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Old 05-28-2018, 01:03 AM   #1
herring_sucker
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Registered: Apr 2011
Location: Toronto, ON
Distribution: Slackware
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Video issue? boot screen has weird mixed lower case/capitals, no X or consoles


I'm running Slackware 14.2, 32-bit. The computer is an HP xw4600 desktop workstation. The video card is an Nvidia Quadro NVS 290 PCI Express. I use an Nvidia legacy driver (it's an old machine, probably going on 10 years old.)

I stepped away from the machine for a while, and when I cam back the monitor was fluctuating rapidly and everything was frozen. I had to use the Magic System key to reboot.

Upon rebooting, the initial screen had a series of blue vertical lines running through it. The lilo screen looked fine. When the OS booted I saw a string of numbers followed by a bizarre combination of upper and lower case text.

The boot up sequence ran correctly right up until the machine went into runlevel 4. The screen stayed dark. I couldn't even switch to a console--nothing would show.

I don't have another video card to try.

Does this sound like a video card issue or might it be something else? I didn't find anything helpful on searching for an answer.
 
Old 05-28-2018, 07:54 AM   #2
business_kid
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If you have any other way to boot to a console, do it. Then you can set the /etc/initdefault setting to 3. You'll boot to a console only. The installation dvd is fine. Type 'startx' for X, and ctrl-alt-backspace to quit Nomodeset (with no capitals) is a bootup option that prevents the driver doing exotic things with the screen setting.

Off hand, I'd suggest that the video driver or hard disk are principal suspects. Post the output of
Code:
ls /use/lib/libGL*
. Also, if it hasn't been done, you need to check the vitals with e2fsck and memtest86.
 
Old 05-28-2018, 12:43 PM   #3
herring_sucker
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I'll give your suggestions a try if I can find a way to get a console. I tried the installation disk. I had the same problems with the video.
 
Old 05-28-2018, 01:02 PM   #4
kjhambrick
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Location: Round Rock, TX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by herring_sucker View Post
I'll give your suggestions a try if I can find a way to get a console. I tried the installation disk. I had the same problems with the video.
herring_sucker --

If you're running lilo, you should be able to press the [Tab] Key at the lilo Prompt to see a list of available Kernels.

Type the name of the Kernel you want to boot followed by [Space] 3.

Example:
Code:
Slackware64 3
This should boot to runlevel 3 instead of 4 and leave you with a console login.

HTH.

-- kjh

p.s. One thing I do is leave my system(s) in initlevel 3 especially until they're fully debugged and operational ... but that's a different topic


This is the relevant section from my /etc/inittab ( note the 'id:3:initdefault:' line ).

Code:
<<snip>>
# These are the default runlevels in Slackware:
#   0 = halt
#   1 = single user mode
#   2 = unused (but configured the same as runlevel 3)
#   3 = multiuser mode (default Slackware runlevel)
#   4 = X11 with KDM/GDM/XDM (session managers)
#   5 = unused (but configured the same as runlevel 3)
#   6 = reboot

# Default runlevel. (Do not set to 0 or 6)
id:3:initdefault:
<<snip>>
 
Old 05-28-2018, 03:07 PM   #5
herring_sucker
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Location: Toronto, ON
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I'll give that a try.

I also stick to runlevel 3 until a new install is up and running. In this case it would seem that an aging component decided it was the right time to take "the long sleep." ;->
 
Old 05-28-2018, 06:47 PM   #6
herring_sucker
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Registered: Apr 2011
Location: Toronto, ON
Distribution: Slackware
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I took the chance that it was the video card and got a new one. Everything is fine, now.

I got an inexpensive Gigabyte GeForce 210. It uses an Nvidia chipset like the old card and the same Nvidia driver. The machine booted up without a fuss into X and I'm feeling relieved that I could fix the problem without spending much money.

Maybe the computer gods are trying to tell me I should put some money aside for a newer machine. ;->
 
Old 05-29-2018, 02:46 AM   #7
business_kid
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We'll leave I guessed the video driver in one of the first posts, and it turned out to be the only thing giving you the same symptoms.

I'm inclined to work around to suspect software first and work around to hardware by eliminating software. And that's an ex-hardware guy speaking. But I don't mind being wrong that much.
 
Old 05-29-2018, 11:25 PM   #8
herring_sucker
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Registered: Apr 2011
Location: Toronto, ON
Distribution: Slackware
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There's a little more to the story.

The video works well, but I found that I had no sound. (The monitor connects with a DVI-D plug to the card through a DVI-I interface.)

Fortunately, I had a ready solution. While I was digging through a box of parts, I came across my old Sound Blaster Live! card. After installing it an fussing with it until I found the right settings, I had sound back.

"Now" the story is finished. ;->
 
Old 05-31-2018, 02:34 AM   #9
business_kid
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Right. Mark this thread solved then. Funny thing is, old crap usually works with Linux.
 
  


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