Help! I'm stuck in bad video mode and can't change it!
 

I just installed RH 7.3 Valhalla on a POS P5 60 overclocked to 66mhz.

I only want to end up using it as a firewall for my DSL.

In the meantime, I somehow got it into a video mode that I don't like, it shifts the picture way over to the side and looks crappy.
I THINK it's in 1024x768 but can't tell.

I WANT it to be in 800x600. I had it doing that the other day and it looked good. I F**Ked up the install several times and the only way I know to change ANYTHING is to reformat and reload from ground zero which takes hours.

No matter how hard I try I can not get out of the Gnome graphics mode which it boots into. I can not get Xconfigurator to run (from the run command in Gnome) I can not find any way or means to change the display options in any menus anywhere in Gnome.

I have no idea what I am doing but I want to learn. This POS box is SO sloooooooooooooow that it's hard to get anywhere, it takes several minutes after clicking on something before getting a response.

No matter what I do when the system is booting I can not get it to stop booting into graphics mode.

Now, for some reason, Gnome has lost the task(?) bar across the bottom of the screen, I get a blank screen with three icons in the upper right hand corner.

Should I just reformat AGAIN, shoot it with a 12guage pump, or wait for a guru to bail me out?? :cry:

Thanks!!

OK, first lets get you out of graphics mode. You need to go to the /etc directory and edit inittab file. Scroll down until you see the run level. Change it to 3, as right now it is at 5.

When you reboot, your computer will not load graphics, but stay at the command line. Once you do that, let me know.

After you have booted up, press Ctl+Alt+F1. You should get a console screen. If you don't, try Ctl+Alt+F2 or F3. Log in as root and then run the command init 3. This will put you in runlevel 3. Now, try running Xconfigurator. When you're done, just reboot.

Here's a possible alternative:

Ctrl+Alt+"+" (on the numeric keypad) will increase the resolution.
Ctrl+Alt+"-" (on the numeric keypad) will decrease the resolution.

Ummm... I am not quite sure about this, it may be just Ctrl without Alt. And also, this will only work if your X server is configured in a specific way (I think RedHat sets that up by default, but I may be wrong).

Linux chicks are cool !! :cool:

Thanks, that got me there. It was a little clunky getting there but I edited the file and rebooted into text mode. Then I could run Xconfigurator and got the right video mode. Actually it was setup for the wrong monitor type. I selected a generic SVGA monitor and it looks much better. I told it I had a Tatung CM14UHE/R when I really only have a CM14UHE. It looked so close it should have worked but I guess not.

Anyway, I got the monitor problem fixed.

Now I have the problem of the root account being messed up.
I log in as root (after it warns me not to) and get a nice blue screen and the ONLY things on it are three icons, "Start Here", "root's Home" and "Trash".

I can't get any thing to happen nor can I get the "taskbar" (??) on the bottom to show up anymore. I did get to the Start here icon and managed to fumble around and create a new account for a generic user. That account shows all the right stuff on screen. I guess I need to repair the root account somehow.

It also is back to rebooting into Gnome again. I guess that's OK now that I fixed the display.

Any clues as to where I look to learn how to setup;

1. a PPPoE ADSL account
2. A firewall for above.

I want to have the Linux box boot up as a firewall, I have two Ethernet cards in it and the OS sees them just fine as eth0: and eth1: I have a 8 port hub and a ADSL modem (Defficient systems Sh*tStream 5360) As I understand it I need to put the modem on one side of the Linux box and the hub (and private lan) on the other side.

I have a newer mobo coming in, I bought a used PII mobo on ebay and in a week or so I'll be upgrading this Linux box to something a little better, at least then I can play more with it.

I don't want to just setup the firewall and forget about it, I just can't do that, I HAVE to play.. :Pengy:

Anyway, thanks again! You got me going and saved me a 3 hour reload! (Arrrrrrrrgh, it's tough being a newbie!!)

:newbie:

I now have this on a post-it note on the monitor!

Thanks, this DOES work too!!:newbie:

Uh, well, I suppose it might work with a decent video card, but considering that I'm using stone age junk it goes nuts. I see ti TRYING to switch video modes but this fonky old monitor and fonky old video card just freak out all over the place. I added this to my post-it note collection for the day when I get decent stuff..:rolleyes:

Thanks!
:newbie:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sewer_monkey
[B]Here's a possible alternative:

<snip>

Micro$oft - How many times would you like to restart your computer today?

LOL!!!! That's for sure!! I just noticed you tagline!!

I HATE WinBlows with a passion! I hope that before I die I get the chance to smack the sh** out of Billy Gate$ for general purposes.

WinBlows is the reason why I want to migrate to Linux. I know I will have to keep a M$ box around for quite a while because of some of the things I MUST do on M$, and because I work on M$ for people. I do NOT trust ANY M$ product, it's crapware and rife with flaws and security holes. It's total trash and I HATE it. I'm stuck with it for now because of the HUGE investment I have in it but you can be sure that migration is my goal! By the end of this year I want to be 80% dependent on Linux and just using M$ for my few special apps and my business programs (specialized to the trade and not available for Linux)

I'm still a dumbie at it but I WILL learn and migrate. I'm working to bring my machines out of the dark ages so I can have a decent system to migrate with. My MAIN machines are a k6-2 400 with w2k, my son has a K6 233 w/ w2k and I have a p133 laptop (ugh) that dual boots w2k and w98. The laptop is for my business and it will have to stay with winBlows because I develop apps on it and demo software that I sell on it. I'm stuck with that config. But, I sure don't have any muscle machines around here. I have 386's and 486's running out my butt because I pick them up off the side of the road all the time. I have tons of them. Maybe I can do something with them one day.

Anyway, I just wanted to comment on your sig, it's dead on the money!!

Thanks!
:newbie:

You're welcome. :)

Red Hat probably has six virtual consoles so you can also try pressing F4, F5, and F6. Once you have selected a console, you can switch between them with Alt+F1 thru F6. You don't have to press the Ctl key. When you want to go back to X window, you'll probably have press Ctl+Alt+F7 or F8.