I recompiled my kernel from 2.4.21-4.EL to 2.4.30. (All this under Redhat. After a few failed attemps it now loads fine (grub is ok, and I got rid of various kernel panics ) and I get all to way to the login. But then I get: "I cannot start the X server..." It then gives an option to confure X (as root) and then it comes back with the same error screen.....

The 2.4.21-4.EL worked fine and I had compiled new 2.4.30 kernel with the exact same .config file from 2.4.21-4.EL.

This is my first attempt at recompiling a kernell all the way and I got so close but then X rained on my parade So I am pretty desperate for suggestions.

theory_prof

Gambling that you use a video driver that is not part of the kernel tree... f.e. NVidia drivers are installed separately from kernel compile - I have to install them every time I recompile the kernel.

Thank you for the reply, could you givbe me a pointer as to how to "reinstall the driver?"
Also, all my files are stil there, would thenew kernel not just load the correct module, especially when I
run the configuration rouitne offered when X fails? I am pretty new to this, any further pointers would be appreciated!

theroy_prof

I have compiled yet another kernel, 2.4.22 (this is very close to the running kernel 2.4.21-4.EL), and again X does not work! HELP!

"
Thank you for the reply, could you givbe me a pointer as to how to "reinstall the driver?"
Also, all my files are stil there, would thenew kernel not just load the correct module, especially when I
run the configuration rouitne offered when X fails? I am pretty new to this, any further pointers would be appreciated!

theroy_prof
"

Just a word of warning, you have just voided your support contract with Red Hat.

Anyways, what kind of video card do you have?

Thanks for picking up the thread.

No problem with voiding any contracts

Now, the video card is reported as

Mobil Intel (R) 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express Chip

Under the working kernel (2.4.21-4.EL) the graphics driver is reported as "vesa" in the XFree86config file.
I also threw in a knoppix CD and then the driver in the XFree86config line it has "svga".

Does this give us any clue?

Not at all. Those are generic drivers. Open up the machine and tell me the exact video card that you have.

Sorry, but this is a Dell Inspiron 1200 Laptop computer. Is there a way to open it up? Where do I look?

Well, you have two options. One thing you could do is switch to RHEL 4 as it has better hardware support (CentOS 4.0 if you no longer have a support contract).

Linux on a laptop isn't my thing. Anyone else know?

I see. I asked my system administrator and we are trying to find the video card specs. Would that help?

Upgrading is no problem, but I am trying to solve this problem to learn what the isues are.

Oh, also the processor is an IntelCeleron M Processor 350

what is the output of /sbin/lspci ?

Here it is in all its glory:

[root@localhost root]# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 2590 (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 2592 (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 2792 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 2658 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 2659 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 265a (rev 03)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 265b (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 265c (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BAM/CAM PCI Bridge (rev d3)
00:1e.2 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 266e (rev 03)
00:1e.3 Modem: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 266d (rev 03)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 2641 (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 266f (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 266a (rev 03)
02:01.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1510 PC card Cardbus Controller
02:08.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 1068 (rev 03)
[root@localhost root]#

Maybe your video card isn't supported by Kernel 2.4. Red Hat's 2.4 kernel contains a lot of backported stuff from the 2.6 kernel. May I ask why you are upgrading to a vanilla kernel? If it is because your subscription to RHN has run out, have you thought about downloading the Source RPM for the latest RHEL3 kernel from Red Hat's FTP servers and just building the RPM? That would probably work better. Downloading an out of date kernel like 2.4.22 just means you are going to have a crapload of security flaws unpatched. Why don't you download the CentOS build of the latest kernel? The binary should install without having to compile everything?

Ok, first the original kernel from the install is 2.4.21-4.EL Everything X works fine. So there is go0t to be a way, or am I wrong?
Now I wanted to get DMA to work and switch on the advanced power options. So I just downloaded
the 2.4.30 kernel, and it compiled fine. In fact, I can now switch on DMA for my DVD drive
just fine (except it's a bit difficult to watch a move in single mode This is all on a brand new machine
which I got from Dell (Inspiron 1200).

Of course, I could just install a brand new version of, say, Debian. But I want to learn this stuff, so next time the newest stuff is outdated, I know how to move on to a better kernel.

The other reason is that I have a University notebook, that is all set up and I do not want to reinstall everything.