X: Unable to open display '' (two single quotes)
 

Hi there everyone. I'm experimenting with old linux Distributions again, and while trying to start an x server, I get the following error message:

X: unable to open display ''

That makes me think that the config file is incomplete, but I would have no idea how to make it. If there is an auto configuration utility that I do not know about for X, it would be great to hear about. Here are some other specifications that might help:

*Host: VMWare Workstation on Windows XP Home
*Distribution: Debian 2.2 (potato) (Yes, I know it's old.)
*Connection: Local. I've heard of people having difficulties like this on remote connections, but I am on the physical computer.

If anyone can help, your assistance would be appreciated.

~TGP1994

VMWare should have a video driver available. How did you install Debian on the appliance?
VM states are in essence "networked" and can be considered as external addresses. Your host is acting as a router. Anyway, the connection doesn't matter for this.

Been awhile. xorg.conf should have the full path.

No such package. I think this was the time before xorg, are you sure it's not something else?

Did you try: xserver-xfree86? (IIRC the switch to xorg was made after sarge was released).

Evo2.

No such package, either.

Well, actually, I just found an XF86 config program installed, but now when I startx, I get this:

X: exec of /usr/bin/X11/XF86_SVGA failed

I'm not surprised, since there is no such XF86_SVGA :S

Nevermind, I finally got it working :) All I had to do was apt-get install task-gnome-desktop. Thanks everyone for their help!

EDIT:
After it started up, my mouse was not working. The solution is to edit the protocol and device in /etc/X11/Xf86conf. The protocol is PS/2, and the device is /dev/psaux. This was for VMWare, by the way.

Ok, I've got another problem. I can't set the resolution above 640x800 or whatever that standard one is below 800x600. I'm not quite sure how I should set it in the settings file, so can anyone tell me how to set it to 1024x768, preferably in the millions of colors mode?

Bah, nevermind, I just deleted it and went for debian Woody :) I have much higher hopes for it.