I have a computer that I have been trying to install Linux on for quite some time,but I have yet to successfully get x windows to work.
First,let me describe the system and the combinations of hardware and OSs I've tried:
Asus p3v4x mobo(w/Apollo Pro133a and Award bios)
PIII 667 @133fsb
ATI xpert2000 32MB AGP
256MB Crucial pc133 sdram
SB Live!Value
I tried Red Hat 7 and MDK 7.2 with a 15" Proview Monitor and Mandrake 8 and SuSE 7.2 with a 17" IBM P72 monitor.I thought the Proview was the culprit because I couldnt install Win2000 Pro on it either.But I bought this IBM P72 because they're nice monitors and I knew both OSs that I tried previously(with the Proview) supported it.
Well,I got the same results with the IBM.Linux installs okay and I can use the CLI but no X.When I tested X during the SuSE install it just kept coming back to the screen that shows you the info X would use ie.resolution,refresh rate,video chipset and monitor.When I ran SaX from the CLI all I got was a black screen and nothing happened.I had to do a hard shutdown.I restarted to make sure no damage was done and I shut it down properly after that.
Also with the IBM and MDK 8 I just kept getting these "X svga server could not find any screens"
My conclusions so far:
1.I'm pretty sure its not a monitor problem
2.I dont think its the video adapter because I have another comp with identical vid card,ram,sound etc,except the mobo is an Epox 6vba2(same apollo chipset)and the monitor is a 17" CTX.Linux w/X runs great on this one.
3.The only thing I can come up with is maybe some obscure bios setting I dont know about.The comp in question has an Award bios that resembles a Phoenix bios and the other box has a typical-looking Award screen.
I'm sorry about this long post but I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever get X to work on this comp.And the worst part is the only OS I have gotten to work on this thing is Win98-ugh!
I will be greatly in debt to whomever can help me with this mess.
lynch

It's the video card. 100%. Maybe.
the ATI Xpert2000 was manufactured with a few different minor chipset variations, and as a result some versions will get by with the generic rage 128 driver, but some will not get anywhere, unless it's with the really really pants default x driver.

I had thaqt problem, and changed my card. The card is one of the few that's offically NOT for linux... sorry.

Thanks for such a quick reply, acid_kewpie.Im gonna try an xpert98 card next to see how that goes.I just installed one of those cards in another linux box I have running MDK 7.1.It had one of those pesky Voodoo Banshee AGP cards in it.It works well now.
As for the comp I posted about,it is my test box equipped with a removable hdd rack,so I dont make any dual-boot messes.
Once again,thanks.
lynch

Thanks ,acid_kewpie.Swapped vid cards and SuSE is running like a champ! Is there any docs about this Xpert2k issue?Would like to know more about it.Thanks again.
lynch

I generally found out enough abuot it searching google and deja-groups with "rage 128 SM" i think. SM is the chipset variation that's not supported, i think. I found a few ways that people claimed tehy could make it work, but seeing as i still had the reciept for the card, i wasn't about to start forcing drviers and so forth...