Redhat 9 install/upgrade problem: XFree gives a black screen

michel v · 04-26-2003, 06:36 AM

hi,

I tried to do a clean install of RH9 this morning. When letting it start in graphical mode, I get a black screen. When letting it proceed in text mode, I can install everything just fine but I get a black screen when XFree 4.3 is supposed to start.
Then I tried an upgrade from RH8 (which works just fine), and encountered the same problem.

My video card is a Riva TNT2 with 64MB memory (it usually gets recognised as 32MB by all hardware probes, though it really has 64MB).

Anyone had the same problem? How did you fix it?

jt1020 · 04-26-2003, 08:02 AM

maybe because your video card is not supported by linux or you must download drivers so that linux can use your video card.

michel v · 04-26-2003, 08:39 AM

RH 8 works just fine with that video card, thanks.
I guess I should try installing RedHat 8, then the nVidia drivers, then upgrade to RH 9...

michel v · 04-26-2003, 11:58 AM

Follow-up: I just tried to install Mandrake 9.1, and I got the same problem: XFree86 starts, but with a black screen and there's nothing I can do then.
So it's likely an issue with XFree86 4.3...

michel v · 04-26-2003, 07:53 PM

OK, I dealt with the problem.

Here's the problem: XFree 4.3's driver 'nv' has issues with Riva TNT2 cards (at least those).
Solution: get into command line and install nVidia's latest driver, then edit the XF86Config files as explained in the nVidia install process.
Second problem: Redhat doesn't give you the choice to boot into command line.

Solution: I ended up installing Mandrake 9.1. :P