I'm more interested in the power-saving settings and the graphics and memory.

A memory test may show up something that the linux kernel may not like.

Try memtest86+, run the first 6 tests about three times, if you get any errors

think about getting a higher quality brand of memory. M$windows manages memory

differently and will run on inferior memory chips.

If the live cd's did not get to the stage of having a login screen to a full-blown GUI, then it's possible

this is a hardware config problem.

If you are able to see (press escape to view the kernel messages) all of the lines spewed out by the kernel during boot, then it may not be a memory problem, perhaps X is not configuring your graphics card in some way. Seems strange,... or your monitor. Usually the graphics kick in after you login to x, but I notice when my computer boots the nVidia logo comes up just before the login screen appears.

See how you go, Regards, Glenn

kdm, gdm, and xdm are all graphical login managers so they need Xorg running to work. If you boot your computer in verbose mode so you can see the boot messages, the last messages you see usually refer to Xorg.

Quite right Ernie. My message is a bit confusing.

Regards, Glenn

This is a great thread! I have been using Mandriva/Mandrake Desktop Linux for many years on and off. I had great success with the 6.5, 8, 9, and 10 series and was then amazed by the 2005LE. Talk about progress! Compare Mandrake 6.5 to anything Mandriva 2005 LE and forward; its amazing! I suffered horribly from the OpenGL/Mesa bug in 2006, and stayed with 2005. I then moved to 2007.0 with great success. However, moving to 2007.1 has been a mixed bag. The first time I installed it, I could never get X to start. The second and third time everything went perfectly, and I loved all of the improvements! However, at my experience level, being a GUI-Linux user and not a truly experienced, knowledgeable Linux user, when I learn something the hard way, my method for fixing things is to reinstall. The next two installations have again resulted in X not starting again, which is were I am now. The installation seems to correctly identify the hardware during some installations and not in others. When I identify the exact difference between success and failure I'll post the data here.

I know that the true solution is for me to really learn the OS, etc, but right now I'm learning about enterprise-level and workstation virtualization, while learning QA testing automation & creating testing scripts in Seapine's QA Wizard, while studying for the CCNA exam. I'm stretched a bit thin as it is so far as leaning is concerned. However, I may have already obtained enough info in this thread for me to fix my current installation so...YAY!

In spite of the fact that many 'real Linux users' have historically scoffed repeatedly at Mandriva, I like it most of all. I worked with Kubuntu also, and like it also. It has several wonderful things about it that I wish Mandriva had, but the Kubuntu is a bit less refined overall and I mean no insult to it saying that. Mandriva/Mandrake has been around for a very long time, where as Kubuntu is the new kid on the block. Its a kick as new guy, and just needs more time.

The point of this is that the two areas where Mandriva needs improvement is consistency, particularly in the installations. It should never be that 2007.0 installed over and over again perfectly, and brainlessly, while 2007.1 is hit and miss or requires figuring out what the 'trick' is.

The other area is their support, but that is another story. I'm not here to flame anyone including Mandriva so I'll keep that event to myself. Anyway, thank you to all the knowledgeable Linux users out there helping us rookies out. You guys are the only reason that many of us don't give up on Linux.

Nope, couldn't fix it. No matter what I do I cannot get the system to add the info regarding my second video card (SLI) to xorg.conf, as part of the errors refer to the unknown device at PCI bus location 05. Reinstalled yet again with the same results. I cannot seem to recall what I did differently the two times that I did get it to work correctly yet. Will post if I do.

Hi, nYdGeo. You may find more info on second graphics at the home of xorg.

Were you able to setup dual graphics cards with (*)ubunto?

If so take note of the xorg.conf file and lspci -v output to see what it may reveal, also lsmod to see what modules the kernel is using.

http://www.xfree86.org/current/X.7.html

http://www.x.org/wiki/

I have not setup dual graphics since 2001, and that was not on this fine and pristine OS, but another proprietary type.

See how you go.

A bit of searching found this, basically, if you get the bus id's from the output of

lspci -v or scanpci -v you can create new sections for the other card in xorg.conf. (/etc/X11/xorg.conf)

http://www.linux.com/articles/113516

See how you go.

Regards, Glenn.

ps. next time start a new thread, and link to the post you want to refer to, then many others will see it and you may get a better answer faster. (otherwise it is called hijacking a post)

Cheers.

I'm having the same problem. I booted into failsafe and entered "drakxconf" and edited it to not automatically start Xorg. Now, whenever I boot, everything boots fine and I can login via CLI but whenever I type "X", the screen goes to a dark grey for a split second, then to a black screen. From here I've tried Ctrl-Alt-Backspace, Ctr-Alt-F1 thru F6 and nothing is responsive. I finally have to Ctrl-Alt-Del to get out of it.

I've used Linux for a while, but not so much at the command line, and not on the computer I'm trying to install Mandriva on. It's not a name-brand computer, but it has an AMD Athlon processor, I think around 1000 Mhz or so, 128MB RAM, and it has a Windows 98 partition on it. The graphics card is an SiS 630/730 according to Windows Device Manager. Are there any logs in Linux that I could look at to see what's going on?

Thanks for your help,
Kyle

Hi kyleflan, start a new post with your question.

Regards, Glenn

ps, type "startx" (without the quotes) not "x", afaik.

install with acpi *i think it is, it's the pc's power saving options* disabled. And you'll have ya video... mine did that with 2007, and 2007.1 *Shruggs* its all from a communiction problem with the installer's driver.. that is if thats your problem.. the thread is kinda long and branches out a bit, but I do hope that bit of info may help in some way.

its in the boot menu when you first start the install, like, turn off the num lock if it's on , and use the down arrow keys on the number pad to navigate the boot menu, i think it's labled install-acpi off .. or something REALLY simmilar to that.