GUI. Or do I have to do it during setup?

abisko00 · 09-05-2005, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pbeckler
How can I run YaST at the command line? I can't get a GUI. Or do I have to do it during setup?

Type 'sax2' on command-line. Be root!

pbeckler · 09-05-2005, 09:15 AM

I did that, but it fails every time.

berbae · 09-05-2005, 09:29 AM

I just read in the Novell Discussion forum :

Quote:

madatnico@hotmail.com adjusted his/her tinfoil beanie to post:

> I have tried several times to get Suse 9.3 working on my computer with
> no success. As soon as the bootup concludes and the GUI should appear
> the screen goes black. As far as I can tell it seems to be some
> trouble with the recognition of my video card or monitor. I had an
> ancient Voodoo 4500 in there, no go. I swapped in a Radeon 7000 same
> trouble. I tried to get SaX2 running to play with the configuration
> but even when I get it started from run level three the screen again
> goes black. The funny thing is i am typing this post on the same
> machine that is running off a Suse 9.2 live CD! this is really
> irritating, anybody have any other things I can try before I just give
> up and throw windows on it again?

What monitor?

If it is a flat screen then try starting sax with "-l -r":

sax -l -r

this will start sax in "L"owres 640x480@60hz and reprobe the hardware
and re-initialise the db, choose the lcd monitor with 60Hz refresh,
flat screens do not need any other refresh and will not show a screen
if the frequency is out of range, hence your black screen.

The voodoo should work fine I have a couple of machines here with those
cards.

HTH
--
Mark
Twixt hill and high water
N. Wales, UK
Novell Support Forums SysOp

May be you can adapt that to your case.

abisko00 · 09-05-2005, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pbeckler
I did that, but it fails every time.

How? What is the error message?
The following should work:

login: root
******
linux:~ >init 3
linux:~ >sax2
Do the configuration
linux:~ >init 5

Belwarrior · 09-05-2005, 09:34 AM

erm... i distinctly remember sax2 and yast have command line versions in SuSE for a long time.. and sometimes i prefer them to the GUI versions

pbeckler · 09-05-2005, 09:49 AM

I will try the sax -l -r and see what happens. I assume that the command line for yast is "yast". Thanks for the help.

berbae · 09-05-2005, 11:10 AM

It's rather

sax2 -l -r

yast2

(with the number '2')

pbeckler · 09-06-2005, 10:09 PM

I've tried everything. I reinstalled and was able to play around with the monitor settings, but nothing I tried would work. I set it to 60hz, but every time it would fail. It keeps saying that the screen was present but none of the modes would work.