First, I tried to install Mandrake 10.1 on this Dell Optiplex GX260. Made it through all 3 installation CDs, I got a "execve failed for /etc/x11/x (errno2)" "x init server error" Never could get it to work.

So, (upon suggestion) I have installed SuSe 9.1. The install was difficult because I couldn't read much of the instructions (awful resolution/ 2 colors.) Somehow, I got it installed. Now my resolution is set at like 600x800 and everything is quite blurry. Also (Joy!) no audio. Tried toying with the yast module. It didn't do much of anything. The exact monitor I'm using isn't listed but I suppose the real issue is the video driver. The computer has an integrated-everything motherboard so perhaps I'm simply out of luck. I'm learning that driver compatibility issues in Linux are a beeotch! You can't just run out and search for a Linux driver on a manufacturer's site (or Dell,) download it, and install it.

Is there anything I can do? Is SuSe simply the wrong distro for me?

Welcome to LQ.

Can you post the output from:
lspci
lsmod

This should let us see what hardware you have and what drivers you are using.

On a Dell system, make sure you are using the latest BIOS and raise the VideoRAM setting in the BIOS to at least 8MB. I had a similar problem on Optiplex270.

David Ross & Abisko:

Will try both of your suggestions and post back. I'm not at work right now (where the DELL resides)...and I didn't expect such quick replies. I posted in other forums without any reply, so I didn't think this site would be much different. Thanks for proving me wrong.

Some other info: I am running SuSe on a HDD partitioned with XP and 98 (believe it or not, I actually need 98.) Do you think changing the BIOS settings will affect the other OS's video behavior?

Windows will not be affected by changing the video RAM in your BIOS. Strange enough that Windows seems to ignore the faulty BIOS.

lsmod returns THIS:

Module Size Used by
edd 9240 0
joydev 10176 0
st 38940 0
sd_mod 19840 0
sr_mod 15652 0
scsi_mod 107980 3 st,sd_mod,sr_mod
ide_cd 36484 0
cdrom 36508 2 sr_mod,ide_cd
nvram 8328 0
usbserial 28912 0
parport_pc 35264 1
lp 10916 0
parport 37704 2 parport_pc,lp
speedstep_lib 3712 0
freq_table 4612 0
thermal 12424 0
processor 16040 1 thermal
fan 3972 0
snd_seq_oss 30976 0
snd_seq_midi_event 7680 1 snd_seq_oss
button 6032 0
battery 8580 0
ac 4868 0
snd_seq 54672 5 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_pcm_oss 56868 0
snd_mixer_oss 18688 1 snd_pcm_oss
ipv6 244100 13
snd_intel8x0 32424 4
snd_ac97_codec 60676 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm 96776 2 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0
snd_timer 25476 2 snd_sModule Size Used by
edd 9240 0
joydev 10176 0
st 38940 0
sd_mod 19840 0
sr_mod 15652 0
scsi_mod 107980 3 st,sd_mod,sr_mod
ide_cd 36484 0
cdrom 36508 2 sr_mod,ide_cd
nvram 8328 0
usbserial 28912 0
parport_pc 35264 1Module Size Used by
edd 9240 0
joydev 10176 0
st 38940 0
sd_mod 19840 0
sr_mod 15652 0
scsi_mod 107980 3 st,sd_mod,sr_mod
ide_cd 36484 0
cdrom 36508 2 sr_mod,ide_cd
nvram 8328 0
usbserial 28912 0
parport_pc 35264 1
lp 10916 0
parport 37704 2 parport_pc,lp
speedstep_lib 3712 0
freq_table 4612 0
thermal 12424 0
processor 16040 1 thermal
fan 3972 0
snd_seq_oss 30976 0
snd_seq_midi_event 7680 1 snd_seq_oss
button 6032 0
battery 8580 0
ac 4868 0
snd_seq 54672 5 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_pcm_oss 56868 0
snd_mixer_oss 18688 1 snd_pcm_oss
ipv6 244100 13
snd_intel8x0 32424 4
snd_ac97_codec 60676 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm 96776 2 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0
snd_timer 25476 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 11012 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
gameport 4736 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_mpu401_uart 7808 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_rawmidi 24992 1 snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_device 8328 3 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi
snd 59524 21 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm ,snd_timer,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
soundcore 8800 1 snd
af_packet 20360 2
e1000 81412 0
ehci_hcd 27140 0
intel_agp 17052 1
agpgart 28712 2 intel_agp
uhci_hcd 29584 0
usbcore 96988 5 usbserial,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
evdev 9600 0
subfs 7296 3
ntfs 86092 1
nls_utf8 2176 3
nls_cp437 5888 2
vfat 14080 2
fat 43328 1 vfat
dm_mod 50044 0
reiserfs 233808 1

lp 10916 0
parport 37704 2 parport_pc,lp
speedstep_lib 3712 0
freq_table 4612 0
thermal 12424 0
processor 16040 1 thermal
fan 3972 0
snd_seq_oss 30976 0
snd_seq_midi_event 7680 1 snd_seq_oss
button 6032 0
battery 8580 0
ac 4868 0
snd_seq 54672 5 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_pcm_oss 56868 0
snd_mixer_oss 18688 1 snd_pcm_oss
ipv6 244100 13
snd_intel8x0 32424 4
snd_ac97_codec 60676 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm 96776 2 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0
snd_timer 25476 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 11012 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
gameport 4736 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_mpu401_uart 7808 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_rawmidi 24992 1 snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_device 8328 3 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi
snd 59524 21 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm ,snd_timer,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
soundcore 8800 1 snd
af_packet 20360 2
e1000 81412 0
ehci_hcd 27140 0
intel_agp 17052 1
agpgart 28712 2 intel_agp
uhci_hcd 29584 0
usbcore 96988 5 usbserial,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
evdev 9600 0
subfs 7296 3
ntfs 86092 1
nls_utf8 2176 3
nls_cp437 5888 2
vfat 14080 2
fat 43328 1 vfat
dm_mod 50044 0
reiserfs 233808 1
eq,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 11012 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
gameport 4736 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_mpu401_uart 7808 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_rawmidi 24992 1 snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_device 8328 3 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi
snd 59524 21 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm ,snd_timer,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
soundcore 8800 1 snd
af_packet 20360 2
e1000 81412 0
ehci_hcd 27140 0
intel_agp 17052 1
agpgart 28712 2 intel_agp
uhci_hcd 29584 0
usbcore 96988 5 usbserial,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
evdev 9600 0
subfs 7296 3
ntfs 86092 1
nls_utf8 2176 3
nls_cp437 5888 2
vfat 14080 2
fat 43328 1 vfat
dm_mod 50044 0
reiserfs 233808 1

:stu

lspci don't work here:
bash: lspci: command not foundlsmod

Whoa! Changed the video buffer setting to 8MB and BAM! My monitor is readible. On a side note, where is the easiest/best place to view/configure moniter settings? Yast, sax2, control center?

sax2 via YaST (Hardware -> Graphics Card & Monitor)