Configuring XFree86

This is propably as n00b a quiestion as one gets, but here goes:
First, the senario-
Install new Nvdidia drivers, right everything peachy...
Now, reboot to find that Xfree86 must be configured again (also explained in Read-Me), no prob, except I dont know how to do this from console...then reinstall Mandrake...EISH!!!!

So the obvious n00b quiestion...how do I configure Xfree86 (or any other file) from console?

Still a Windoze convert noob myself but I've just been playing with this one myself.

From a console you should be able to type and run xf86config

I believe that there is also xf86config4 which is a simpler version.....

The information that you are changing is in /etc/X11/XF86Config.
The programs xf86config and xf86config4 modify /etc/X11/XF86Config.
So does the SuSE program sax2.
You can also modify the file using your favorite text editor.
You can safely ignore all the people who are about to jump in here and tell you to use vi.

ehlo,


Go to /etc/X11 directory in it u will find file called "XF86Config" this file contains all ur xfree86 server configurations divided in sections like this:

Section "Device"

Section "Display"

etc etc...........

U can make changes to ur xfree86 server by modifying this file.

command my_world gave u works aswell !

Originally posted by jailbait The information that you are changing is in /etc/X11/XF86Config. The programs xf86config and xf86config4 modify /etc/X11/XF86Config. So does the SuSE program sax2. You can also modify the file using your favorite text editor. You can safely ignore all the people who are about to jump in here and tell you to use vi.

I can't get into Xserver to use a text editor, so I must know how to do this from outside of X, what commands to type, etc.

I know the location of the config files, but to edit them as root outside of X is the real hick-up...

You need an editor that works from the command line. I use mp for all of my
command line editing.

http://www.triptico.com/software/mp.html

I had that problem myself.
From console just type: xf86config
And then follow the instructions, like Unknown said. It's pretty self explanatory from there. As for editors, vi will work from command mode, just type: vi <name of file you want to edit>
Best of luck

If you had a working xfree86 before you installed the nvidia drivers you will only need to change a few lines to get them working, doing xf86config again will not help as xfree86 does not know about the nvidia driver.

Do the following to edit your X config from the command line,

mcedit /etc/X11/XF86Config

Note: If you have the file XF86Config-4 you will need to edit that instead of the file XF86Config.

My favourite console text editor is mc . It's a Swiss-Army-Knives and a simple browser too. Press F4 to edit the file.

Other basic file editors are: pico, jedit, ed.

This is mine:

# /.../
# XFree86 config file
# This is my comments:
# My video card driver is changed from nv to nvidia

Section "Files"
# I cut these: include your nice font directories here, don't forget this one
  FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/truetype"
  FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/mywindowsfontdir"
# Bla bla bla
# I cut these lines also: guess this are my input devices
  InputDevices "/dev/ttyS0"
  InputDevices "/dev/usbmouse"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
  Option       "AllowMouseOpenFail"
  Option       "RandR" "on"
EndSection

Section "Module"
  Load         "v4l"
  Load         "extmod"
  Load         "type1"
  Load         "freetype"
  Load         "dbe"
  Load         "speedo"
# this is an important part: to enable 3D 
  Load         "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "Keyboard"
  Identifier   "Keyboard[0]"
  Option       "LeftAlt" "Standard Keyboard [ pc104 ]"
  Option       "Protocol" "Standard"
  Option       "RightAlt" "none"
  Option       "RightCtl" "none"
  Option       "ScrollLock" "xfree86"
  Option       "XkbLayout" "xfree86"
  Option       "XkbModel" "Standard"
  Option       "XkbOptions" "us"
  Option       "XkbRules" "xfree86"
  Option       "XkbVariant" "pc104"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "mouse"
  Identifier   "Mouse[1]"
  Option       "ButtonNumber" "5"
  Option       "Device" "/dev/mouse"
  Option       "Name" "Autodetection"
  Option       "Protocol" "imps/2"
  Option       "Vendor" "Sysp"
  Option       "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
  DisplaySize  330 250
# below is the horizontal refresh rate (KHz) of my monitor
  HorizSync    30-70
  Identifier   "Monitor[0]"
  ModelName    "My LG 775N Monitor"
  Option       "DPMS"
  VendorName   "LG Studioworks"
# below is the vertical refresh rate (Hz) of my monitor
  VertRefresh  50-160
  UseModes     "Modes[0]"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
  Identifier   "Modes[0]"
  Modeline 	"1152x864" 94.36 1152 1152 1368 1496 864 864 874 902
  Modeline 	"1280x1024" 102.24 1280 1296 1552 1664 1024 1024 1034 1070
  Modeline 	"1024x768" 61.19 1024 1040 1216 1328 768 768 775 802
  Modeline 	"1024x768" 74.45 1024 1040 1216 1328 768 768 776 802
  Modeline 	"1024x768" 84.65 1024 1040 1216 1328 768 768 778 802
  Modeline 	"pal"  50.00  768 832 856 1000  576 590 595 630  -hsync -vsync
EndSection

Section "Screen"
# here is my default color setting (24 bit) wich gives 1152x864 resolution
  DefaultDepth 24
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      16
    Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      24
    Modes      "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      32
    Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" 
  EndSubSection
  Device       "Device[0]"
  Identifier   "Screen[0]"
  Monitor      "Monitor[0]"
EndSection

Section "Device"
  BoardName    "GeForce4 MX 420"
  BusID        "1:0:0"
# here is the most important part:
  Driver       "nvidia"
  Identifier   "Device[0]"
  Screen       0
  Option       "Rotate" "off"
  VendorName   "NVidia"
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier   "Layout[all]"
  InputDevice  "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
  InputDevice  "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
  Option       "Clone" "off"
  Option       "Xinerama" "off"
  Screen       "Screen[0]"
EndSection

# Uncomment these lines for ATI card
#Section "DRI"
#    Group      "video"
#    Mode       0660
#EndSection

Have fun :-)