Hello everybody,

I recently installed Slackware 13.37 and every time I start X the lights on my monitor flash on and off and my monitor goes black and does not come back. I tried most of the window environments (X, Cholesterol-free, etc) and I'm running out of ideas.

No one? I'm using a Dell monitor.

Here's my specs for it: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...4500/index.htm


I'm not sure how to get in to the output for X or Linux.

Seriously, you expect an answer in an hour? Please be patient. Folks don't just sit around waiting for new people to post problems on here. What video card do you have? Can you hit control+alt+backspace once the monitor goes black to see if you can get back to a terminal? Can you try to remotely login from another machine to see if you can get at the /var/log/Xorg.0.log file?

Adam

I already suggested that to Nocturnal_Spook, perhaps he forgot to read my post.

Also, be sure to enclose the requested information in [code][/code] tags. Keeps formatting and it's easier to read.

I wasn't expecting an answer but I saw a lot of people looked at it and no one answer and that's what I was really commenting on. The video card is AGP 4X. I'm new to this distro so I do not know how to remotely log in from another machine.

Thanks.

---------- Post added 07-04-11 at 06:55 PM ----------

I'm not sure how to and I've been trying to figure it out all morning.

If people don't have an answer or suggestion, it's best that they don't reply. If they reply, your post is removed from the "zero reply threads" list, which means that not as many people are going to look at it.


What make and model is the video card. If you're not sure, check the output of 'lspci | grep -i vga' and it should tell you.

As for logging in remotely... Do you have another machine on the same network? Does it have the 'ssh' program installed (ssh comes with every linux distribution, OS X, and there are also ports for it for Windows). If so, you would just 'ssh username@ip-address-of-slackware-box'. You can find out that IP address by using 'ifconfig'.

Adam

Well before I do that I ran xorgsetup and got this error:

Basically the X browser crapped out on me because of the MTRR.

Ahhh, you're using a very old rage128 video card with the r128 driver.

You could try disabling direct rendering by adding these two lines to the Modules section of the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file that is generated by xorgsetup:

Adam

xorgsetup won't work for some reason either. Still trying to find out how to get to the xorg.conf file because the computer is missing it's network card and cannot get on the internet.

Well I took out the damn video card and am now using a nvidia corp. nv5m64 [riva TNT2 model 64/model 64 pro] (rev 15)


Only problem is it still will not work. UGH!!!!!!!

The xorg.conf is located in /etc/X11 (you don't need the internet), but a default one does not exist. A default xorg.conf-vesa ships with Slackware but it is very old. The settings and comments may get you started. You can avoid all the hoopla your post started by being specific. "I just installed ... and it doesn't work" ain't gonna do it. You specified the computer spec sheet later, but no monitor or graphics card data (its not at the DELL link you provided). Basically, your thought process should be in this case:

1. Can I boot into text mode (CLI)? This is the Slackware default and obviously works since you where able to install.
2. What graphics card GPU do I have (lspci or pop open the case and look)?
3. Is my GPU supported in X?
4. Is X automagically finding the correct driver?
5. What Monitor do I have? LCD or CRT? What are the horizontal and vertical scan frequencies?
6. What error messages are printed during boot (see /var/log/messages, dmesg and /var/log/syslog)?
7. What error messages display when I run startx (see /var/log/Xorg.0.log)

If you can get into CLI, then you will be able to edit anything to get X working. Internet, ssh etc not required. Post the answers and then we will try to help.

You're looking at the files in your home directory, beowulf999 just gave you the full paths for the files, try cat on them, or less, or more, or most. And there are many other ways to "get" to those files.

Nocturnal_Spook,

You may need to create a file or two so that X knows about your hardware. Sometimes "plug and play" doesn't work so well.
Log in as "root" and do this:
Now edit this file with your favorite editor, for example
Add the following lines:
Now check the output of Do you see a module called 'nouveau'? If so fine and dandy BUT this will interfere with the proprietary Nvidia drivers if you installed them from either Slackbuilds.org or nvidia.com. Your TNT2 should work just fine with the nouveau driver. If you want the proprietary drivers, make sure you install nvidia-
71.86.14 but when you do you will need to blacklist the nouveau driver (a package in on the Slackware install DVD in /extra). If you don't see 'nouveau' and perhaps also nv, then you may have skipped some installation packages. With 'nouveau' you don't need /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/device.conf

but it will be handy if you blacklist 'nouveau' use 'nv' or 'nvidia'.

For KDE and any nvidia driver, you may also need to create a file called /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/disable-composite.conf:
You can place various files into /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d to fine tune or fix X.

When I gave you the paths to various files, I had hoped you would take the initiative to look up how to navigate the command line - especially since you were able to install Slackware. In Linux, as in Unix, 99% of the power is in the CLI. To run Linux you must learn the CLI because you have more control there than in any graphical desktop. This is true for any linux distro and it is also true for MS Windows and OS X.

To get you started:
You may also want to check out:
http://linuxcommand.org/
http://tldp.org/LDP/gs/node1.html

Also, the search function in LQ is pretty handy. Its not like this is a Slackware specific issue. Configuring X has gotten better, and the automagic stuff is great when it works, but you still should learn some basic nut and bolts.

You really should post the contents of /var/log/Xorg.0.log