[shengchieh]

I just installed Mandriva 2007 free DVD.

Now when I turn on the PC, the following shows
- BIOS
- blue screen w/ various options - linux, linux nonfb, failsafe
- light blue screen w/ big letters "FREE"
- light blue screen (no writing)
then a completely dark screen shows up, possibly a login
screen.

What happening? This happens if I choose linux or linuxnonfb.
If I choose failsafe, it logs as root. Then what?

Btw, I also noticed in BIOS, I can choose
- EGA/VGA
- CGA 40
- CGA 80
- MONO
I try switching from EGA/VGA but it keeps reverting back.

Fyi, it's PC-132 CE from MadTux.

Sheng-Chieh

[Ixthusdan]

First, do you get a command line login?
What video card do you have?

[scarecrow]

Ixthusdan, on Apr 18 2007, 12:20 AM, said:

First, do you get a command line login?
What video card do you have?

Yep, as above. Plus, if you are using a DVI monitor connector, please replace it (for the installation part only- you can revert after installing) with an oldfashioned VGA connector.

[shengchieh]

Thanks for your help.

no login shell - that's where a blank screen comes up.

What is a DVI monitor connector? (If I don't know, do I
have it?)

Also, is there a way to see the video card in the BIOS?
In the BIOS, I only see

Standard CMOS Features: Video:
-EGA/VGA
- CGA 40
- CGA 80
- MONO
Advanced Chipset Features: Video BIOS Cacheable:
- enabled
- disabled
Power Management Setup: Video Off Method
- DPMS
-Blank Screen
- V/N SYNC+Blank
Video Off In Suspend
- Yes
- No

Is there a way to tell the video card logging as root thru "failsafe"?

Sheng-Chieh

[Ixthusdan]

Please look at your computer documentation. I went to the site, but could not tell what video cards they use. Or, you could open the case and have a look!

[shengchieh]

When I do lspci as root using the "failsafe" mode, I see

VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation
82865G Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 02)

Does that sounds like my video card or is it something else?

I see also a bunch of USB, PCI, ISA, IDE, SMBus,
and Multimedia stuffs. I use wheelchair, so I prefer not
having to open the thing if I can (bulky to deal with). I
rather reinstall Mandriva 2006 and find out from there
if needed.

Sheng-Chieh

[Ixthusdan]

You have an Intel integrated video chip, which means it is mounted directly to the motherboard. Boot to the command line. Su to root, type mc. This is a nice file manager program that is easy to use. Navigate to /etc/inittab. Toward the end of the file, there is a section that looks like this:

id:5:initdefault:

Change it ti look like this:

id:3:initdefault:

Save and exit.
Note the change from "5" to "3". Now, you will be able to boot in normal mode to the command line.
Next, boot to command line in normal mode and type "startx". Report the errors here.

[shengchieh]

Thank for your help!

I'm out until after late lunch. I'll try late afternoon.
(and I'll let you know what happens)

Sheng-Chieh

[shengchieh]

I did the change 5 to 3 in initab. It booted in console login.
After logging in, I typed startx and KDE starts fine. No error
shows up.

The console login (instead of GUI login) doesn't bother me,
but when I log in, I would like it to automatically run startx and
boot into KDE. How can I set this up? I.e., what script does
the console login automatically runs?

Also, is there any other way to get GUI login?

Thank for the help so far.

Sheng-Chieh

[Ixthusdan]

That is very curious. I expected it to give an error!
OK. Go into Configure Your Computer (MCC) and go to Boot. Select "Enable auto login...." Choose to boot graphic, but not auto login. Save and close. Reboot. See if it boots correctly.

[shengchieh]

I changed to auto login. Now no login screen (like before)
after the "FREE" screen. I ended up going back to /etc/inittab
in failsafe mode and change 5 to 3 again.

There may be an error when typing startx. The trouble is
KDE kicks too quickly and I can't see what the messages are.
I even tried

startx > startx.txt

but all the messages still come the screen and then console screen disappears quickly as KDE kicks in.

Another problem: I can't shutdown. If I choose to

*
-> logout

the only choice is to "end current session". If I choose that,
the screen goes blank, i.e., I suspect the login screen tries to
come, but the screen goes blank instead.

Sheng-Chieh

[Ixthusdan]

You can shut down by typing "halt" in a console. You can also shut x down if you launched from a command line session by hitting ctrl-alt-bkspc.

Let's check the xorg.conf file.
Boot up, login, su to root, type "mc" and navigate to /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Toward the bottom of this file, which video driver is being used?

[shengchieh]

I'm out this early am. Back later this PST am.

Sheng-Chieh