Choosing Xorg.conf
 

Hi,

I'm currently using Fedora 10. When I initially installed Fedora it refused to boot into the GUI because of it's lack of compatibility with my graphics card, which is "Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 771/671 PCIE VGA Display Adapter (rev 10)".

I got a friend to fix this for me but it was kind of a quick fix job. I'm not sure exactly what he did but I think he downloaded a xorg.conf file and copied it to my installation. Anyway I can now use the computer fine in the GUI. The problem is when I try to watch videos on you tube or even locally they start skipping. I also can't use any effects such as wobbly windows because it just freezes.

What I want to know how to do is find out what xorg.conf I should be using for my graphics card and then how to actually copy it to my system without damaging the OS files!

Would appreciate some help,

Thanks

Okay.
One way is to download and install an older version of Fedora, configure the Xserver, and then mount and copy the configuration to the Fedora10 install.
or this: http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-615094.html

with this:http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/Fujit...o_Mobile_V5535

running " system-config-display " on fedora 10 should generate a xorg.conf

Thanks for the replies. I am doing some research atm to make sure I download the correct file!

This is what happened:

then install it , it is missing on some fedora " live" cd's

That isn't really an option since I had the same problem with Fedora 9, so it would probably be the same with 8,7 etc

Yeah I have installed it and run it with no difference. I noticed that from within system-config-display it still thinks that I am using Vesa, which I had to tell it in order to get any sort of a display at all!

I just can't figure out where to get the xorg drivers for my Silicon Integrated Systems graphics card. Does anyone know how I can do this?

And then how to install those drivers....

Thanks

yum install xorg-x11-drv-sis

That should install the sis driver on your system. Most new systems auto-configure the video card and choose the most appropriate driver that is currently installed on the system, so now that you have the sis driver installed restart the X server
CTR:+ALT+BACKSPACE

to verify your system is now using the sis driver use the following command
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -i driver

you should have a line in log the output that looks something like this..
Which would indicate that the system has identified the sis driver as being the one for your card and has loaded it, rather than the vesa driver

right but if I do that am I sure that it will work given that Fedora 10 does not support my graphics card?

I just want to make sure because I don't want my display to break again! I might not be able to recover it again myself! :-)

Ahh you are right..

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=470724

You are better off leaving things alone since the vesa driver is the only one listed to support your card in Fedora 10. (bummer)

The vesa driver will not use any of the cards acceleration capabilities, so yes you will have most likely have problems with video playback and you will not be able to use those other animated desktop effects.

You could always put in a better video card that is supported.. might I suggest something from nvidia or ATI ?

damn that's annoying! I tried to get another video card but I was told that you can't change the video card in laptops. I'm sure it is possible - but i'd say it's tricky. The only time I ever opened this thing was for extra ram!

Some laptops will allow you to change the video card, but these are not common (some Dell laptops for instance). The video cards are built specifically for the laptop models as far as I can tell so getting a video card could be difficult even for a model that can be changed.

The majority of laptops will probably NOT allow you to change that card, those using lower end video are probably built right onto the motherboard of the laptop.

So yeah you are stuck waiting for them to fix the issue in RedHat/Fedora, or you could look at switching to a distro where the Driver works with your card.. I have been seeing a lot of issues with SIS cards in Linux lately though.. :(

I was just thinking. I used Mandriva a while back on this laptop without any graphics problems. If I boot to a live cd with Mandriva and copy the xorg.conf over to my Fedora installation do you think it would work. Or are they completely different files?

If the xorg conf works in Mandriva it should work on your current Distro..

If the issue is due to a bug in the sis Driver in Fedora, then the new xorg.conf probably won't make a difference

Couldn't hurt to backup your current xorg.conf file and give it a go if you are willing to put in the time and effort.

yeah i might to it tomorrow. my only concern is live disk file systems can sometimes be all over the place! well i should be able to find the file anyway. i'll let you know how i get on

thanks