Debian installation problems

clavin42 · 02-09-2006, 06:06 PM

Hi, I am having some trouble installing debian on an old PB that I am trying to get working.

The installation went fine but when the machine begins to start the screen flashes once or twice and then it brings me to a screen that says x-server failed to load.

I am given the choice to view the error but I can not given that everything is locked up.

PLEASE HELP!

Thanks!

pljvaldez · 02-09-2006, 06:11 PM

Try hitting CTRL-ALT-F2 (or F3) to get to another console. From there you can dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 if you're in Sarge or xserver-xorg in Etch/Sid

clavin42 · 02-09-2006, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pljvaldez

Try hitting CTRL-ALT-F2 (or F3) to get to another console. From there you can dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86 if you're in Sarge or xserver-xorg in Etch/Sid

Thank you im trying it out now...

clavin42 · 02-10-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clavin42

Thank you im trying it out now...

Alright, so I did that, but the only thing is that I have no clue what to select. I tried a multitude of different video drivers but still couldnt seem to get lucky enough to solve the problem.

So screw luck, does anyone have any good resources where I can find out how to set up a packard bell multimedia 854 with debian linux correctly?

I know its a video issue, but I guess I just dont understand how to get the onboard video to work.

uteck · 02-10-2006, 11:39 AM

Try the vesa driver, it is the most basic one. If it does not work you may be sol.

pljvaldez · 02-10-2006, 11:40 AM

I think generally the VESA driver is a generic driver that works for most things...

No idea whether anyone else has tried linux on your machine. Try google...

Oh, another idea is to drop a Knoppix Live CD into the machine and see what it picks for a video driver (assuming it works).

clavin42 · 02-10-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uteck

Try the vesa driver, it is the most basic one. If it does not work you may be sol.

Wow will I be bent out of shape if it is SOL. I have worked with this machine for countless hours and it seems like I am so close.

DAMN IT!

Im gonna take the advice and try the vesa, but unfortuantly I believe that was the default value, in which case I ran it twice.

Is it possible to run a server using only command line? I guess I am willing to learn, but damn that sucks.

clavin42 · 02-10-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pljvaldez

I think generally the VESA driver is a generic driver that works for most things...

No idea whether anyone else has tried linux on your machine. Try google...

Oh, another idea is to drop a Knoppix Live CD into the machine and see what it picks for a video driver (assuming it works).

Unfortuantly I dont have a CD burner or a set of working CD's. Thats why debian was such a nice fit, it was very easy to do a net install of it.

Thanks for the advice on the VESA though, I am going to give it a try, but I am sure you read above that I think that it is the default value and I think I already tried it.

I did a google for it, but couldnt find anything relevant. I might be the first to try this box.

pljvaldez · 02-10-2006, 11:49 AM

Yes, it is possible to use a server from CLI only. In fact, that's the way most production servers are run because having x running is a possible security flaw.

Try Knoppix to see if it can sort it out the hardware.

Sorry just read your post... If you can get a friend to burn knoppix, you may have a chance...

pljvaldez · 02-10-2006, 11:56 AM

I found this link:

http://discussions.hardwarecentral.c...p/t-80868.html

which implies that you might have ATI Rage Pro for video (if it is in fact the same machine). So also try the ATI driver or google online for ATI Rage Pro debian (if that works).

You also might open the case and see if you can identify the different chipsets and google by chipsets (the ATI one should say ATI on it...)

clavin42 · 02-10-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pljvaldez

I found this link:

http://discussions.hardwarecentral.c...p/t-80868.html

which implies that you might have ATI Rage Pro for video (if it is in fact the same machine). So also try the ATI driver or google online for ATI Rage Pro debian (if that works).

You also might open the case and see if you can identify the different chipsets and google by chipsets (the ATI one should say ATI on it...)

Great find! Thanks, im gonna give this a shot.

pljvaldez · 02-10-2006, 12:01 PM

Also, I just thought of one other thing that probably isn't ideal, but you could buy a cheap video card that's VESA compatible (or just linux compatible) and disable the onboard video in the bios...

clavin42 · 02-10-2006, 12:55 PM

I finally have an error message!

pljvaldez · 02-10-2006, 12:56 PM

Is that good or bad?

clavin42 · 02-10-2006, 12:59 PM

Good because it isnt locking up right after the gui crashes. Before I couldnt even see what was wrong. I think I had my color depth and video card set up wrong.