Ok, I admit that Red Hat 7.1 isn't the latest distro available, but I downloaded it a coupla years ago when I still had a broadband connection. Now I have 56k, so I don't even dream of upgrading, for now.

I used to run Red Hat just fine on my old Compaq Deskpro C600, but now that I tried to install it on my Dell 4400, I couldn't get Xwin to run. I couldn't get it past the config stage, where you define monitor, video card etc information. Also, the screen kept flickering, like, going black for 1/3 of a second every 30 or so seconds. Very annoying.

I am assuming that RH7.1 simply doesn't support my video card, but I find this rather unusual...It's one of those ATI's standard issue cards...nothing fancy.

I'll post some system details as dug up by Sandra, in case someone has any ideas....

SiSoftware Sandra


Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.60GHz
Speed : 1.60GHz
Performance Rating : PR1755 (estimated)
Type : Standard
L2 On-board Cache : 256kB ECC Synchronous ATC

Mainboard
Bus(es) : X-Bus AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
MP Support : No
System BIOS : Intel Corp. A06
Mainboard : Intel Corporation D845PT
Chipset : Intel Corporation 82845MP Brookdale Host-Hub Interface Bridge (B0-step)
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 100MHz (400MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 384MB DDR-SDRAM
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 133MHz (266MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : TRL/RIC DH-1764M/DH-1764
Adapter : 16MB ATI Rage 128 Ultra

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : IOMEGA ZIP 100
Hard Disk : WDC WD200BB-75CAA0
Hard Disk : WDC WD300BB-00AUA1
Hard Disk : E-USB Fl ash USB Device
CD-ROM/DVD : HL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8160B

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 1 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(r) 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2442
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(r) 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2444
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : SanDisk USB ImageMate
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Microsoft PS/2 Mouse

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Video Driver
Device : Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM Audio Driver
Device : SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Communication Device(s)
Device : Conexant HSF V92 56K Data Fax PCI Modem

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 5.01.2600

Network Adapter(s)
Network Drivers Enabled : Yes

Hi, I installed RH7.1 on my laptop a couple of weeks ago BUT I have not so far successfully used Xwindows. Things go pretty the same as in your description, just flickering or dark. However, one advantage is that you are *forced* to play with bash command, the *real* original linux.

However, as for the Videoboard support, during the installation a senario pops up probing your video board. Mine is SIS630 and was probed. You might find whether your video card is supported from the hardware list of RH7.1 from redhat.

You know I got the same problem on my laptop though the video card has been probed and whatever modification I've made to Xconfigurator, it does not work. So I suggest a newer version of RH, for example 9.0.

But really, learning bash is more useful (personal idea)