Display Problems

hdx08774 · 03-16-2003, 07:58 PM

Hi...

I am a total newbie to Linux and I am unable to get my display to function properly. I just installed Mandrake 9.0 (dual boot with Windows XP). I have an NVIDIA GForce 4 MX graphics card.

I thought I had selected the correct driver during the install, but now when I try to get into KDE or any other GUI I get an error saying that the display signal is out of range for my monitor.

I can get into the regular text driven linux (bash?) but I have no clue how to fix the settings or correct this problem. Please help...I am anxious to get this fixed.

Thanks,
Matt.

ofeet · 03-16-2003, 11:15 PM

bash would be the default shell for linux. that's weird that you can't get into it. you can use the linux install cds to get to a recovery prompt (put 'linux_rescue' instead of pushing enter at install prompt). From there you can run commands. You might try editing your video info (/etc/X11/XF86Config or at least I think that's it). if you want to change your runlevel then edit /etc/inittab and change the line

id:5:initdefault:

to

id:3:initdefault:

it will have the runlevels defined in the notes at the beginning of the file. yours is probably 5 (x11). 3 is for your default shell (bash).

good luck.

ps nvidia.com has the newer drivers, also get and rebuild them to have 3d support in linux.

ps- I've never used mandrake, hopfully redhat has the same setup.

cuckoopint · 03-16-2003, 11:30 PM

Quote:

I thought I had selected the correct driver during the install, but now when I try to get into KDE or any other GUI I get an error saying that the display signal is out of range for my monitor.

I'm sure MDK has some easy tools...but I don't know what they are. Maybe you can start by posting parts of your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file.

less /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
pico /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
cat /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 | more

any of these should do the trick. Then just copy and post the sections "Monitor" and "Screen"

Capt_Caveman · 03-17-2003, 11:35 PM

Mandrake uses the XFdrake tool for x configuration. Just run it from the command line as root and fix your monitor settings. These should be in the monitors manual or from the manufacturers web site. In particular, note the horizontal and vertical refresh rates and the max resolution.

Check out this how-to from Mandrake for help(pg 85):
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/doc/90c/en/Starter.pdf