X window system

woodland56 · 08-19-2005, 07:32 PM

hi

i am new to linux, but i decided go ahead with linux installtion, i did
network install, so only basic things were installed , then i tried to install x window
by apt-get first and then 'apt-get install x-window-system' but i think while setting up
for my laptop monitor( i have compaq presario R3000) i think, i fucked up, when i
rebooted i just flickering screen. i think i entered wrong parameters for my monitor
which is of course LCD. so i again uninstalled x window by 'apt-get remove x-window-system' and again rebooted, but now while booting it says starting xdm and again there is flickering screen. so pleae help me.

wood

Moloko · 08-19-2005, 07:45 PM

Hit ctrl+alt+F1 and login on the console. Kill X with "/etc/init.d/xdm stop", install x-window-system again, run "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86". It creates a config file in /etc/X11 named XFconfig-4

After the configuration start xdm again and test. You shouldn't remove and reinstall like you did. It's not the right way to solve a problem (it's not Windows).

Dead Parrot · 08-19-2005, 08:00 PM

"apt-get install x-window-system" is about right, provided you don't want X.org. You can use the "su" command to become root, and then do "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86" as many times as you need.

You need to know the driver for your graphics card in Linux, and also the horizontal & vertical refresh values for your monitor. (You can get these from Knoppix, for instance.) If you install the "mdetect" package, then "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86" will let you choose the autoconfiguration option for your mouse.

All the other options are trivial, just press Enter if you don't know the answers.

The graphics card driver is important, and so are the horizontal & vertical refresh values for monitor. Find them out, and you'll be golden.

However, some newer nVidia or ATI cards may need some extra steps. To find out your graphics card, open a terminal window and type "lspci | grep VGA" (without quotes).

woodland56 · 08-19-2005, 08:03 PM

hi

i was reading another post at http://osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2016&page=9
for xfree86 installation, it said that i need to know whether i have a PS/2 mouse, a USB mouse, or a Serial mouse. also i need to know the vertical and horizontal scan frequencies of your monitor. i have compaq presario R3000 laptop. so how do i find out this info. i also have win xp on my laptop, can i boot in there and find about thes things .

wood

Dead Parrot · 08-19-2005, 08:29 PM

Do "su" to become root and then do "apt-get install mdetect". This should give you the mouse autodetection option in "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86". To find out the HorizSync & VertRefresh values for your monitor, do a google search. "presario R3000 xf86config-4"?

Of course, you can just choose the "medium" option instead of "advanced", but you'll get better results if you know the specs for your monitor.

http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/sl...e=395&slide=31

juanjavier_xxx · 08-20-2005, 12:56 AM

As DeadParrot says, it is a good idea just to try dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 as well as mdetect.

I had a similar issue with a tft 17" monitor, and solved it the way he points.

Hope you have luck, woodland56!!

woodland56 · 08-20-2005, 04:58 PM

thanx

i did what u guys said, and i could see the log in screen and starting xdm, but after
i log in i just see the screen and the mouse cursor, what's the problem

Xian · 08-20-2005, 05:17 PM

Have you installed a desktop envrionment? Gnome, KDE or such?

woodland56 · 08-20-2005, 05:34 PM

hi

i just installed wmaker by 'apt-get install wmaker' but it doesnt look cool.
should i uninstall it and install KDE instead

Xian · 08-20-2005, 05:50 PM

That's up to you. Depends on how you want to run your system.
If you are familiar with KDE and like it then go ahead.

# apt-get install kde kdm

I'm assuming you want a GUI login so add on 'kdm' as above.

Or you could install gnome, fluxbox, xfce, or whatever....

woodland56 · 08-20-2005, 05:57 PM

hi
i am newbie, i have installed debian on my laptop, my desktop manager is wmaker.
but i am also installing kde soon. how do i let debian know whether to use wmaker or
kde

wood

Xian · 08-20-2005, 07:14 PM

If you are using a GUI login like KDM or GDM then you should not have to bother with any additional setup. The desktop environments that you install will be listed in the 'Sessions' category of your GUI login. It will only be a matter of selecting what you wish to use from a list that is auto-populated.

Dead Parrot · 08-21-2005, 06:33 AM

Quote:

i just installed wmaker by 'apt-get install wmaker' but it doesnt look cool.

Well, this depends very much on your personal taste. Here are some of my WMaker screenshots, and I know very well that to some people they may look "uncool". But, on the other hand, I personally like the way my own desktop looks and I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

If you don't like WMaker, then use something else. It's really that simple.

http://www.lynucs.org/?&low-tech