ATI Ain in Wonder 8500DV LINUX LIVE boot issues (and TV issues)
 

ATI All In Wonder (title typo and cant edit now)I am curious, when I boot Knoppix LIVE 5.3.1 on my pc (Compaq EvoD500 1.7 w/Ati All in Wonder 8500DV)the only way I have got it to boot is in failsafe, or by specifically booting fb1280x1024 If I just boot it at the prompt then at a certain point it just freezes after going blank (just after the Starting the X Window System. I don't know why, as other live DVD's and CD's will boot fine, and this DVD boots fine on other PCs. It does go through set up and I see that it specifically sees this ATI card in set up. I have noticed in the past that Mint Live (casper)did the same thing.. I mean that at one point it just did nothing, just a blank screen, and yet if I reboot 1 in 4 times it will boot after that blank screen a cursor comes up then the mouse and the program finally initializes. Strange

Also is there anyway to use the TV when using the live DVD? Or can I only have use of the TV card on a hard drive install? As a newbie I have no idea how or why none of the TV options do anything on the live CDs and DVDs because after I click on them something happens and then the application in the bar just disappears.

Any suggestions please write as though you are trying to teach your grandmother. I mean that we all had to learn somewhere and often I find replies that take for granted what you know is common knowledge. I do have many years in Windows applications but these are my first stabs at Linux and really am lost in the jungle of possibilities and all the jargon of Linux loses me fast. I am sure for the Linux veteran he could tell me exactly what the problem is and see what is happening but I dont have a clue how to go about it. Just as this Knoppix has all these capabilities to troubleshoot, claiming also it can troubleshoot a Windows system that is down but gives no direction where to start and I have no idea what to use or how to go about it. I am sure like HAKIN9 it has some great tools but if you don't know what tool you are even looking for it is useless.

Thanks

It has been a long time since you posted your question, so I am wondering if you were able to resolve your issue. I installed Ubuntu on to my HP with the ATI All in Wonder 8500DV and I pretty much get the same thing. After starting up, I can see the Ubuntu boot logo and progress bar, but then it obviously switches screen mode (you called it X windows) and then my screen goes blank. Not always, but usually. I then hit CNTRL-ALT-DELETE and ALT-S to reboot and try again. On average I need to repeat this process 6 times until the login screen finally appears. Its like a missed handshake. Two drunks stretch out their hands for a handshake and miss, but eventually the two hands meet and everything works.

There must be some kind of command that allows you to try to "connect" a little longer or try again before going to a black screen.

I have been able to see TV in Ubuntu, but it wasn't easy. I never tried watching TV in Knoppix Live CD. In fact, I think I should try a couple of Live CDs and see if this annoying black screen problem I am having is universal or just with Ubuntu. Your message seems to say it may be a common occurrence.