X-Windows config from bash
 

Hello Folks,

Thank you ahead of time for taking the time to read this. I will try and break down the issue and question as clearly and best as I possibly can. Please bear in mind that I have little to no Unix/Linux experience.

Issue: I have recently built a new computer (see specs below) and installed SuSE Linux 7.1 on a second hard drive. During the installation, at the X-Windows installation part, I was unable to complete the X-Windows configuration. The error occurred at a point when i was asked to test my resolution and color depth. The test did not work. The installation software told me that I could run a program called SAX at a later point to finish the X-Windows configuration. I have no GUI when I boot to linux. I attempted to run SAX, but my computer displayed a bunch of lines and froze and that is as far as I can get. Below is a list of my computers hardware/software specs.

I have ran a search in the posting database, as was as on several other forums on this issue, but found nothing. I have searched for documentation on Xfree86 that would solve the issue, but I am afraid my knowledge of Linux limits my abilities to use this help (for instance, it asks me to run the Xfree86 config program. For the life of me, I can’t find one.)

Relevant Hardware Specs:

AMD 1.4gHz processor
512 DDR Ram
ASUS A7A Motherboard
ATI 7500 Graphics Card
Creative Audigy Sound Blaster (X-Gamer version)
Some generic CD-rom, CD-RW, and floppy drive I cannibalized from some older computers lying around
One 80gig Western Digital Hard Drive running Windows 98
One 28gig Hard Drive cannibalized from an old HP machine. Linux is installed here.
Qwest/Intel DSL Modem

Software/Distro Specs:

SuSE 7.1 Home User Version
Kernel 2.2.1 and 2.4 installed
I know X-windows is in there, and whatever other stuff came with this distribution.

Questions: I guess the help I am looking for is varied. I would love to hear from someone who can perhaps step me through this process of configuring and running x-windows and perhaps help me trouble shoot the problem. I would also appreciate any literature or online/offline help that I can be pointed to.

Anyway, I appreciate your time and help.

Regards

try to run either: XF86Config or xfree86setup. Otherwise, edit your config manually:
use a texteditor (i use nano) and write as root: nano /etc/X11/XF86Config (XF86Config-4 for xwin 4.x) Then under the section monitor, remove all hor. & vert. sync/refresh options. Also all the resolutions (f.ex. 1024x768). Then when you start x (if it suceed) you will get a 320x240, and 8bit desktop. From this point you can experiment with the file, use 16bit instead, try with a higher resolution etc. This worked for me.

Hope you understood my pretty messed up answer:)