I had exactly the same problem on my kit (DEC Alpha XL266). I was helped by
many kind people on this mailing list, now I can return the favor by
volunteering the same information to you.
The problem was with the monitor setup.
Linux installer did not recognise my monitor, so I used "Generic Multisync".
-Crashed every start!
I had to find actual maximum horizontal and vertical refresh rates and the
pixel clock frequency from manufacturer's web site. They were (at their site
anyway) called "Horizontal Sync", "Vertical Sync" and "Video bandwidth"
respectively.
I then edited my /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config as follows.
Under section "Monitor", items "HorizSync" and "VertRefresh" are the most
important ones! Make sure, that these settings are correct, i.e. frequencies
listed at these do NOT exceed limits of your monitor!
You will find these frequencies listed similar to this:
HorizSync 30-60
VertRefresh 50-100
Insert correct values if necessary.
Another part worth examining is item "Modes"
You will find a long list of various resolutions listed similar to these:
# -- 640x400 --
# 640x400 @ 70 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x400" 25.175 640 664 760 800
400 409 411 450
# --- 800x600 ---
# 800x600 @ 100 Hz, 64.02 kHz hsync
Modeline "800x600" 69.65 800 864 928 1088
600 604 610 640 -HSync -VSync
# --- 1024x768 ---
# 1024x768 @ 70 Hz, 56.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "1024x768" 75 1024 1048 1184 1328
768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
Again, the most important setting is frequency. Take the example above:
Modeline "1024x768" 75 <-- This "75" is the Pixel clock frequency.
This MUST NOT exceed your monitor's maximum rating!
Delete EVERY resolution setting from the XF86Config file, that has too high
Pixel clock.
This is because, at every restart, the X11 will try to set the monitor to
its maximum frequency. The comments in this file state:
# This is a set of standard mode timings. Modes that are out of monitor spec
# are automatically deleted by the server (provided the HorizSync and
# VertRefresh lines are correct), so there's no immediate need to
# delete mode timings (unless particular mode timings don't work on your
# monitor). With these modes, the best standard mode that your monitor
# and video card can support for a given resolution is automatically
# used.
This is not always true. If the monitor is not recognised, the xconfigurator
will put in some standard values. That was a bit too much for my monitor.
Then, instead of using the maximum setting my monitor supports, it took too
high a setting - and hang.
If you cannot currently start up your Linux at all, as it would hang every
time, enter at LILO prompt: "boot linux single". This will start Linux in
"Single User Mode" without X, and you will be able to edit the XF86Config.
If nothing else helps, try to find a monitor listed in Xfree setup, that you
can borrow from a friend. Then you are able to boot the machine and edit the
file as my sample below. It uses VERY conservative settings, they should
function with virtually every modern monitor.
Partial copy of my "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config" :
= Start Quote =======================================
# **********************************************************************
# Monitor section
# **********************************************************************
# Any number of monitor sections may be present
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Unknown"
HorizSync 31.5
VertRefresh 60
ModeLine "640x480" 25.175 640 664 760 800
480 491 493 525
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Multisync"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Unknown"
HorizSync 30-60
VertRefresh 50-100
# --320x200--
# 320x200 @ 70 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync, 8:5 aspect ratio
Modeline "320x200" 12.588 320 336 384 400
200 204 205 225 Doublescan
# 320x240 @ 60 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync, 4:3 aspect ratio
Modeline "320x240" 12.588 320 336 384 400
240 245 246 262 Doublescan
# 320x240 @ 72 Hz, 36.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "320x240" 15.750 320 336 384 400
240 244 246 262 Doublescan
# --400x300--
# 400x300 @ 56 Hz, 35.2 kHz hsync, 4:3 aspect ratio
ModeLine "400x300" 18 400 416 448 512
300 301 302 312 Doublescan
# 400x300 @ 60 Hz, 37.8 kHz hsync
Modeline "400x300" 20 400 416 480 528
300 301 303 314 Doublescan
# 400x300 @ 72 Hz, 48.0 kHz hsync
Modeline "400x300" 25 400 424 488 520
300 319 322 333 Doublescan
# 480x300 @ 56 Hz, 35.2 kHz hsync, 8:5 aspect ratio
ModeLine "480x300" 21.656 480 496 536 616
300 301 302 312 Doublescan
# 480x300 @ 60 Hz, 37.8 kHz hsync
Modeline "480x300" 23.890 480 496 576 632
300 301 303 314 Doublescan
# 480x300 @ 63 Hz, 39.6 kHz hsync
Modeline "480x300" 25 480 496 576 632
300 301 303 314 Doublescan
# 480x300 @ 72 Hz, 48.0 kHz hsync
Modeline "480x300" 29.952 480 504 584 624
300 319 322 333 Doublescan
# Normal video modes
# -- 512x384
# 512x384 @ 78 Hz, 31.50 kHz hsync
Modeline "512x384" 20.160 512 528 592 640
384 385 388 404 -HSync -VSync
# 512x384 @ 85 Hz, 34.38 kHz hsync
Modeline "512x384" 22 512 528 592 640
384 385 388 404 -HSync -VSync
# -- 640x400 --
# 640x400 @ 70 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x400" 25.175 640 664 760 800
400 409 411 450
# 640x400 @ 85 Hz, 37.86 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x400" 31.5 640 672 736 832
400 401 404 445 -HSync +VSync
# --- 640x480 ---
# 640x480 @ 60 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x480" 25.175 640 664 760 800
480 491 493 525
# 640x480 @ 72 Hz, 36.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x480" 31.5 640 680 720 864
480 488 491 521
# 640x480 @ 75 Hz, 37.50 kHz hsync
ModeLine "640x480" 31.5 640 656 720 840
480 481 484 500 -HSync -VSync
# 640x480 @ 85 Hz, 43.27 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x480" 36 640 696 752 832
480 481 484 509 -HSync -VSync
# 640x480 @ 100 Hz, 53.01 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x480" 45.8 640 672 768 864
480 488 494 530 -HSync -VSync
# --- 800x600 ---
# 800x600 @ 56 Hz, 35.15 kHz hsync
ModeLine "800x600" 36 800 824 896 1024
600 601 603 625
# 800x600 @ 60 Hz, 37.8 kHz hsync
Modeline "800x600" 40 800 840 968 1056
600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
# 800x600 @ 72 Hz, 48.0 kHz hsync
Modeline "800x600" 50 800 856 976 1040
600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
# 800x600 @ 85 Hz, 55.84 kHz hsync
Modeline "800x600" 60.75 800 864 928 1088
600 616 621 657 -HSync -VSync
# 800x600 @ 100 Hz, 64.02 kHz hsync
Modeline "800x600" 69.65 800 864 928 1088
600 604 610 640 -HSync -VSync
# --- 1024x768 ---
# 1024x768 @ 60 Hz, 48.4 kHz hsync
Modeline "1024x768" 65 1024 1032 1176 1344
768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
# 1024x768 @ 87 Hz interlaced, 35.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "1024x768" 44.9 1024 1048 1208 1264
768 776 784 817 Interlace
# 1024x768 @ 70 Hz, 56.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "1024x768" 75 1024 1048 1184 1328
768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
EndSection
= End Quote =======================================
Hope this helps!
--
Jukka Lindgren
[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
([EMAIL PROTECTED] - Office)
See the Web site: www.herpetomania.fi
"I have been known to be wrong..." - Me
----- Original Message -----
From: "Srinivas NT" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: 9. toukokuuta 2000 14:58
Subject: Problem configuring the X Server.
> Hi,
>
> I am a starter in Linux. I had a big problem installing the X Server.
Here's the
> hardware I have:
>
> Trident 3D 975 Display Adapter. ( 1204 * 768 maximum Refresh rates)
> Viewsonic 14 inch E40 Series monitor.
>
> Though I enter the right information for whatever Linux asks, it just
hangs
> after showing me the initial RED HAT GUI SCREEN. Please lemme know if this
is my
> Adapter or Monitor problem. Pleez!!
>
> Rgds
>
> NT.
--
To unsubscribe: mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe"
as the Subject.
