Red Hat 9 video problems *points on offer*

[jazz_1]

Hi Guys,

a simple for you I'm sure....

I'm running RH9 on a HP Brio, I stupidly changed the display settings in RH9 to 1024x768(it was just too big at 800x600) , when i rebooted i now get no video at the login screen? the green led on the monitor is on, It's like I'm getting an "out of range" signal.

Can I halt the boot process and change the display settings?

Cheers guys... don't foreget, point on offer :-)


jazz..

[Michael Schulte zur Sur]

Hi,

Once you have the login, try to switch to the console with CTRL+ALT+F1, login and redo the graphic config with Xconfigurator.
Alternatevly, you can start the machine to run level three, so the graphics won't kick in and then the Xconfigurator.

hope that helps,

Michael

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

Hey.There's no Xconfigurator utility under RedHat9.There's
redhat-config-xfree86
utility instead.Change the terminal like Michael advised-with Ctrl+Alt+F1, login,and then run it.Select the apropriate settings and save...
Best regards.

[Michael Schulte zur Sur]

Hi,

I got this advice from a collegue. However I didn't mention the version. Has there been an Xconfigurator before?

greetings,

Michael

[jazz_1]

thanks for the replies guys, I'll give that a bash... will let you know how i get on :-)

[jazz_1]

ok guys,

tried that, when i type in redhat-config-xfree86, i just get the same as before, the monitor goes out of range...

can i try anything else?

cheers

[Michael Schulte zur Sur]

Hi,

one thing you could try is to lend yourself from someone a monitor, which can handle the "stress" and then configure it back to where your monitor can handle it.

greetings,

Michael

[James A. Donovan]

I had similar problems with RH9 and a Sony SDM-S81R flat screen monitor. Problem was the default VertRefresh rate specification was too high.

Are you using the grub loader? If so, halt the boot when the grub screen comes up and edit your kernel line. Add the word 'single' to the end of your kernel line so you can boot into single user mode.

Then you need to edit the "Monitor" section /etc/X11/XF86Config file

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Sony"
ModelName "SDM-S81R"
HorizSync 28.0 - 92.0
VertRefresh 48.0 - 60.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

The numbers above are for my monitor, I'd suggest you take a look at the tech specs for your monitor.

I found that lowering the top end of the VertRefresh eventually fixed my "out of scan range" problem.

[jazz_1]

Thanks for help on this Michael,

Thing is this is the same monitor i use for win98 running at 1024x768 and 16 bit colour, so it should be able to handle it from Linux, shouldn't it?

Is there another way for me to change the resolution without being able to get into the X Configuration?


cheers

[jazz_1]

Hi Jim,

thanks for your reply... I'm using LILO, can i do the same with that?

cheers

[James A. Donovan]

yes. here's the procedure...

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-7.3-Manual/custom-guide/s1-rescuemode-booting-single.html

[James A. Donovan]

from the RH9 manual, although the process hasn't really changed...

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/custom-guide/s1-rescuemode-booting-single.html

[Michael Schulte zur Sur]

Well,

besides pixels and colors you still have to consider the refresh rate. It might be too high under Linux.

Michael

[Alexander Chuzhoy]

To answer Michael-the Xconfigurator utility did exist in redhat untill redhat 7.3 version.Starting from redhat 8.0 it was removed...

Jazz,
you can try the following to fix your display problem:
run:
X -configure
at the promt.It should give the following output:

Your XF86Config file is /root/XF86Config.new

To test the server, run
'XFree86 -xf86config /root/XF86Config.new'

if it'll work ,just copy the file /root/XF86Config.new to /etc/X11/XF86config

[Mark Grant]

edit /etc/X11/XF86Config

IN there you should find a section for "Monitor". Apart from the "identifier" comment out everything and put in an Option "DPMS"

If your Monitor doesn't support dpms, comment it out again and look for your "Screen" section. There will be a "DefaultDepth" entry (put one in if there isn't) and make it 24. Then in your Subsection "Display" for 24 bits have a "Modes" line of the resolution you used to have. Once this is OK, try for 32 bits instead.

[jazz_1]

thanks for your continued help on this one guys!

I'll let you know how I get on...


jazz

[jazz_1]

how do i edit the XF86config file?

[Mark Grant]

Hey jazz,

Well, use your favourite text editor, "vi", "emacs" or even "kedit", "gedit" (I am sure that last one must exist) and edit "/etc/X11/XF86Config". You will have to be root and make a copy of the existing XF86Config first.

[Celso Medina Kern]

Hi,

You perhaps vill have to install a management rpm to have a tool to recover your configuration. I recommend the folloging:
redhat-config-xfre86:
redhat-config-xfre86 --reconfig

This command will ignore the existing cfg and will recreate the XF86Config configuration file.

You can also use:
/usr/bin/X11/Xconfigurator --kickstart to reconfigure your display.

Best regards,

Celso

[Jerome Henry]

Woho ! Time to get in. Sad not to have seen your thread before ! It's indeed a hard problem but the solution is easy !
You have to force your system to re-autodetect your video configuration.
As everybody stated, go to another console thru ctrl alt F1 or F2... Then, here is the key solution :
redhat-config-xfree86 â reconfig
Your systme will be re-configured. If your system file seems correct for the configurator and still doesn't work, you can try :
mv /etc/X11/XF86Config /etc/X11/XF86badconfig
It'll change config file name. Then run :
redhat-config-xfree86
Having no config file to rely on, the system will build a new one, as during install time.
You'll get your X back !

hth

[jazz_1]

Guys!!

got it sorted.... thakns a million for all your help. the redhat-config-xfree86 --reconfig worked a dream!!

You're all legends in your own lunchtime....

Now stop by for some magic bunnies!!

Slainte!!!!!


jazz..

[Jerome Henry · Accepted solution]

Glad it worked !
I always wonder why redhat designed a graphical environnement tool that was... graphical... I asked shadowman at redhat once, but the answer was sort of... unclear... like you need a car to go buy a car, or internet connection to subscribe to ISP, and many other examples showing silly things in this world... it till remains a strange idea to me...

Jerome Henry

[Celso Medina Kern]

Jazz,

Please reconsider your criteria to give points.

Whenever you have a solution to your question, is adviceable to give an 8 or higher grade, so that this question will appear as solved in the forum. The hat should not drive points you assign.

regards,