OK, sorted now.
Problem is to do with the Intel 82845G graphics card. The issue is to do with Linux not seeing enough onboard videoram to drive at 1024x768x16bit. See
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...003/07/1/69720
First I tried using setting the BIOS (F2 at boot time) to onboard video memory of 8MB. This had no effect.
I then followed the link to the intel page
http://support.intel.com/support/gra...x/graphics.htm
where I took got the tip to use the "vesa" driver instead of the "i810" driver. Works a treat, although there are few spurious command line warnings when starting X. Not sure if the BIOS setting is
So for my machine : Dell 2400, Intel 82845G Graphics Card, E151 15" Flat Panel Analog Monitor, my /etc/X11/XF86Config now has the following entries:
Section "Monitor"
Option "CalcAlgorithm" "CheckDesktopGeometry"
HorizSync 30-61
Identifier "Monitor[0]"
ModelName "1501FP(ANALOG)"
VendorName "DELL"
VertRefresh 56-75
UseModes "Modes[0]"
EndSection
Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[0]"
Modeline "1024x768" 76.49 1024 1040 1216 1400 768 768 777 802
EndSection
Section "Screen"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
Device "Device[0]"
Identifier "Screen[0]"
Monitor "Monitor[0]"
EndSection
Section "Device"
BoardName "i845"
BusID "0:2:0"
# Driver "i810"
Driver "vesa"
Identifier "Device[0]"
VendorName "Intel"
EndSection