can't see virtual consoles from/after X session
 

Hello all:

After I start an X session (with 'startx') I can switch to a virtual console (with 'ctrl-alt-F-whatever'), but all I get is a blank monitor.

The console is there and I can use it, but I can't see anything, so I have to type "blind."

This also happens after I log out of whatever window manager/desktop environment I'm using (KDE, fluxbox, etc.). At this point, I can type 'startx' (again), or 'shutdown -r now', or whatever, and it works, so I know the VC is there. I just can't see anything.

What can I do to fix this? Sorry if this is a FAQ. I'm sure I've seen something like this mentioned before, but I've tried Google etc. and can't find anything.

Any help would be much appreciated.

It's probably a graphic card driver issue. If you have conflicting X driver with the console one it may be this one. Which graphic card do you have?

My graphics card is a Pine (SiS 315 chipset, xorg "sis" driver).

I monkeyed around with the devices & screens sections of xorg.conf.
If I use the generic "vga" driver, the problem goes away. But that only allows a display depth of 8.
The "sis" driver also works when display depth is 8. But for 16 or 24 ... no joy.

I've looked over the sis man page, but can't find anything useful.

Any ideas?