On Thu, 19 Nov 1998, Bret Craw wrote: > I am new to Linux and was installing Debian 2.0 last night. It seemed to go > well. Dselect gave me some problems, but with the help on this list, I was > able to get that working. Once I log in as root and get the prompt, I type > "startx" and it blanks the screen, then comes back with > > Fatal server error: No valid modes found > _X11TransSocketUNIXConnect: Can't connect:errno=111 > giving up > xinit: Connection refused (errno 111): unable to connect to X > server > xinit: No such process (errno 3): Server error. > > I have an S3 Virge w/ 4MB. Not sure what version. I tried running > /usr/sbin/xbase-configure force and configuring it for a generic S3. I > choose the Super VGA interlaced. It seems to work fine, but then when I am > done and go back to the prompt, and startx again, same problem. Any > suggestions would be great. If I need to alter anything by hand, please > tell me how to do that. I really don't know what I am doing. > > Bret Craw > Maintenance Renewal >
The details above the "fatal server error" are the ones you need to send. The ones you sent are more-or-less the generic "hey, you have a problem" message. Most of the "magic" for getting a running X system are in two files (although others are important too). These files are /etc/X11/XF86Config and /etc/X11/Xserver. XServer - the first line should point to the server you want to run (XF86_SVGA or XF86_VGA16 or etc). So double-check that line. XF86Config - contains the specs for such things as your mouse and keyboard and graphics card and video monitor, etc. I suspect that 90% of all problems for a newbie getting X to run are video related. You can read and study and tweak, which would be a good thing to do, but you can probably get SOMETHING working by running (as root) either XF86Setup (a graphical utility) or xf86config (text-based). I've found that if one doesn't work, sometimes the other one will. I've also found that I have better luck if I tell XF86Setup to NOT use my existing XF86Config file as a starting point (it'll ask early on the in the setup). I suggest you start out choosing simple VGA in a simple mode like 640x480. Once you know you can get SOMETHING, then you can go back and try for the high resolution deep color depth modes. Success to you! -- Kent West [EMAIL PROTECTED] KC5ENO - Amateur Radio: When all else fails. Linux - Finally! A real OS for the Intel PC!
