RE: [OT] Linux is different (used to be Why is setting up X so arcane?)
One sojourner's story...
With my ATI Xpert98 card and "no-name" monitor (it had "ICON" on the front
bezel, but that's all I could find out) I had to constantly play XF86Setup.
But I did get things to work.
Finally, after about the third clean install I took careful notes along the
way too since when we get into these situations we often "thrash" get things
working and then can't remember what we did! I need to make a note that I
did quite a few installs on purpose as I was trying different things out
with disks and disk partitions and the like.
What blew me away the first time I experienced it was the fact that the
resolution that the Xserver would "allow" me to use very dependent on the
monitor that I selected!
Recently I got an AOpen F50L LCD screen. That helped a bit as I had some
specs. Then I wanted to build a new machine so while I was at it I picked
up a Matrox M200 for $49.
When I did the (new) install of Potato from CDs I couldn't believe it. For
the first time ever Anxious came up!! It had never detected my ATI card,
but was happy with the Matrox.
X can seem a bit nasty, but it can be made to work. Course it's nice to get
a good soft pillow to put between your head and the wall! It's nice to have
some brains left to enjoy *using* the system once you get it configured!
I apologize that there is so little advice here - other than spending $50 or
so for a supported card. Perhaps the "you are not alone" factor will
relieve some of the pain.
My system is now stable, enjoyable and becoming more and more of a work
horse for me.
Cheers,
-rick
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